Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-11-12
4 YOuag FOrmOSa.
\ D'unkaId and Mother at Eineen
Years Of Age.
From the New Orleans Times, zSth ult.I

from the New Orleans Times zSth ult.l
Wandering into the Central Station
about midnight Tuesday, the writer found
q new victim on the heightened roll OF de-
pravity, who, under happier auspices,
might have deserved better fate A voice
rising high in the drunken ribaldry, sound
ed younger, treSher, perhaps purcr, than
the maud!iu accents Of its companion
and the figure stretched on II rough wood
en- bunk, was frazier and more rounded
than the blOated forms OF its fellow cul-
prits. There was face whose oval indi
Gated a certain degree of reGpectabiity, M
eye and brow denoting intelligence, stock
OF brown hair, O disordercd maroon dress
a mingled childishness and recklcssness o.
manner, ghastly blending of innocence,
ignorance, and depravity, told the story
who had erred young, and erred deeply.
IAe error In this case had been drunken
ness, the namo of the offender was Louisa
Antonio, and she had reached this grade
IN tho dOwnw ward maelstrom, after two
months of RIGHTEOUSNESS, and ut the age
of fifteen. AS inebriated women rarely
appear at their i:tst-whethcr led Up hy
the arm, carted III on wheClbafrOW,, or
borne along bodily by the police they
seldom do else than disgust, and in har.
dened cases scarcely succeed in attracting
o passing glance but to watch young
and inexperienced girl, ignorant OF even
the sensation OF drunkenness, with mind
enough to realize her shame, and too un-
skilled IN the worlds ways and wiclledness
to conceal it, it was sight to sicken the
heart OF Il stone. 10 watch the ghastly as.
sumption OF utter depravity, to perceive how
miserably the dismal comedy was enacted,
to hear the outbursts of passionate weep
ing, the childish complainings at her
wretchedness; to know that all the infamy,
| all the horror, all the earthly damnation
and annihilation that could possibly be
heaped on the shoulders of fifty, weighed
down a STRIPPING in her earliest blush and
bloom, would have frozen the blood of q
fiend himself Her story is soon told.
There was mother who neglected her, an
aunt who beat her, life of shame in the
next street, and the door wide open
Josephine Ray, the negro Charon on this
roaring river of iniquity--occasionally
boxed her ears, but she gave her n room,
and treated her as she thought woman
should be treated. Youth and inexperi-
ence arc marketable, and this Josephine
Ray very well understood. In the briel
career there were many to SEQ and appre-
ciate her charms, and at l2ngth-God help
us that it should be so--thorc was one to
stir that sinful, misguided soul with the
unhallowed joys of maternity. Dismayed
at the thought, utterly horror-stricken at
her own recklessneBs, she followed the
blind teachings of her blind companions,
and drank. Tho policeman of the beat is
sober man, who does his duty. lie locks
up women III silks and women i'll rags; he
locked her up. There was an arraignment
before Recorder Baker yesterday and she
was permitted to return for a night to her
shame, and appear again to-day. We have
asylunl3 IL this town for which the benevo-
lent give fancy fairs There are many de-
malld6 on ono and all for money and sup
plies. Which, OF the benevolent will step
forward and, tp use their own technicality,
snatch this brand from tho hamcs?"