The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-02-27
The street Corner vermin.

The street Corner vermin.
We agree with that wife of lazy loafcr
who wrote TO us the other day, that there
should be created, IL II does not air lady
exist, public senti ment against the able
bodied men whose wives have to support
them because they won't work themselves.
so far as we know, outside the ranks OF Tho
loafers themselves, there Is no difference
of opinion about these mean and lazy
fellows. They are not entitled TO be called
men, or TO receive the least consideration
from men. This wife says truly that their
presence ought not to be tolerated at pub
lie meetings, or even at cock fights. They
should be driven out of the company OF
everybody OF the slightest self-respect,
and compelled to entertain each other
with stories of their exploits in grabbing
their wives earnings.
The case of the man HAwTHoRNE-who
denles an illustrious name-affords an ex-
ample of this sort of fellow. lie induced n
foolish girl to run of and marry him, did
nothing for her support, had her taken TO
charitable institution when she was
about to become mother and then ADAM
doned her. This promising specimen of
manhood lives on his mother, who keeps
boarding house. Doubtless he would have
lived on his wife If she had been able to
earn enough to keep him in the style he
| desired.
There nre thousands OF these loafers In
the city. They are usually sleek and we'll
fed looking fellows, and the function of
| most OF them Is to stand at street corners
and cape at the honest people who hurry
by on business errands. Some of them
are supported, not by wives, but with the
gains Of women's shame. They are as vile
n lot of the offscournGs OF humanity rs
could anywhere in the world be scrnped
together. The inhabitants Of prisons and
penitentiaries are honorable men in COM
parsou. These grabbeis Of their wives
earnings aud traders in women's frailty
are too cowardly TO steal.
The law may not be able to lay Its hand
on these contemplate sreaks and pimps.
but they can be so far punished rs 10 be
turned out of the society OF every man
who honestly earns his bread and supports
his family. Yet we hear Of specimens OF
this foul tribe who use the idlcness they
enjoy ut womcn's expense TO figure in pol
itics. They should be hustled out OF every
political meeting and Kissed by all decent
men. When man has no known occupa-
ton, is not the posscssor of ealth, and
makes no effort to gain n livelihood, and
yet wears good clothes, always has money
TO pay for n cigar or a cocktail, and every
day is one OF leisure to him, spot the fell
low, pass him by, have nothing to do with
him, and pay no more attention TO ms
words than you would TO the protestant on:
OF sneak thief whom you caught carry
ing of your overcoat. A sneak thief In.
deed. IL q gentleman compared with d
pimp and brute who lives in lazy loafer.
ism on the hard-eaned money Of lis wifi,
or some woman who sells her soul and
body for him.
City politics afford a well-worked field
for many of these vcrmn. They spout a
ward meetings, are the statesmen of thu
gin mills, and the manipulators Mt tn,
street corners. They force themselves OF
candidates for office, and NEEDLE with al
the smaller details Of municipal politics
sports" they call themselves, but theil
sporting is at the cost Of women's weary
labor or women's degrading employment
There is about as much of manhood II
them rs there Is OF blood in q tufnip. l.
they were marched up daily TO be kicked
by the decent men Of the city, they woul'
get only a small part OF their deserts.
We know 1t sometimes happens tina
while the husband is unable to obtain worl
the wife can. In that case 1t is incumben
on the wife, without complaining, to Civ
her toll for his benefit. But we are no
referring to these cases, only 10 such n
: those of the hard-worked wife who wrot
: us on Monday, the man HAWTHORNE an
: the little army of other loafers and bum
mers like him who infest the street col
ncrs. Mark all these fellows with tn
brand of contempt, and make their hlt
ness their shame. Count them out OF pol
tics rs creatures not fit to deal with al
fairs that concern the well-being Of hone:
| men.