The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-10-16
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D society i not Of, ant scholar. Shocked ut
the sins OF her pets. she steps IRON sae Ioau
10 review thera in astonishMent to-day, but
tomorrow drops into the ruts OF her oid
HIGHWAY with new ardor for new idols, ana
cries ont TO her Jehu, g Drive Oh - IS
Not a wear ugo Chicago awoke one mern.s
inr 70 lind that one OF her social nabobs,
nresidei,t OF her Dreudest savings bank,
had robbed fifty thousand wood-sawyers
and Vasherworncn and gone to Europe.
Sacicty turned over some Of the early leaves
OF his diary. They disclosed the fact that
the old man was veteran swindier when
first he cotlrted metropolitan society, aad
that she knew his record when first she en-
braced him with her reckless ambition TO
make gold Of all that glittcrs. Then society
rude!y tore his autograph from ner aibnm
with q chronic show of yirtnous indigna-
ton, but put on no widows weeds, nor
took to herself reproacbfult thought that sue
had lent Spencer her sti'ts whereWith to
climb into wide confidence and make posi-
BILE his startling fraud.
Last week the circles OF both wealth and
fashion IN Chicago were walked up again
when it became known that Charles w.
Ansell, secretary OF the Pullman Palace
Car Company all its days, bad robbed 1t OF
Sl20, 900 and fled. He was one OF those
mortals OF whom society makes rare excep-
ton. Without wealth he held the Keys to
her halls. Instead OF money, he contributed
Apollo in person. Families OF half and
whole millions made welcome in their homes
The employe upon salary OF 30, 600.
He was z widower, and only thirty
four. Diplomatic mothers coveted his
presence and fathers excused it for his
position OF honor in business. But no
voucher was asked for his habits during
three years of second singlcness. NOW So
cIety has that voucher on file. 1t shows that
the pet OF proud mothers end hopeful daugh-
tiers was also the wild patron OF harlots-
that their beau ideal OF man mingled IN his
person the perfume Of their parlors with the
rank odors OF Chicago's most notorious
brothel. This is the glacier OF infamy that
is now grinding truth into the bosom OF So
ciety out West. Let the rest OF the world
look on and learn something at free school.
Looking further for causes that facilitate
the growth OF these social infamies. note
first that "good society" has its bad ha6-,
its; that it has its velvet idlers OF DotD
sexes, who love TO Craze close along the
borders of bad morals and occasionally nip
the grass over the fence. Note further, that
when these persons sicken OF society ana
their own duplicity in it, and resort to open
crimes for new sensations, punIshments sell
dom pursue them. They are whitewashed
without arrest or whitewashed IN court.
There was Chicago's city treasurer, who
stole from her taxpayers about one million
dollars. He is as free rs air to-day and "em-
inen,ly respectable" while his bondsmen
are made bankrupt by his crime. Later,
there was her great gang OF royal
whom and their
stolen millions the courts in that city
wrestled for years. Not one OF them
has ever suffered punishment beyond
few days OF sumptuous confinement in
iail parlors. Then there is her registrar IN
bankruptcy, whom the wiser and better
half of her Bar Association, after careful
study, found guilty Of taxing illegal costs
in the sum OF $4,000. Yet neither society
nor courts have ever moved for justice in
his case, Is it that both have too much IN
common with his crime?
And even of the prize criminals, about one
half OF the few who reach conviction ana
sentence are speedily pardoned. Compare
the murder and pardon records OF Illinois
for twenty years; then say il clemencY
be not the greater criminal. During that
period 315 convicts have passed into her
penitentiary for the crime Of murder. VI
these, 1O2 have been pardoned-many
of them, too, had first received com.
mutation OF their death-sentence-a and
of the 81 sent for life only 81 remain.
The average time Of Imprisonment for MUIR
der has been but three and half years. In
that time, Chicago has convicted OF murder
only 81 and executed seven Of them, while
so violent deaths per annum in that city IS
a small average, though not larger ratio
to population than other larger cities. But
the punishment has been very inadequate.
Christian Union.