, 1873-01-10
THE BT. LOUIS "BYBTEM."

In tho record, and nado by tho negligence errors,
ind Ignorance Of tho prosecuting attorney.
==-N=Ee--...- |
THE BT. LOUIS "BYsrEm." |
Bomo discussion has arieon latoly regarding
the ST. Louis method Of dealing with tho social
OWL, by licensing houses Of prostitution, and
requiring tho inmates to undergo regular modi-
cal examination and troatment, for which u Tux
of s1.50 to e9.50 por wool Ia imposed upon
each. Tho st. Louis Chief Of Polco thinks tho
systom works well-by which is meant that,
under 1t, tho maximum Of yico may DO attained
with tho minimum Of punishment. Tho Louis
yillo Chief Of Police, however, In recent report
maintains that, while noasuros Of foroib1e re-
proBston arc n failure, tho licensing eyRtem Is d
nuisance, and that the most efficient
policy is "a strictly tacit toloration OF
tho orderly prostitutos, private classified
registry, froo hospital assistance for
tho diseased, and fines and imprisonment for
tho disordorly." IIo also recommends tho GREG
tion mud maintenance of an Industrial Homo for
tho reformation of tAoao among tho fallon who
may dosiro roform. His report considers tho
question moro in its moral than III Its medical
and sanitary aspects. Measures Of foroiDlo re-
preston, hc thin1s, diaporso tho evil, and causo
abandoned women to sock employment rs eer-
vanta in families, and clerks In places of bust
ton and contros Of mischief. Such WIS their
effect during their most thorough trial in Plila-
dolplia several years ago, and minor efforts in
othor citios have ended in tho aamo result.
Tho licensing aystom ID ovadod IN tho
fact TINT large proportion Of tho women avoid
rogiatoring, while tho promiso Of exemption
from exposure to disease which it holds out to
tho depravod increases tho vice, without tho
possibility of real security against contagion.
Statistics Of tho social evil soosn to show that
1t di1ninishes in proportion as tho means Of
employment aro open to womon, in a mannor to
rondor them capable of supporting themselves
by work. In manufacturing and industrial
cities, wherein diversified range Of labor offers
opportunities to women almost equal to
those extended to mon, and where women, both
before and aftor marriage, work for tho
common support Of tho household, tho ratio Of
marriage rises md tho proportion Of prostitu-
ton falls. In cities of fashion and luxury, or
which are almost exclusively devoted to kinds of
business such us importing, exporting, md
transportation, in which mon a1one take part,
womon aro largely supported without labor Of
their own, marriage becomes MI expensive lux
ury instead Of MI economical partnership,
aud co1ibaoy and prostitution prevail.
As illustrations OF this rulo, We 1nay
cito that, in Birmingham aud Sheffield, tho
two cities of tho world in which omploy,nonts
aro most open to womon, but woman In 700
is prostituto tho lowoat proportion anywhere
found except ut Tho Hague. In Loeds, tho
ratio is only in every 854 in Manchester, i
in est; in London, in 514, mid III Now York
/ In 518. In La Hague, where tho equal and
proverbial industry Of all classea has been tho
remark of ovory tourist for d century, tho ratio
only to 750; IN Copenhagen to 5s4, In
| Brussels, to 1856; in Lyons, to 42i.
| Comparing these with the capitals Of fashion
and soaports generally, wo find tlat in Paris
| tho ratio is l to every 281 in Drost, to 159
! in Maraoilles, to 2s0 in Algiors, to 1o2; in
Rotterdam, i to 2G7 in Amsterdam, to 2so
in Liverpool, Bristol, md Plymouth, to 1o3
in Brighton md Bath, to 2it; in Madrid. l to
27o; in Louiayille 1 to $50 and in Chicago,
to 23o. Tho f1uctuating character Of trado and
tho rolatiyo instability Of population in the
newer countries, have also much to do with the
sr1ndoring Of families and tho consequent i'll
crease Of tho social evil.
No doubt, however, it any othor AGENCY ia &C
effective in checking it as tho inculcation anG
practice Of those habits Of business industry OF
tho part Of girls and women which prevail more
extensively In tho manufacturing citios oi
franco, Germany, England and America, than
in tho cities Of gaioty, fashion, md commerce
OF ono thing no feol tolorably we'll assured md
TINT Is, TINT tho licensing systom docs not, or
tho whole, diminish tho diaoaaes which Aayt
boon Affixed by Nature to tho social OWL; whilo
on tho othor hand, It dooD hold out D fa1Bo lopt
to tho vicious md unwary TINT tloy may Hi1
| without punishment.
| @.-..---E[We2@.-E@-.s
I Death OF LOllf2 Napoleon =