Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1868-06-26
Written for the Chronicle.
Our Chicago Letter.

1 streets stands large and homely looking
structure known as the "Armory" 1t is
worthy of a visit from those who wish to
study life by gazing at humanity in its
most hideous forms for more motley
and wretched crowd than is to be daily seen
there, both inside and outside the railing
which divides the upper story of the build
ing, can hardly be found within the con.
fnes Of Christendom. The Armory is the
central city prison, in which most offend
ers are kept until after trial or commit
ment, aud while its ground floor is divided
into numerous noisome, unhealthy cells,
where victims are crowded together promis-
cuously, with little regard to sge, condition
OR sex, the upper story is used as temple
of iustice,n and in it are held the sessions
of that learned and august tribunal known
as the Police Court There are two ses-
sions daily, the first commencing at eight
o'clock in the morning and often lasting
till noon, and the other at two and contin-
ung until four or five. Not less than
twenty three thousand cases have here
been disposed of within the last year, so
it may readily be imagined that action is
speedy if not always just.
No person can complain of severity to-
wards hardened and reckless criminals and
the spasmodic efforts of our police officials
in the way of Furnishing for offences com
mitted, and attempting to drive them
from the city, are always applauded; but
| the treatment of the poor and unfortunate
is, to say the least of it, a rcprehensibe
feature of the license which obtains in this
''temple of justice" Why, among those
arrested within the last year, were twenty
five hundred as prostitutes. And these
poor out casts were brought before the
Court not with the hope or expectation of
reforming them, or stopping a moment
their course of infamy, but simply to OBJ
tain money for the city treasury. They
are fined from five TO hundred dollars
each, and it is noticeable fact that the
fines were proportionate to the amounts it
was known they had or could obtain.
The crowd daily seen in the prisoners
pen Of the police court, comprises all class
es outside OF the charmed circle of ''res-
pectability," from the poor devil that is ar
rested because he has done nothing and
has nothing, to the well dressed villain who
is guilty of hundred crimes. Those who
have position and friends are seldom seen
there. Not that they are all law-abiding
citizens, but when arrested for any trivial
offence, one Of their class readily deposits
a small sum Of money as bail, and in the
morning, when the case is called, no per-
son appears, the bail is forfeited, and the
matter is ended.
The number of persons daily tried in
this court ranges from twenty-five to two
hundred, and on Mondays especially, the
latter number is often reached. Many cit
liens and strangers visit the place from Gu
riosity, and desire to see and study life
among the motley crowd. For such pur-
poses it is good place to go, provided
you always keep outside of the ''pen.
1t is no uncommon occurrence to see a
crowd of Germans in Chicago for out of a
population of $40, 900 there are 900 of
this nationality. and they are gregarious
people. given to sociability and pleasure.
But it is seldom one encounters SO many,
anywhere out of Fatherland, as have been
seen upon our streets during the present
week. The occasion which has called them
forth is the musical and social festival
known as the Annual Sengerfest, of the
North American S@ngerbund Not only
have all our resident Germans devoted
themselves to the Fest, but delegates have
been present from every section of the
United States and German Europe. More
than eighty societies from abroad are rep
resented, and the number Of strangers who
have come here to attend the festival is
counted by thousands The residences
and business houses Of the Germans, are
ornamented with trees, evergreens, flags,
&C., and in those localities most frequented
by the Teutonlc race, everything bears ey-
idence of festivity and joy.
The public entertainments of the week
have consisted of three grand concerts, in
which choruses of fifteen hundred have
given us selections from the old German
masters, and many new compositions, pre-
pared for this occasion. Their entertain
ments have been largely attended, and de-
veloped some of the best musical talent,
both vocal and instrumental, which the
country affords.
Tonight two grand balls are % be given,
and tomorrow Sunday an in mense pic
mic will close the festivities of the meeting.
The Fest will prove great success, and
all visitors are loud in praise of the hospi-
tality they have received from their breth-
rem of Chicago. They have, in all cases,
been made the guests Of our German citi-
zens, and have found it extremely hard to
spend money for anything either eatable
or drinkablc.
The spring meeting of the Dexter Park
TrottiDg Association has been largely at
tended during the week, but no great speed
was developed. The fastest time made,
2:25 As, was by Silas Rich, for purse of
enc thousand dollars. Hockey, the pres
ent favorite of the West, who it is claimed
can go it in TWO or three seconds less, did
not appear, owing to sickness.
Great preparations are being made for
the first meeting of the Jockey Club, which
takes place on the 81 of July, and will
bring together some of the best running
horses in the country. A HUNDRED entries
have already been made, and the purses
are all large ones.
A tournament ana the meeting of the
State Association of base ball players, have
caused some excitement among the lovers
Of TIE national game" but nothing worth
| special mention has been developed, unless
it is another defeat of our crack club, the
Excelsiors.