The New York herald., 1867-02-21

egement OF tne circle consist Of the lady before alluded
u not professor from the Ghous Garrett Broadway,
New YORK. The members principally composed Of
ages both Of whom were at first drawn the circle
through curiosity and desire explore the unhidden
which spiritassn lays bare ana are - sncr'
wards held BY spirit Of infatuaon and love o. ex.
citemeuk Beneath an these spirsuaisc displays and
professions there is snissr object and the mummercs
object ss for sns sSeS hs sas M
the place and ts keeper might lead the 2
csn,iousness Of he moss gross nature osentimes found
full vent after the circle had been broken up and with
such secresy has this aair been conducted that 10
questionable II the police ere apprssd Of the true char
50 As inquiry in reference 70 the chancter Of shs
% doubt THAI they differ largely frcm those Of New
York There are many really good ana nsssorions o..
b Ssy sos
Of them are much esteemed and the individuals
vho compose them highly respected by the community
characters dishonest and loanng fe0ws which the
pests or any neighborood In which they take up their
Sub he osa Social % Union d: M Black SiSs divers D ana
the Rising Star Social Club spoken Of question
able. In . basement Of = dry goods store on Myrtle
avenue, Claseon, notorious lot Of characters
sembe In Sandford street there another den. Along
Water street there many Of those places OF regular
the block between Quay and Pearl streets In Quay
street. near FRANKLIN, hard crowd hold regular meet
e Basc Ran Sns
together IN Graham avenue The last club s described
by the police as gathering Of very havd characters"
Enough has been written TO show the fearful extent
to which combinations for evil purposes exist In the
cities Of New York and Brooklyn. Occasionally, and
only occasionally rs the breaking up OF any Of these
places resorted TO by the authorities Though extensive
these organizations throughout the two cities the
number OF questionable characters unorganzed, Who 60
together in twos and threes Is aiarmDgy large Street
and corner loafers the lounger in the boom Of the
low drinking saloons may be both classed in the cate
CORY Of tho suspicious The fact that our prisons she
present time are inadequate for the confinement Of
he % es pa n
the city Of New York alone "who receive no education
and whose days passed in poverty and dlcness" is
Of the gravest importance TO tho future
In the compilation Of this article u Is true that whe
the police In numerous instances have aided all in their
they possessed OF the real objects OF these socaed
"social clubs" in few instances was extremely
mcagre. Instructions had invariably to bs given
the paromen ascertain IL such organizations existed
in several OF the precincts before any definite reply
could be given in questions propounded and
then only was the information received after knowl-
edge OF the existence and real objects of these clubs had
been obtained through various other Tho in
vestgation produced great good however, II opened
the eyes Of the authorities to the extent and magnitude
Of these institutions Greater vigilance and activity
spurred the force to increased wachfuness and may
bo matter Of interest 10 the general public TO learn
that tho recent descents made on the social clubs,
concert saloons and keno banks s due principally
the HERALDs special inquiries into the causes Of crime
in the two cities
In closng this hesstofors unwittsn chapter in the
history Of crime, Is deplorabe 70 acknowledge the
fearful extent Of youthful vice. and It Is cad com.
mentary the management Of our reformatories and
prisons because Of their imperfect discipline that the
place or Punishment for the first offence u school of
greater vlanes and that the boy sentenced for thirty
Or sixty days for petty thcft and entering the prison
contrite or remcrseful, steps from IL hardened and
defiant, resoute in wckedness, and conscious that 10
him the world Of honesty and virtue is shut out and
that there s future for him but IN successful crime