New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-05-25

! here was good utal OF pam, Nlnlt~nUlf
talk heard at the recent anniversary meet
ing of the Society for the Prevention Of
Crime. There was no heating about the bush.
or search for nice words to describe foul
thing when pzmhlinghrll pool-roOIus, lot
tcrics and liquor-saloons were attacked and
there Wa a disposition, too to push each sub
icct 20 it, Just and furthc,t conclusion. Lot
tc!ir, la brnclIt church were denounced rs no
better in reality than lotteries 10 benefit stock
company. and the delicate win" ON the gentle
mans table was declared as undermining 10 the
morals Of boy - ~ the gin aud beer sold over a
fiji nv counter. There can hc no doubt of the
sincerity and zeal of the men who are pushing
hi, reform and it il certain they have accom-
pli~hcd an incalrulll,lc amount of good. cspcc-
iIll, ia the repression of indecent literature
and flash novels and in the check upon free
rum selling in this State last winter.
They have defined accurately the great temp
i,'iou, which liz in wait for Young lads aud
girl la the ci'c~. and are doing what they can
to stamp them ont one thing, which Is still
better. thr. could delft the hoy and glh
above thcm. \ lad, for instance, who ha- work
to do in which he j, Interested which pays him
% good living price. and ont of which hr expects
to make the ,pld hl-i, for prosperity for his
futur. life. l. not likely 10 Doe tempted hy play
ir. pool for drinks or the Fortunes of Gentle
man Joe" or Wbi~hry Jack" The reason why
hundreds of tiou-lul, of boys crowd the streets
90, American towns irving 10 pick mp a living 10y
tL,ir wits. th,ir mind, blank. ready for any
f.ul temptation. j. that thy ar" barred out
from honr-f trades hy the Trades mons.
skilled foreign worhmcn that the Trades
Union, cguiut bar ont. now hold the places
winch should be- held by the vicious, drunken
Souus men that fiil or ilIl- and HOUSES of cor
rrction. let the trades be opened Ia American
boy: OF it thc suicidal stupidity of The work
lncmcn still shuts the door of honest labor upon
their own Suns, let them be- sent 10 the wide
waiting land, Of thc West to better work
nrmiu. Emigration ont of ne citrs il the
only sure and enduring prevention of Crime, 50
far ~ yonng men are concerned.
With regard to young women, it is 4 fact
well known 10 every one who has looked into
the record, of crime that the ranks of prosttu-
ton in th, country are filled for the most part
from the lower middle elias, of girls, who have
i,rhy tried to earn living rs ehop-Siris or
,,lm~tr,-s"~ aud-,ailrd. How Is a girl to
tav for her boarding and the decent clothes
which She is required to wear behind the
counter. ON three or four dollars a weeks How
j. she TO buy food at all when She j. paid a
dollar dozen for making WumruS skirts cldh-
orIt,l, tucked and bounced. and one dollar for
four complete drc>-c,, paving back - cents a
week Tor rent tor h,r machine Any woman can
answer this question. How many youns women
can struggle through such life Of wlrlchcd-
ness and starvation pure and stainlcs'G If the
Soccty would prevent crime here, let them
make these girls fit and willing to 60 ont rs
domestic or farm servants; give them vomanly
work in homes where they will he sheltered
and fed. Indecent literature la, little 'inula-
ton among servants who are comfortably
clothed and well fed. 1t is the hall >tarFcd'
taNdry sewing and shop CiIl who hides the
dirty volume under her sleeve, and appeases
her gnawing hunger aud cold 10y histories OF
lucky miincrs or scamstrcSscS who, presto
who knows how l-bccomc fine ladies and rcyel
for life in diamonds and champagne.
The way 10 build up virtue Is first To cut away
the Ground from under the sin.