The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-04-20
A LESSON FROM ST. LOUIS.

| The good people of st. Louis are bewajlino
the repeal of the social evil law and if ali
accounts are but half true, its re-enactment
in some shape has already become an i'm.
perative necessity. Houses of prostitution
have sprung up on many of the most FASH
lonable streets, while designation houses
exist all over the city, and there is no locali-
| ty, however seclusive, that is free from them.
Even among the brown stone fronts and aristo-
tocratic mansions of Lucas Avenue palatja]
establishment for abandoned women has been
set up while In numerous instances the pub
lie schools are positively hedged about with
houses OF ill-fame In consequence of this
| invasion respectable people have been driven
from many of the best thoroughfares and
compelled TO seek homes in the suburbs of
the city.
The following incident. taken from the st.
Louis Evening Post, is but one of many of a
similar character to be found daily in the
papers OF that city, and it describes a trouble
which the people of New Orleans are entirely
familiar with, and which our city government
is even now taking steps to remedy. Says the
Post:
An old and wealthy citizen who owns quite
a large amount of real estate, called on Chief
from the police department. He states that.
through an agent and by means Of false pre-.
lenses, a woman had obtained possession of
one OF his houses on fashionable thorough
"a ARE ana was converting; 1t into house of
shocked at the idea Of receiving money from
the wages OF sin, and he could not CON
sclentiously receive the rent which had
been agreed upon for the house. He
such women would cast blight upon
the house which would largely impair
its value and that II he would save his
property ne must dispossess the keeper
demanded OF the woman, through an agent.
that she vacate the premises. She refused to
do so, claiming that as long as she made
profier OF the rent, she had right to stay
where Sriet, she was. and defying the owner to
hlclpal, to dispossess her. The gentleman
was, therefore, compelled, unless some re-
dress could be furnished him. to see his prop |
bhi s ueprec,ate and go to ruin, perhaps. while
MS conscience forbade him frem receiving a .
cent OF money as rent from the vile creatures
who occupied it. Chief McDonough assured 6
aim that he would do what be could, but in ,
imated that the law gave him almost no ,
'ower to act In the premises. !
Chief McDonough goes on In long inter- I
new to give most fearful accounts Of the .
hameless extent to which the social evil .
AiSIS III o. LOUIS. i ne most alarming
eature of his testimony is the startling in
rease of designation houses. which showed q
ow far the fearful sin was corrupting re- d
pectable and hitherto virtuous homes.
avs he: p
These houses were patronized largely by
larried women, representing almost every fe
rade and degree in society. The public tt
'ould be startled if they could hear the 9,
ames of some who are rumored to be visit 81
nts at these abodes. Under the social evil te
wv, said the Chief. these houses we're under pl
lch close surveillance that no women could n,
otain admission to their doors without being =,
Did and defiant enough and sufficiently lack ~
g in self-respect to be willing to give their pr
ames to the police. There was nothing to st
revent people from going to these houses q,
DIV, except their sense of right The Chief -
fought with tine re-enactment of police sur et
alliance these PLACES would rapidly diminish, he
ID perhaps cease altogether.
This Is fearful testimony, such as we would oh
It like to bear Of New Orleans, yet it would an
artle many If they knew the extent to which Gu
is Illicit intercourse is carried on here. The as
medy for 1t, at least In respectable neigh