The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1874-11-11
FALLEN WOMEN.
Paper Read In the WOmans' Congress
Held i'm Chicago :, October, 1874.
BY MRS. ELLEN MITCHELL.

BY MRS. Ell l. EN- MITCHELL l..
CARLYLE says: ut is an earnest thing
to be alive in this world" For most
women it is more than this: it is a
tragic thing. How terribly tragic for
those women, alive in this world, who
commit the deadliest of the seven
deadly sins, neither words. nor tears,
nor prayers can tell Our present
purpose is to consider the lives and
condition of women generally called
''FALLEN WOMEN"
to see whether any suggestions may be
offered in their behalf. These are
the women, found in all lands, who
gain subsistence by the sale of them
selves, who barter for money their
peerless, priceless womanhood, who
exchange mercenarily their glory for
their shame.
The knowledge of this monstrous
fact of human existence serves as a
STRENGTHENING Samson's pillar some
minds to the doctrine of total deprav-
ity. Such consign these women to
everlasting damnation, and go their
way content. 1t is wonderful how
consoling at times eternal tOrments
can be! Others, constitutionally OPP
posed to endless perdition, believe
that the sin is representative one,
born and matured in Humanity's
breast, offspring of every evil thought
and deed, conceived and committed
by the race. That, while its shape is
unlovely and hideous. its speech bru-
tai and blasphemous, its deeds desper-
ate and defiant, its claim on humanity
is lust as imperative as its own unhap.
py, misshappen child. So they have
studied it's sad existence, hoping to
find some amelioration for it, some
road less cruel for its most wayward
feet, some path which, though turn
ing upon itself many bewildering
time, should lead at last to the sure
haven with the Everlasting Father.
From the facts obtained by the pa
tient investigation of these faithful
few let us try to discourse whether as
women we are
IN THE LEAsTwIsE ACCOUNTABLE
! in this matter; whether we may be
more helpful and wise in regard to ii
| in the future than we have been in
the past. We find that the ranks OF
| public women are recruited from all
ages and conditions, include the edu-
Gated and refined, as well as the igno.
rant and vicious. Following the gay
colors and loud music, they enter, al
they think, upon life of freedom and
happiness, little dreaming it will prove
one of abject slavery and unalterabl.
woe. The mistress Of the establish
ment in which they engage themselves
charges enormous rates for board, anC
other necessary expenses, and as the!
cannot furnish themselves, being
without means, she advances an ex
pensive wardrobe. Thus, a debt O
800 or $500 is incurred at the com
mencement, a debt that is worse thar
Shylock's bond at last, for it takes no
only the flesh, but the hearts bloot
of its victims. By the bondage o
this debt they are wholly in the pow
er of the keeper of the establishment
must surrender herself at her will t,
all comers at all times, or be turnet
destitute into the street. Horrible
fact, to you and me! Believe me,
entreat you, when say it is horribl
also to them, so horrible that the
turn to stimulants for defense agains
their sufferings, seek in liquors an
opiates either reckless, immature
strength, or forgetfulness like deatl
The life faces are steadily decentra'
lied and the destruction of body an
soul begins, to which, sooner or Later
all succumb who continue to live i
this manner. There is a prevaleu
impression that these women
TAKE TO THIS LIFE PREFERENTIALLY,
impelled by gross RIGHTEOUSNESS {
nature. Good women are prone I
believe this. Naturally, then, the
feel that between them and the
erring sisters is great gulf ixe,
Yet the number who lead this Ii!
from sheer grossness is SO inconsidel
able that the world would be great
troubled with the social evil if it dt
pended OIL, this element for contiDr
ance. What then induces women /
adopt it? Poverty is one cause, wit
its hard, cheerless conditions. 9TH;
bread should be so dear, and flesh an
blood so cheap" drives many di
couraged woman into what seems a
easier life. Few avenues of emplo,
ment are open to women, partl;: b,
cause, from lack of opportunities ,
| perfect themselves, the labor of W,
men is not yetskilled like that of me-
partly because they are compelled
their necessities and general helples
ness to accept small remuneration
demonstrating one day with the kee]
er of an establishment in this city, ST
said to us, Whats the use; as lor
as men pay reluctantly the smalle
wages for the largest days bard labo
and pay the highest demanded pric
in these houses, they will be contin,
ed" Again, indolent, light nature
frivolous women readily yield to Il
alluring prospect of a life of ca
which this one apparently offers b
the great majority of these women.
and this fact concerns us all-are cir
who were left at an early age mothe
less; who drifted about without gui
ance or purpose in this world of u
equal chance for women. Listenil
to the histories of these, sometim
one fears that the world has only tv