Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-12-02
GENTEEL LOAFERS.
A Growing Nuisance thar Needs
correction ~ n Hands Of the Po-
lice Authorities.

A Growing Nuisance thai Needs
correction ~ h Hands Of the Po-
lice Authorities.
There exists in this city, as in all other
cities, a genteel class Of l%osfers, who
dress well, smoke good cigars, get tight
occasionally and move in q respectable
grade OF society, but they keep late
hours, frequent places Of questionable
propriety and other places of resort not
Oy any means the most respectable.
Many OF them are engaged in business,
but from the amount Of money they
spend in designations Of all kinds, the
wonder is how it can be done on a small
salary, but the wonder is often explained
In Memphis, as in other cities, when a
firms books are overhauled and false
entries discovered. And yet many of
these genteel ~loafers are c~ountenanced
by solid business men who know not
their habits Of life after dark. To the
police officers and the newspaper report
ers these things are known, and the men
are known. Several complaints have
been made with reference to the genteel
loaferS who are always ready to pro-
nounce themselves gentlemen, but the
most serious complaints come from a
class of young girls who are employed
IN stores and manufacturing establish
ments as clerks or workwomen. 1t is
well known that numbers of young
women and girls are employed in differ.
ent stores in this city; they work for
moderate wages and support themselves,
and often support aged parents and
families. This is very commeDdable,
and deserves encouragement, but the
genteel loafers regard these working
people as fit subjects for insulting pro-
posalS and objects to be prosecuted. 1t
is well known hat these working girls
do not get through work at the different
stores where they are employed until
after dark. Many Of them walk home,
even ous to the suburbs of the city. The
geHteel loafers are in the habit of lying
in wait outside the stores or on ada
cent corners of streets and insult
ing these girls in a most outrageous
manner, and so great a grievance and
nuisance has it become hat complaint
has been made TO the employers,
aud in many instances have the employ
ers, or some other gentlemen connected
with the establishment, acted as escort
to the girls to protect then from the in
suits complained Of. The employers
have made complaint to the police au-
thorities, aud we would not be surprised
if some evening a half-dozeu Of these SC
called gentlemen we're arrested, locked
up until morning, when they will be
confronted by the Recorder on the
charge of insulting a woman Should
this be done, the LEDGER will publish
their real names, and not the fictitious
ones that may appear on the docket. Il
is an Infamous outrage, that must be
remedied, since patience has ceased to
be q virtue. These fellows only too well
know the bread and straight highways
and bywsys that leadeth to haunts OIL
vice; indeed, such are their beaten paths
almost nightly. Then let them pursue
these vile paths where their inclinationr
lead them, but let them know that re.
sp~ectability, virtue and honesty, which
they possess not, must not be insulted by
them on the public streets. The names
Of half q dozen OF these young men are
already in u possession and in the pos
session Of the police authorities, and il
the %rufianly conduct is continued, an
arrest and publication will undoubtedly
follow. We give these gentlemen fair
warning; the young girls and women
Who earn an honest living by work in the
stores and establishments of our city
will be protected if the police and the
LEDGER are equal to the task. A little
Presidents Island exercise would benefit
the genteel loafers aud insulters Of