New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-07-12


service of the city presses heavily upon in
dividuals and families, weighs them down
with the embarrassment of Indebtedness,
and even deprives hundreds of people of the
absolute necessaries of life.
The party now in power are making no
effort to improve the city finances and city
money sinks in value daily, though it has
been insisted that one touch of the Demo
cratic wand would restore the currency to
itspar value. We shall see what the present
incumbents will do.
New ORLEANS IN SLICEs-A Barracks
Street Dance EfaA-Most of those who visit
New Orleans have probably heard of Bar
racks street-its gambling bells, its houses
of prostitution, its designation houses and
dance halls. 1t was in front of one of the
last named places that this reporter found
himself night or two since, whittier he
had wandered in search of information.
From the outward appearance it is simply
suggestive to a stranger of an ordinary
coffeehouse or beer saloon, and it is only
after entering a small door, which opens
through a partition in the rear, that the
character of the place becomes apparent to
the visitor.
1t was through this door that the reporter
looked, and was about to step in, when he
was pulled in by a couple of beings in
human shape, who, from the dress alone,
he judged were females, their appearance
being simply obscene and vulgar in the ex-
IRENE. Being naturally little difident, the
reporter was somewhat embarrassed for the
moment, but concentrating all his energies
he gave smile, and then look of scorn,
thinking, perhaps, one or the other might
have the desired effect of causing his re-
lease from the clutches of the repulsive
beings that surrounded him. But it was of
no use. They had commenced to quarrel
over him, and from the desperate pullings
and tuggings this prosecuted reporter was
for while subjected to he feared nothing
less than dislocated shoulder, or an arm
pulled entirely off,
By a severe struggle and stoutly assum-
ing the defensive he was freed at length
from the embarrassing and disagreeable
position. After being released from the
grasp of these ferocious creatures the first
thing he done was to beat q hasty retreat
and secure position where he could look
on undisturbed and unmolested. This was
quite a difficult task, yet obtaining seat in
the bar-room within full view of the inter.
ior of the dance house, he began his obser-
vations.
The room was rudely and roughly fur
nished, the furniture consisting of four
long yellow pine dining tables, three small
round tables, four or five ordinary benches,
capable of seating perhaps a dozen persons
each, half dozen chairs, and fifteen Anna
zonians, known as Barracks street
nymphs,' the latter, of course, completing
the embellishments and being the chief at
traction to the customers Of the establish
ment, who are principally sailors, vagrant
loafers, pimps, gamblers and thieves.
Seated on benches, chairs and tables were
most of these courtezans. Others were
lying down and some walking about, all in
dulging in the vilest and most disgusting
language which the mind can conceive of,
and such as can not well be repeated any
where, certainly not in print. The various
positions of these Unfortunate women
transcends description. Some were hug
ging and kissing men others blackguard-
ing, swearing, smoking, chewing laughing,
quarreling. Some were lying on benches,
with an utter disregard of modesty, while
their male companions were quite as i'm
modestly bending over them. One woman
was carrying around a small baby, and in
answer to an inquiry of one of the men
as to who its mother was, answered "a
woman" and then commenced singing a
vulgar song. Another female was quarrel
ing loudly with a man about the drinks, re-
sulting in a physical contest. in which
neither party was materially damaged,
Another woman was sitting on chair
with her feet crossed on a high table.
Picture No. 2 was woman lying flat on
Ler back on table with her knees elevated.
She was dead drunk.
About nine o'clock dancing and drinking
commenced, and after the manner OF a
country shindig, those who danced had to
pay the fiddler. Between dances is a drink,
and between drinks is a dance. They dance
and drink and drink and dance until both
parties are SO drunk they can dance no
more, and then they adjourn to another
apartment to sleep off the drunk. If the man
is without money he is turned into the street
and shortly finds himself in the station.
house. As long as man once there has
money he can not leave until he is bank
rupt in purse as we'll as in morals. If he
does not then leave voluntarily fight is
inevitable, and he is pitched out.
These dancehouses present as near al
can be conceived pandemonium, the ap
pearance of which can not be described II
all its hideous aspects. These dens of iniq
J ity should no longer be tolerated in oul
} city.
"Vice is a monster Of such hideous mien
That to be hated needs but to be SEEM"