, 1872-10-24
Thieves RESORTS.
Al1-Night Houses and Assig-
nation Restaurants.


Concert saloo, Is, a1l-night houses, and assig-
nation restaura, ITS, are social plague-spots with
which all large cities are cursed in greater Or
less degree OF the two former Chicago has g.
moderate supp 1y, and Of the third surplus.
These establish gnents are the representatives Of
all that is vile and wicked in their class. II
public morality tis' the end sought to be attained
by the friends OF temperance, they should not
ceaee theirlabors* because the enforcement Of the
Sunday Liquor law, is q matter OF fact. There
are other abuses connected with the retail liquor
traffic that need correction. and that never will
be corrected without persistent agitation On the
part of rhe moral and intelligent portion Of the
community. The selling Of Intoxicating drinks
on sunday, whiler it may be aeri-
ous offence against society and law, is
not the most obnoxious feature Of the trade 1t
becomes an insignificant error when contrasted
with the crime Of those who run the concert ga
loons, the midnight supper-rooms, and the all:
night houses that disgrace some OF our 1sest
thoroughfares. There may be g. few honorable
exceptlops in the lis, men whose false notions
OF enterprise in N pney- getting induced them to
emoark in the disFeputable business, and who
are ooing their utmost to invest it with Il re-
epef liability that is foreign to it's nature and
Pa -rons,-but it is hard to find them in this city.
o n hour in the vicinity OF any OF these houses,
'spent in observation Of the appearance and &C.
tions Of its customers, will furnish an instruct
thropist or reformer. OF the threa evils, the
| class OF restaurants referred to is perhaps the
most dangerous. Some OF these es-
tablishmentB are gotten mp without re-
gard to expense, and present an appearance OF
respectabiEity that Is calculated to deceive
tho majority Of people. AL that can be seeR
from the street is decent enough. At night the
supper rooms on the second door are thrown
open for the accommodation OF everybody. No
questions are asked, but the prices Of refresh-
nlents are doubled, aud in some places trebled.
The unescorted female no matter how late the
hour, is permitted to dodge in and out BY the
side entrance, and no account is taken Of her
cornings and goings. Gamblers and thieves arc
allowed to hang about tue door, and are treated
with as much courtesy as if they were men Of
character. Restaurants of this kind are de-
signed to catch the custom OF mon and women
OF apparent responsibility but of secret immor-
ality, but unfortunately they frequently find
paying patrons among young and inexperienced
people. The average lce-cream saloon is lower
grade of this class Of public house, and ia patron-
ICED for similar purposes BY 9 lower grade OF
people. The greasy valance and white curtains
with which it's doors and windows are decorated
hide great deal Of vice, for the sleepy proprle-
tor is indifferent to the conduct OF his guests
provided they pay his charges without question
ing the correctness OF them. The effect OF these
supper rooms and restaurants upon the youth OF
both sexes cannot be other than demoralizing in
the extreme. It is the policy of the proprietors
to seek the patronage OF this class, and allow
them to teks liberties that eventually result in
their destruction. The Chicago concert saloons
are disgusting places. No person with any pre-
tentious to deccncy can onter one Of them with
out ahudder. They are invariably in low, damp
basements, and are as devoid OF neatness as OF
responsibility. The patrons are composed OF the
scum OF society, besotted brutes Who
are ready for anything but work: The police an-
thorities have always Understood that these con-
cert halls perpetualy violated the city ordinance
relative to that species OF nuisance; that they
we're nothing but resorts for thieves; that
strangers who we're unfortunate enough to drop
into them by accident we're beaten and robbed OF
all they possessed; that one-haK Of the bur-
glarieB, highway robberies, and other criminal
depredations OF the same MASS Rere concocted
in them and committed by the people who fre~
quent them, yet no one ever heard OF concert
nights since, the dooraeeper OF one OF these
diereputable Institutions WAS stabbed aud dam
gerously injured by patron, but the house was
Pot 5;a y the Rbe and It = Sly y a
crime with such indifference, the efforts Of asso-
CATIONS Of citizens in favor OF reform will be
without effect. The performances at those
ef tns TSn aosP Po%z5e % sxsapop
unfortunate inebriatea,., Who air what little |
knowledge Of music or tho drama they possess
for few dollars week and al the |
Is they sgd Is can ras h ond hsr
o31IoAAttJ 10 Aoa44uA1 oAA 40 AAnhyo AOA0Ay af-
plauded By the degraded wretches IN front OF |
them. It is no wonder that the concert-saloon !
is the haunt Of all that is criminal for none but
those Of the very lowest type Of humanity could |
speW out their contents usually abo1t ID or |
o'clock. and then the majority OF the ''patrons" !
are shelterless. Those Of them who have any !
criminal business to transact proceed to do SO
without delay; those who are too cowardly to |
steal, and too lazy to earn an honest living, be-
take themselves to the all-night houses where |
they spend the remainder OF the time until day
Light. Where they eat or sleep ID 8 mystery.
Il agitation can abolish these institutions OF |
evil as eFectually as it has brought about the |
enforcement OF the Sunday Liquor law, society |
will be immensely benefited, and the Bridewell
doore will be thrown open to class OF people
who are out OF their sphere outside Of them.