New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-08-20
rnr unrpnRS az NEW. YORK.

Mr.. Oliver DYER, who had already done much
TO expose benefcently tho social sores OF Our
City. has an article in the forthcoming (Sept)
issue of Packarfs Monthly that must command
general and salutary attention. 1t is entitled,
"The MagdaIcns of New-York City: Shall
"they have chance for SalvatiOnf"-and,
though it deals with horrible facts, it contains
no line, no sentence, that the purcst may not
read without blush
In the course of his trenchant and narrowing
expose, Mr. Dyer says:
"One-ffth Of the girls who walk streets at
night arc under sixteen years OF age, ana MANI OF men
mere children, not yct fourteen, md some Of mem not
pei thirteen years Old.
And matters are growing worse all the time. The
tendency ~ every department OF vice ana crime YOUTH
wards Thieves. burglars pckpOckes a. well IA dagh-
they did quarter OF century agoLand so 90 drunk
ards We have repeatedly seen ehudren u9GoT u i0Ir
aud have also seen them come drunk to tho Howard Mis-
sion school, and sleep of their debauch on the floor
the benches Of that institution -.
cry, But why Is not a stop put to tst why are not
these children rescued from their unnatural parentsf
cit is not done. simply because can't be done Except
for overt act OF misdemeanor felony or crime ele
is power that can take child from It's parents against
"Furthermore, NewYors City is largely ruled by the
nefarous classes and those who are In direct or indirect
alliance with them The influence OF tho mumcpil COY
eminent wholly their side: and, were 10 not for tie
pOtun Police, the city wond IN time become absolutely
uninhabilable for decent people.
But sadder than any or these last mentioned mcts II
the fact that good deal Of the property occupied by the
minOns Of vice IN this city Il owned by persons OF respect
ability and some OF 1t by those who regarded as
nllors Of the church! man whose wife and daughters
carry Bibles and prayerbooks purchased win mat
hire which Is abominatOn unto the Lord thy Coo
(sec Deuteronomy kill lS. aud who pays BIS peWrenls
with the abOmiuatoE Ia greater obstacle 10 the
regeneration OF that unfortunate class from whom ne
thus derives his support than inc Wlckede5t Plan a
in NCWYork. IL has been suggested 10 us that the
rhnrch should suffer- but we do read the Scrip
lures Thuso who make such suggestions would doubt
account Of Peters thre6 les lest that sad story should
niure the cause Of Peters Master. But run asks no
snch drepulable fayors, could the cause OF Christ
be served by auy suppression OF the truth so far from
emitting the statement, have been strongly tempted
10 20 further and publish the names OF the hypucnca
mscreants referred to- that the finger OF scorn might be
pointed at them as they lrnyersg the siees 81 ,e
may yet oyertako them, dealt by less merciful hand
than ourso .-............
Mr. Dyer thus hopefully concludes his har-
rowing exhibit
"The iuHuv OF decent people into the water-st
dens has given the girls courage 20 assert their liberty
aud they arc becoming less than heretofore by
oosins for release from Their aildom 10 sin as they
never have looked for IL before Early memories long
dead are recalled TO fe-mcmories Of family worship
and sweet religious instruction Fora large majority ~
these girls scholars aud many o
them are daughters OF Christian parcus Numbers Of them
were formerly Sabbath school teachers and members Of
S SoTeaed BY the sbors Of tho dnigh Mission in Lon
don OF hundred girls rescued from the streets aud
deus OF vice London by that Mission nearly every
had been sabbath-schoo scholar teacher, and their
aggcgqis attendance at sabbath school amounted 70 one
thousand hundred aud sirythree Bedrs-an acreage Of
ORR three years 10 each girL
TLo present seems TO be appointed time for this
work The spirit Of God seems to DO moving the hearts
of men herein as IL never moved them before.
"The whole country seems TO be awaking TO tho I'm
portance OF the subject 10 Is beginning 90 be under
stood that, Tong ne dt.ybodys daughter - neg
Iected noJodys daughter Is SAFE. The churches are
holding prayermeetlngs for the especial purpose OF
invoking divine aid In this work Offers OF assist
ance coming In from many unexpected quarters.
But the work Is gigantic one, and must necessarily be
a slow one The salvation OF these girls Is hard prob
lem. Tho material difficulties great. They must
huve shelter, and clothing, aud food they must have
employment both mepta and physical; they must have
human sympathy and eleYating companonshp. Aud
the problem ~,
How shall these be furnished In such manner shall
certainly the spiritual regeneration OF the
rCcpiCntsf
1--WE believe that this problem ia In process OF solution,
and that 10 will long be practically Determined Let
evory ono be as helpful as possible In the words OF
Jealous worker In every good let tho people
keep praying. God rules In this world, aud lie will
bring these things all out straight"