The Portland daily press., 1868-01-02

was the " American Female Guardian Socie-
ty." where $500 children have been gathered
in during the past year and taught, fed and
clothed. THE House of Mercy" is another
It is an Institution of a modern date, and is
one of the best in New York. Prof. Seymour,
formerly Rector of st. Johns Church, Brook
Ign, and who was succeeded by Rev. Mr.. Bur-
CESS of Portland, is at the head of the insttu-
ton, and it is under the parental charge of tie
Sisters of ST. Mary. The object is the refor-
nation of girls over fourteen years of age who
have been led astray. That unfortunate class
of abandoned females, so numerous in New
York, are, many of them, saved by the efforts
of the Christian ladies of this and other insti-
tutions of like character. 1t is often quoted,
to show the extent of vice in New York, that
there are 10000 prostitutes here. Nodoubt the
number is large; but did it ever occur to the
reader that the great majority Of these OUT
casts come from other localities, and that
large portion come from the country? 1t is so,
nevertheless. Another fact in connection with
this peculiar class, (and it should be stated to
show that the people of this city are not the
greatest sinners in the world, or not alone re-
sponsible for the existence of the social evil in
such large degree,) is that large amount Of
the ill-gotten gains of these females comes
from visitors to the city. The vicinity of the
lrage hotels are the haunts of the cyprian-
here, in front of these splendid palaces, are
their artificial adOrnments display ed, and here
they find many who are not only strangers
in the city, but strangers to virtue. These
facts are entitled to consideration; and in
justice to New York, where efforts are con-
and save some, at least, of these poor girls
from utter ruin and miserable deaths, they
should have their full weight in determ-
lining the extent of wickedness, and the re-
sponsibilty therefor, in this great city. s
New Years day is close at hand. This is
the great day of the year. 1t even peers
above Christmas, Fourth of July, or any 9TH
er day, Whole streets, which, on other days
run over with the surging multitude, are as ST.
lent as the graveyard, and you could not open
a haunt of money-chapger on Wall street,
with an eagle inyour hand. Pleasure is the
word from early morning till midnight, and
revelry holds undsputed sway. Why it was
that the Dutcl men of New York made so
much of New Years Day. and the Puritans OF
New England SO little of it, is a mystery.
Many men have recently been thrown out
of employment. A large dry goods house on
Broadway discharged half their clerks. From
the Brooklyn Navy Yard 1, 900 men have been
discharged. Most kinds Of business are being
curtailed. Some people think these occurren-
ces signs of a coming financial storm. 1t is
an unfortunatei time of year for the working
msn to be deprived OF employment. Those
who can hold on till Spring will find some
thing to do. There is land enough to culti-
vate. But to many who have families to sup.
port, the failure of the weekly pay will be a
great misfortune. ..r-.. ..... ...----.s-
The New York Sun has been sold to Dana
and Co., and win appear in January as the
new Dana Republican organ. 1t is an old
newspaper. The elder proprietor, Mr.. Beach
made fortune out of it; but the SON does moi
seem to have the go-a-head of the father, and
he has sold out for good price. NASSAU.