The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1883-07-07
OUR LETTER FROM BRoADBR!M.

OUR LETTER FROM BROADBR!M.
Life II, New York-yisit of tho Country
Press and Washington Light Infantry
Ludlow Street Jail, etc., etc.
New YORK. June 23. 1888.
EDITOR H1EF: :saz4s. ,ess.s
No sadder Commentary on New York life
can be found than that published in the
New York Sun this week. On its front
page it gives the history and fortunes of
three of the most notorious men in the city
of New York men who may be regarded as
the kings of the criminal classes. One of
their dens which it is said enjoys the special
protection of the police, is only block
from the police headquarters. For years it
has been the favorite resort of robbers and
burglars Of high and low degree; not a night
in the week, including Sundays, but seated
at the tables around the hall, may be seen
prize-fghters, pick pockets and harlots,
and in their company bank clerks and col
lege students, and others who are doing the
town. In partial disguise, it is no uncom-
mon thing to see country ministers, seeking
subjects for moral sermons which they
never write: deacons, church trustees, Sun
day school superintendents, lawyers, doc
tors, aldermen and court judges, drinking
and smoking, and looking at the boxing,
wrestling and other innocent games. Vile
as are the associations of this place, while
you are within its walls, your watch and
your pocket book are. much safer than they
would be in church for thieves who would
not hesitate to pick your pocket at the altar,
would think twice before practicing their
vocation in the place speak of. The pro-
prietors know all the customers; if larceny
you inside of ten minutes who did it; and
while thief's lot is not the most pleasant
in the world, it would be infinitely worse for
him if he trod on this forbidden ground
So by general consent, thieves, male and
female, stand on their good behavior while
in this den. The proprietor is put down as
worth quarter of a million. An ignorant
man belonging to the lowest class, he has
succeeded in building up in twenty years,
in the slums, a fortune which a half century
ago, was only the result of a successful
mercantile life. But he is only one. The
men who wrestle with him for supremacy
in his infamous calling, are among the
most remarkable in the city. mention no
names, for the reason that do not propose
in my letters to advertise their business,
but one notorious rufian, the keeper of one
he never tasted liquor in his life, never
smoked cigar, or chewed tobacco; that he
has womans horror of dog fights, and
cock fights; that he has never attended an
entire theatrical performance in his life;
and in short, if his own account of himself
be true, instead of branding him as felon,
New York should rise up and elect him pres
ident of the Y. M. G. A. To meet this
amicable gentleman on the street, you
might imagine him some theological student
just about to graduate: but beneath that
quiet, clerical exterior, IS something that
the bravest policeman in New York breads,
depraved ruffians quail as if they stood in
front of a loaded Calling gun. To look at
the man it is difficult to understand where
the quality is, which has made him such
terror; but the same qualities which have
made him Infamous, have raised other men
to the command of armies, and Kingdoms,
and empires; and it is not the remotest of
possibilities, that in the turn of fortunes
wheel, this notorious scoundrel may yet
find himself elevated to the position so
many other scoundrels have reached, New
York Alderman. A bank account Of $780,
600 makes this gentleman's existence as
pleasant as any fellows can be who con-
stantly carries his life in his hand: who gets
up in the morning speculating on the chance
of being laid out with his boots on befor