Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-09-15
ROWLING HOODLUMs.
Where Youthful Yahoos Spend Their
Nights,
When They should BE Tucked
Securely in Bed.

Securely In Bed.
my stock of ideas is running pretty
low" remarked a mar around the
corner last evening, but I've got one
left"
"And that is--?"
THAT the newspapers would do the
community in which they are pub
lished a service by printing the names
of the young hoodlums who make
night hideous seyen.nights out Of the
week."
Inviting the reporter to accompany
him, a number of billiard and pool
rooms and gambling houses were Wis
tied, the moralist, than whom no one
has q more extensive acquaintance,
discOursing about as follows:
"Sse that young fellow over there
putting the English" so gracefully on
his ball2 He's a clerk in a Front row
house at $l5 per week, and is kept
busy from six in the morning until
seven at night. He has a
WIDOWED MOTHER
to support. She is probably waiting
for him now, Look at the young fell
low v e on tho other corner, watch
ing eagerly forlhis turn to come. He
is employed in the same house, at
even less salary. He is one of several
brothers, and is sowing his wild oats
"That young gent with the inverted
soup plate hat on bis head, who has
just laughed heartily over his smart
ness in putting in the fifteen ball, is
the sOa Of a prominent merchant,
has plenty of money and entirely too
much leisure. He is now character
istically engaged in learning the bust
ness, so that he will be competent to
control a share in the house when he
becomes Of age. He may be seen on
the boulevard almost every evening
behind a fast horse. The boy with the
short tail coat is "a regular frequenter
of this and other places. He came
near going 10 Jail once for
RoBBING HIS EMPLOYER,
but finally he secured another place
and has apparently forgotten his
former lesson. l am satisfied he
spends double his salary about these
places"
At a gambling hall attention was
called to a young mar who bent over
a keno table with feverish anxiety. His
face, which showed his age to be near
twenty-five, was hot and flushed, his
collar was open and his vest unbut.
toned. He" said the pilot, is a
married man and has one Of the lovli-
est Of little women for a wife. He
holds a good position, but it has been
noticed Of late that his wife appears
neglected and unhappy. He will
regret this when his position is gone
and he knows he has wrecked his own
life and that Of the woman he loves"
At this juncture the man spoken of
uttered an exclamation of anger and
disgust, and, dashing his fist upon the
table, rose and left the room. He had
been a heavy loser, and went home
with a heart much weightier than his
pocket-book.
Nov and then you find a man
WHO SUPPORTS HIMSELF
and his family by gambling, but they
are few in number, except those who
work for wages, as the "cappers, "
markers" and callers" with a few
others. They get about $1.5G a night"
Passing down the steps, and on the
way to another resort, a saloon was
passed. A half.dozen we'll dressed
young men, all under the influence Of
liquor, stood about the door, kidding
each other, as they term it, on their
respective adventures the previous
night. The brazen manner in which
they discussed their low amours, the
vulgar epithets applied, "in fun" to
each other, and their appearance Of
absolute abandonment, was enough to
send a cold chill through the most
hardened frame.
The subject just discussed is grow
ing evil, and should be checked.