The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-07-29
LESSONS FROM THE BROTHELS.
Attempted Suicide Of Two
Young Women.
Death the Only Release from a Life
of Shame.
The Faults and FOllieS Of Society and How
to Correct Them.


On Thursday as our columns yesterday attesred,
several attempts had been made at self destruction
by young women who had been either partially or
wholly driven TO life Of shame, and their better
natures revolving against such life they sought
change In death. What q lesson there Is In 1t for
young womenl Two OF these unfortunate ones were
taken to Bellevue Hospital. where they now lie very
weak but out Of danger Yesterday q representa-
tive OF the HERALD visited that Institution and
versed with each as freely and as fully as circum-
stances would permit.
ELLIE v. FOSTER,
who was also known by the nickname OF "Frenchy,"
is young woman of pleasing appearance and good
address She the first TO attempt self-destruc.
ton and to be taken to Bellevue. She lies in ward
No rs of that institution. In answer to questions
propounded by the reporter yesterday, she stated
that she was native OF this city and
Is now IN her twenty.fourth year. Her parents
reside IN New YORK, she says, but they did not
before know where she was and they do not know
now, unless, indeed, they have read the brief para
graph announcing her attempt at suicide She has
slight foreign accent for one born here, ana says
that she has travelled In England and Ireland and
in parts Of the Continent Of Europe. Like 80
many OF our American girls, whether rich or poor,
Ellie was not brought up to any industrial pursuit,
and when she was thrown upon her own resources
she went to work IN stores, and, what with hard
work and poor pay and not very friendly treatment
at home, she sought the congeniality Of the
BROADWAY CONCERT SALOONS
the OF city and the open gales to perdi-
ii Here. by frequent changes, she tried to main.
tain 10 some extent. virtuous life, il virtue
supposed possible in such places; but the tempta.
tons stronger than her moral force to resist
Them ana she yielded, and sought refuge in one OF
those denominations known q 'boarding house
for females" in West Twenty street. She had
been there but two weeks-but fortnight IN such
a place was too much for sensitive young
woman-and Ellie Foster sought relef in o quantity
OF laudanum ana chorororm. Fortunately, she was
discovered In time TO her life. She, however,
remains
IN A sEMI-CoMATOsE STATE,
waking and sleeping alternately every few minutes,
so that 1t Is almost impossible to obtain anything
like correct and consecutive information from her.
Conversation seemed to be troublesome to her also,
and during the few minutes the reporter stood be-
side her bed she turned from one side to another
half dozen times at least. While the fatal effects
OF the poison have been overcome, the dregs have
not been purged from the system yet, and probably
Will not be for several days.
In ward No. % lay Maud Morris, o beautiful and
deilcately reared young woman, in her twentieth
year, who was sent to the hospital from the Twenty
ninth precinct station at half-past nine O'Clock on
Thursday night. she evidently had not taken so
large dose Of laudanum as Ellie foster and though
In the same sleepy condition was able to converse
more freely tnan the other. She appeared very in
telgent and well educated. but was not very willing
to answer questions relating to her early history.
Like her sister III crime she too is native Of New
YORK city, reared IN ease and luxury, petted and
spoiled, and never taught that great lesson need
iul 10 females in a city ike this TO learn
sELE-DEPENDENCE;
hence when her mother died, and her father, pro-
badly. IKE Americans generally, was TOO absorbed
her own others care, Maud was relieved OF what
ever restraint she had been under before, and the
has travelled with her parents North South,
East ana West Oh this Continent, but never crossed
"What was your motive for attempting sefde.
structiong" The reporter asked.
81 WAS TIRED OF LIFE"
Z; But now long have you pursued life OF sin
and shame Maaea, A; About %s, one year. .,.,
Q; Previous TO that time what did you work at
A. never had TO work.
Q. why, then, dlu you seek such lifeY Were you
betrayed or compelled to seek tg A. Well, 1t was
as much my own fault as any ones else.
O. But could you hot escape from such degrad-
Ing condition II you desired am sure this city is
aoundany supplied with institutions and means OF
retreat Tor sucn as you Why did you not seek some
OF tneseY
AT TINS question the poor unfortunate girl looked
up and her eyes nas1ed as brightly as the effects OF
the poison would permit While she proudly declared
that she wasn't gong TO ask favors OF any Of those
institutions, nor TO bind herself 10 them. The re-
binding or compulsion Tor ner to stay IN any one OF
the benevolent institutions Of the city, and she
might have applied at any time during the y ear OF
her disgrace and lave found that
PROTECTION AND MORAL SUPPORT
which she needed. She said she had been sick for
about five months, and that together WI til her lie
OF shame, produced frenzy In her mind and led TO
her rash act. She was aifectonatey urged TO for
sake the paths Of sin and 10 live nObler and better
life in the future.
From these and similar instances which are fire.
quenLly recorded In our columns several important
lessons may be learned, and should be remembered.
In an ever-changng society like ours 1t Is than
folly, II Is crime, TO bring up females without
which In adverse circumstances they may escape
sue h a fate as be1el those two young women. The
loose and superficial forms and systems Of female
education are also fruitful in leading young girls
INTO crime and vice; and the heavy censure which
society afterwards imposes upon crrlng daughter
any other cause TO
KEEP WOMEN IN THE DENs AND BROTHELs.
The ease with which male frequenters OF those
places escape censure ana move even among the
best society tends IN the same direction to keep
women deDased. There are other lessons, and the
moral OF all should be impressed upon the minds Of
the young women or our city. The police should
have free access to every Drothel concert saloon
and house OF asslgnaOn in the CITY, and they should
be required to enter them. and II they found any
tear, restrained OF their liberty. they should take
them before magistrate and have them promptly
released, and the Keepers OF sucn places punished
for such restraint. But then institution needed,
founded upon CHRISTIAN morals, which shall provide
work and the means al subsistence Tor all such res
cued uniortunates Here Is field for the utmost
exhibition OF philanthropy, and 10 Is to be hoped
some one VIII move In this direction The two young
women mere named are blondes. bright and intelll-
gent, and might have lived TO better purpose had
l.aea