Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1868-06-24
The Social Evil In New York.
From the Rev olution

Tabular and statistical facts Of The women
of ,ll-fame in New York city exhibit the
following results:
Can neither read nor write 1905 per cent
Gan read only 1875 per cent
Read and write imperfectly .T.Se per cent
Road aud write well 1870 per cent
1t 10 greatly to BIO regretted that no alb
solutely accurate statistics are at hand upon
the subject under consideration. This
might easily be obtained, but there seems
to be no person sufficiently interested in
solving this social problem, important - it
10 on oil sides conceded to be, to undertake
the task Of gathering and publishing such
facts ~ might BE- had for the mere asking.
In this regard our rsfermatory instructions
do absolutely nothing, although some Of
them have the amPlest opportunities. From
the best knowledge I have been sbls 70
gather upon the subject, based upon obser.
vation and inquiry, Il is nov probable that
New York contains, in round numbers.
about 10000 women Who either pabliely OF
privately, make oaskstAbls commodity OF
chastity. This aumbes may b elaaoi6od
- fsllsws: 1nmasss Of brsthsls, $500 !;
kabifues Of houses Of designation, $500 |:
mistsessss, who more Or Ices fesquenely
| 0VSS ~ O0s1N0UV0D - wv t0tt09 VD98U9IU0s
meuts, 800; and fiually, the delioetS mar.
risd and single, whs have one o. mere in-
tiDats frisnds 70 whom hey grant special
passieaal favors from motives not altegslh.
Of msresnary, 500. Total, 10000. From
certain data, the Immediate sAueeo Of The
adoption Of this mode Of habit o. iSs nay
be statsds appesxiaatsly, thes: Dsotatutioo,
2.e2S; idlsaees, $3.50; ssdaslisa, 1,6A6 !;
love Of liquess 1oS il-tssaA0eoe u parents
Or relatives. $50 bed eenpeay, IT'S.
Other eauoeo were Of ceufDe q work inNo
which thee gsasrsl aod pre@issot oseo
might have bsea subdisidsd, bat THE hold
statement, without explanation q detail,
will ssrvs our present purpose. Nov, il W
suppose that each one Of these Ia, 900 NO.
meu earns go per week through her un
holy trade. W have the snormous sum Of
100000 per week, or q ,2oO, 900 that 10
yearly spent IN this city alens for the grsti.
fcation Of this demon Of feminine luss |
Thus far the business seems to BE- one Of
| demand and supply. But businese that
earns annually 5000, 900 requires an in.
J vestrnent Of at least three tiines that sum.
! and that Is perhaps fair estimate Of the
valuo OF property, personal and real. that
Is required by this trade - q present con-
Quoted. Still these figures do not yet pre-
sent the amount Of money aetually oxpend.
ed yearly through this channel, for nothing
has been said Of winss, liquors and other
luxures which the business demands. nor
any attempt made 1t their most peeuniary
cost Of the diseases that sse psopaeaesd end
intcrehangsd through the premiseuous in.
tsrcouree Of the ssxss. The estimate Of
the earnings u thsss woosa b exceedingly
low; but here 10 snethsr Of different kind,
ssill lower and ias more striking. II, out Of
these 10000 womsa. 100 ere eoneinually
diseaesd-a number las bslew ~ reality
Clend thess 100 women eeomit tive acts Of
kkocctitasisa daily, tAsesby issSctios ealy
sentua Of these when tAey eatee-
az. AZ: c-h separate disease lasting calv Eve
Sys NC each the conclusion that ia 900
~ -. ~ constaotly infected By enc or
o."sl VI 'ness diseases. Also, how many
.h.'.s T.. .h.o o,sys are in daily danger
snFousn 'nsss A'sso0 diseased persons.