New-York tribune., 1871-09-27
HELp FOR FALLEN WOMEN


meetings held in Washington, to consider
some means of practical help and relief to the
fallen women of that city. The meetings have
been noticeable in numbers, in character,
and in the earnestness and sincerity which
marked all their proceedings. Their immediate
occasion was the generally known fact
that it was the intention Of the police to
make descent upon all the houses of ill-re-
pute in the city for the purpose of breaking
them up, arresting or dispensing their inmates.
The philanthropic persons who called the meet
ings and conducted their proceedings wished
to ascertain il it were not possible to do some
thing for these unfortunates besides perse-
cutting and ining and imprisoning them. The
most Of them had been driven into crime by
poverty; it was certainly not the way to re-
form them to take from them their miser-
ably-earned savings. Many had been forced
into these wretched ways by the severity Of
relatives and the hardness of the world. The
open infamy and contumely of the courts of
Justice would do nothing to reclaim these al
ready broken hearts.
These were the considerations which moved
these meetings. The speeches and resolutions
were much in the same strain. A lady, Mrs.
SPENCER, who took q prominent part in the
proceedings, made several speeches, which, al
though not in the best taste in all respects, were
full of nervous energy and directness which re-
deemed many faults. She gave some striking
illustrations Of the operation of the present
laws upon the unfortunate victims Of vice.
When "raid" Is made, and the houses are
broken up, there are but three resorts for the
L. fhopn-aninida aaakiu0 ha
temporary protection of some man, or stealing
away to some sheltered place until the storm
is over and then resuming their destroying
traffic in another place. The true end at which
the law should always aim, that of reforma-
ton, Is rarely ever reached. The poor creatures
who are thus harried and pursued by the
vengeance of society, for vice for which
society is greatly responsible, grow hard.
and sullen, and vindictive, under the i'm
preston that they are treated as the natural
enemies of mankind, until no more feeling
of humanity Is left in them than in
any wild animal. 1t Is against this
lame and impotent conclusion that the men
and women on the platform at Washington
protested, and announced their intention to do
all In their power to give. Q practical denial
to this virtual confession Of the failure of law
and society to do anything with this momen-
tous and terrible question. Their plan en-
braces, first, the treatment Of these unhappy
women a. sisters, as human beings, entitled to
confederation and sympathy. They must be
taught that they are not regarded a. enemies
or outlawA before anything more can be done
with them. Secondly, Immediate Temporary
shelter, food, and clothing, are to DO given to
ell who win accept thsm, without. questions
and without condition. For this purpose, hb-
eral contributions Of money and specific articles
must be at once made by ths Hsn6 cf tho
experiment. Several houses nust b at ence
leased and furnished. to bafbOs thsss frasl and
storm-driven vessels. Thirdly, they wish to
sstsblish an industrial ,sdlless. swfAta these
women may be trained in diyersine6 Add luss-
lnA t4npsty. n-irt ,Gr--.fjd F1WdI Iult
Ths sincerity and good faith 1f thsse mccttpss
Tesl evident from the bssinnins ~ Ties
Among the most interested hstsaeIs. "a
both Occasions were several , ,ccsmpanisi
.Qf young girlS brought In hy the