Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1869-01-06
Life in New York
Sunshine and Shadow i'm New Yorl

I a1ullSllllt anu tDIiduON III NEW 1 OIk
By Matthew Hale Smith. Illus
trated: 725 PIP. Hartford, Conn. J
/ B. Burr & Co. 1868.
In tl,e above entitled book the
widely-known and successful pub.
I fishing house of J. b. Burr x Co.. O
| Hartford, Conn. have shit the mark
with capital skill. We give Oul
readers fair specimen of its pages in
the following interesting article on
BLACK-SIAILING:
\ MINISTER FALLS AMONG THIEVES
On Broadway, below Fourteenth
Street, stood Il church that at one time
was one of the most fashionable in
the city. The congregation was
wealthy and large, the minister elO-
quent and popular. The bellies OF
the city, with the young and the
fashionable, crowded the church when
the pastor filled the pulpit. In the
full flush of his popularity, when a
pew could not be hired at any price,
when any salary would have been
paid to him that he demanded, the
minister disappeared. Quite late on
Saturday night the vestry received a
letter from the rector, dated off Sandy
Hook. The letter rendered the rec
tors resignation, and announced that
he had sailed that day at noon in one
of the Cunard steamers for Europe.
The parish were surprised and alarm
ed. The whole affair was a painful
mystery. Here westminster, settled
over Il tlourishing and liberal charge,
with a fine church and parsonage, a
church crowded with the elite of the
city, with a salary equal to any de-
mands he might make, with the best
singing in the city, and all the pOpu-
lar appliances, who had suddenly
resigned, and privately left the coun-
try, to go no one knew where.
The story Is a romance. The
explanation came after the minister
had completed his European tour
At midnight the door bell of his par
sOnage was violently Tung. Going to
the window, the minister saw a man
standing on his dOOr-stOne, and he
demanded his business. He came
with a message, he said, from a dy-
ing woman. Hastily dressing him
self, the good man came to the door
and received the message. Just
around the block was a poor woman,
and she was dying. Her only treasure
was Il babe. She could not die in
peace unless her babe was baptized
II his reverence would come to her
dying pillow. and administer that
sacrament, the blessing of a poor
dying woman would be his reward.
IL was much to ask, and at midnight
too, but his great master, who loved
the poor, would not have denied such
4 request as this.
His human and religious sympathies
were aroused, and the minister fol-
lowed the messenger. Common
prudence would have said, Take Il
policeman with you. Call up Il
friend, and get him to bear part in the
ceremony" But, dreaming of no
peril. he went OH his way to do, as he
thought his Masters will. He was
soon IN 4 diSS0fute FesiOI,- ia a street
notorious for its uucleanness. The
messenger knocked at a heavy gate.
that closed up narrow, dark alley.
1t opened Immediately, and slammed
behind the parties like prison door.
Through a long, narrow, and un-
wholesome entry, that seemed to be
an alley-way coz cred, the parties took
their way. They passed up narrow
staircase, broken and rickety. Lewd
women were passed on the stairs.
Dark-featured and Misunderstanding
men seemed to crowd the place.
With his sacred vestments on his arm,
ana his book of service in his hand,
the minister was ushered into a dark
and unwhOlesOme-lOOki The
door was closed behind him, and
4 ,Isv,, .anVIIn Nhn fnlln
revealed the outline of dozen persons,
male and female, of the most aban-
iOned and desperate class. His
inquiry for the sick woman, and the
child to he baptized, was greeted by
shouts of laughter. He knew he was
Il victim. He demanded the reason
lOr this outrage. He was informed
hat his friends who had invited him
there wanted money. His standing
and character were well known. He
was in one of the most notorious
houses in New York; his midnight
visit to that place was well known,
and could easily be proved. If he
paid one thousand dollars, all would
ue well. If not, his ruin was certain.
Instead of defying the villains, call
ing on the police, or cOnfiding in his
he thought he could
hush the matter up. He might have
known that it would all come out,
and that every dollar he paid would
be used rs evidence against him, or as
means to eXtOTt more. But he was
thoroughly frightened; would not
have the thing known for the world
his hand was in the lions mouth, and
he must draw it out as easily as he
could so he gave his obligation to
pay the money promptly at noon the
next day, which he did. OF course
new demands We're made from time
to time. Hewas logged i'm the streets.
misunderstanding men stopped to
speak with him on the corners.
Notorious men rang his dOOr-bell.
Mysterious notes, from Ignorant, low
bred, and vicious persOns,-as the
spelling and language showed, came
To his hands, and into the hands of
his family. The poor man was nearly
distracted. He paid away his own
money, and borrowed till his reputa-
zion suffered. The threat of exposure
hung over him like an OminOus sword
Hcld by a hair. In a moment Of
desperation he decided to leave
the country, which he did, TO the
astOnishment and regretO Of his friends.
On his return from Europe, the
rector settled in Massachusetts, over a
small rural parish. He was soon
traced to his country home. Black
mailing was renewed. His old terror
came upon him. Again he acceded
To the extOrtiOn. The police of New
York at length came to his relief. In
searching for other game, they came
upon proof that this minister was i'll
the hands of the black-mailers.
Letters were found containing infOr-
nation of his whereabouts, how to
terrify him, what sums to demand,
and at what time his salary was due.
He was relieved from his pursuers.
The large sums he had paid were not
refunded. His spirits were broken,
and he has never recovered his posi-
ton. saw him not long since in
Canada. He holds a subordinate po-
sition, and is still preaching to a
small parish. He will die victim oi
black-mailing.