Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1881-11-05
AN OPENED OYSTER.
Startling Revelation BY Discharged
Employe Relating to Printing
VI Bureau Debauoheries.
Old Women Hired to Act as Pro
q :curesses for Their Lascivl-
...ge ei ous 6uperiors.
cont Girls from tho Rath Of
-. ----.- Rectitude.

WAsHM GToN, Oct. 23, 1881
A very bitter fight will be waged
over the possession Of the government
printing house. Mr.. Defrees, the
present public printer, has dismissed
his foreman, Mr.. Oyster, because he
learned that Oyster was candidate
for his place. Since Oyster has been
dismissed he has threatened to ex-
pose some OF the inside workings Of
this great government machine.
Among other things Mr. Oyster
charges gross immorslity in the place,
aud says that old women are kept
upon the payroll to act as pro-
euresses for some Of the subordinate
officials. In answer to = general
question upon the subject, Mr.. Oyster
said that "several of these old crones
were at one time holding positions
when work was scarce, and the pay
eOrrespondingly small. Their pro-
motion to . more lucrative position
was the result of an understanding
with several foremen that they would
aid them ia their nefarious scheme to
dshauch certain OF the'female en-
ployes. The methods employed are
ubstantially these: Tho old women's
tenure of Office depends on the fideli-
ty with which they discharge their
trust. .pr is5 l us
or woman of more mature sge, is
working, say, on piece-work. This
work is distributed among SO many
that instances are not wanting where
q day'siwsges at times amounts only
to 10 or Is cents. Believing, and not
without reason, that the old women
have friends at court, the girls apply
through them for more work. Of
course. that means better pay than
the starvation prices at which they
have been laboring. With the crafti-
mess aud knowledge of human nature
which these fiends possess the IN
nocent are led on, step by step, until,
finally, when their minds have been
fully prepared for somc great sacri-
flee they must make. IN order to
secure the coveted boon, they are told
plumply that it can be obtained only
at the price of their virtue. For the
credit Of the lady employees aud tho
fair name Of wOmauhO0d in general,
the insulting proposal is generally
spurned with indignation. Still,
there are exceptions, g but whether
they are 80 from inherent badness or
because the girls are driven to accept
through force OF circumstances, can
not say. A woman who has family
depending upon her for support, or q
young girl. penniless and friendless,
who accepts these
DEGRADING PROPOSALS,
does go, 1 believe, far more as a mat
ter of stern necessity than from lewd-
ness of character. You remem amber
Becky Sharp's favorite maxim: 'tIt's
very easy to be honest on five thou
sand year. But il we have no char
ity for these poor creatures, what
punishment should be meted out to
the scoundreis who crafty their
lust at the expense Of their victims?'
"Why not expese these men bv
publishing their nsmesl"
''It is possible will do so early
next week. For the present yeu mnst
be Satisfied with q recital Of the
facts"
Mr.. Oyster said in conclusion that
to such All extent had unbridled
license been carried that durl Y the
noon hour, when most of the EN-.
ployes are absent at dinner, q certain
foreman and his mistress secrete
themselves half an hour at time In
one Of the many crooks aud crannies
Of the establishment, while the pro-
curess stands guard. 1t is a burning
disgrace and outrage that such prac-
tices should be permitted In gov
ernment department, but the gentle
man with whom the reporter talked
not only atfirms the truth of what has
been. set down, but claims that the
half has not yot beeu told.
ThirfoAn hoavora houo boou Ell1>1