The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-21
THE TO M 3 S /.
A Second Sunday at the City Prison-A Visit to
the Female Department

VIZ S0hAuAO 0OPoA tAAoAAS
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
Again am seated In the Tombs listening to Q
Sunday morning service which Is being delivered
on the nrst tier. am on the ground floor with q
portly attendant for vtSd-Uts, who closes one eye
and is lulled to sleep by the preachers uninspiring
voice. II say. that's what call slumber ON the
half she'll" grumbIes voice at the same time that
maniac boy opens the grating OF his CELL puts on
pair OF sate-colored cotton gloves carefully as
though he were about to lead a German, then shak-
ing his fists in my unoffending face closes tho
grating with slam that resounds throughout the
prison "Whosoever viii, let MIN come and partake
OF the water Of life freely" is the text announced
.'These are blessed words. encouraging to those in
trouble" says the preacher and straightway three
stupched, battered, dirty, immortal souls. In the
shape OF men, are marched to an adjoining cell by
stalwart guardians Of the peace and are shut up
together with air insufficient for one PAIR OF
healthy lungs. They have been partaking freely
but not Of the water OF lie. Their own wsrst
enemy Is within them, and with that
enemy they are left until the NOR
rows Judge shall sentence them to hard
work on the Island. The preacher knows nothing
OF the grim drama being enacted under his feet II
he knew ne might point moral, or he might be
staggered az am. at the incongrI!rY OF text and
scene and feel how utterly inadequate Ia his feeble
intellect to grapple with the situation. He contin-
ues as though his congregation were eminently re-
spectacle: he speaks Of Christ and rne Gospel. and
o dissenting prisoner lodged In the tOpmOst tier
startles the air and the with such sneeze as
dreamed no mortal could evolve from the worst OF
colds. 1t Is sneeze beg0tten 0fmace and the voice
OF the grumbler exclaimed, 81 suppose the parson
thinks ss to be but sos
not. He tells fellow sinners that there is balm
for every wounded heart; that however great our
enough to say come. but hows party TO get
ostW growls the grumbler 1t is well the preacher
verge Of eternal death to drink Of the water r q
..Oh, take It, my dear friends Don't be IN
Here the attendant opens the eve that has
slumbered, blows whistle, orders Patrick
arducns duty. on goes the preacher. declaring
that to whomsoever much IS given much is re-
quiied, and marvel whether Mr.. Stokes is listen
ing. He begs US not to be lost forever, but to ac-
cept Christ, and our prospect for the future will be
bright and glorious. 1t is just such a sermon as
IS in earnest and respect him. although persuaded
that he has produced about az much impression on
the PRISONS head and heart as Mrs. Partington's
broom produced upon the ocean. Az the close OF o
long hall hour man supplements the discourse
with. prayer, beginning so low as to excite
and sasns
rupts the singing There Is ring to the Metho-
dist hymn that Is not without effect, and II any
good results from the mornings service 1t will be
from music. How many have lstened9 Probably
not half a dozen. But 0ne-third OF the cells are
vnced that even with the closest attention, It is
impossible Tor half the occupants Of half the cells
to obtain on accurate idea OF what is said for
their benefit The performance Is a farce OF stu.
pendous magnitude, and not until the erection OF
another prison. with proper chapel and chaplain
born for the work, VIII there be one tnge Of divin-
itV in The WOrShO OF the TOmDS
The grating OF Nixons cell remains closed. An
other murderer, who has been conversing with
stranger, becomes disturbed as the ladies' and gen.
tlemen composing the volunteer congregation go
upon their rounds OF distributing tracts and re-
Here comes that Religious gang and really must
shut my door," Shut it is forthwith. "oh, give
US rest!,' expostulates 9 younger prisoner. Yet,
viii good people, anxious to reform their
weaker or more unfortunate brothers and
never aSoat tsr
mutters a middle-aged man between his teeth,
land as for their preaching, they all fire wild They
what NEST Of us want Is to get out Of this cursed
employment; but do you suppose people are going
to trust criminalf might accept Christi till all
was blue and my chances wouldn't be any any better
he EXPLAIN What does he want to put religious
csnundrums fOr2 l give II up" And give It up.
1t is a fearful problem this Of how criminals
shall be treated and now crime shall be reduced.
1t is fearful enough when dealing with men; 1t is
more than fearful when dealing with women.
Gene with me to the female department OF the
Tombs secular DAY and see whether 1t Is not
time that weto-do women interested themselves
profoundly IN the fate OF their own sex. Vain Is 1t
to draw the line between virtue and vice. Every
woman worthy Of beng called womanly is
soms eunls No ons IS sy
good, nor is any one absolutely bad. The doctrine
OF total depravity serves as an admirable season.
ing for clerQymen who desire to rival the last dra-
matte sensation, but 1t is an in0igestbe diet agree
ing with no healthy constitution. The great social
good women having been nedged in RON ev ali
their lives never having been tempted and conss-
quentiy believing themselves incorruptible, fail to
OF women less shielded They are cruelty intOl-
Grant OF vice In their own sex, while abso-
sa Se upon trny 10 @sn Of soe
the status OF woman until the moral code OF one
sex be pronounced the moral code Of the other,
until women insist upon less license among men
and are as charitable as men In their treatment of
unfortunate sisters. II every woman realized that
under certain conditions she might loathe herself
as do nine-tenths Of the fallen ineffable pity and
tenderness would suppant an unchristian vindc-
tlveness that SO far the teachings OF the Saviour
work nobly In several institutions, but exceptional
women do not constitute public opinion, which
needs as much reformation as the most degraded
woman that ever died In gutter.
We are standing in the pen OF the Tombs, where
the women who few hours before received SEN
tence rom the Court are awaiting their transfer
to Blackwells Island. Thirty forty women,
clothed for the most part in dirt and rags, SEINE
with bIoated countenances. others with backened
eyes; all but two looking unutterably miserable !
Oh, the pity OF 1t, women with kind fathers and
husbands! Oh, the horror OF 1t, women with
growing sons and daughters! And they are here
Tor what Drunkenness, drunkenness, nothing
but drunkenness. DO you think them sober
now They are orderly, seated on benches
ranged around the wretchedly barren
room, and are for the most part silent. None
laugh one young girl borrows tobacco OF an older
woman, lights pipe, and, with forced attempt
AT pleaSantry, saws fnat she mas learned TO 10
little of everything. she sits on the floor and
puffs. Her face is not bad. II is the hard lace Of
girl who has never had home--whose only educa-
ton has been on the streets. Is she to blame for
being she is and where she Isl Is 1t too late to
rescue her from earthly perditionp see but one
other young girl. A broad, intelligent forehead
ana large blue eyes make her pretty. She Is the
only attractive person in the room. draw her
aside, and, with my heart in my mouth, ask her
why 1t Is. 'Come where they cant't hear, she says
putting yellow novel into her pocket. IL Is the
old story: mother, a father struggling with