Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-02-08
WAgHlAeTRR RaffGAAEasl
A Society Of Sirens Organised iSs
Business.
How Congressman and Others
Have 10 stand and Deliver.


ONE IrOm tue CTlmluai courts OF lhe |
district Of Columbia. There has
ravitsted to the city Of Washington |
within the past decade small brigade |
f women whom nature endowed with |
shrewdness, and who are as devoid |
f the principles of business honesty !
s the utter neglect OF any early |
eaching in that direction can make |
hem, From girlhood they have been |
.dventuresses. Beauty without mod
,sty, passion without concentrated
Election, we're their childhood char
.cteristios. Many Of them have been
more have not All have
had a large education, beginning in
schools and academies, and graduating
from that broad college, the world.
whose text books are everyday con-
tact with mankind. 1t is the woman
Of strong affections and keen sense OF
shame who, falling, goes quickly to
ruin. These sordid sirens of the city
of Washington are of a different
caste. They are lAscivious without
love, and as wise as wicked. All have
travelled. Some have visited, not
only the large cities OF this country,
but the capitals Of Europe, and are
familiar with their Princes of Wales
and Freddy Gebhardts. They are
more or less experienced in various
businesses and professions. Some
hold diplomas emitting them to the
afix IN. D." or "L. l.. D." and one
was entitled to the prefix THE Rev, :"
aud in time might have been ID. d."
The majority, however, have been and
some are still, disciples of liters ture
While in most cases their beauty has
faded, their wits have sharpened and
their cheeks hardened. Where there
has been decay of natural charms
art supplies the deficiency. A varied
experience makes them entertaining
conversationslists aud apt deciphcrs
of characters. Practice has made
them perfect ia their vocations.
When their numbers we're few they
employed their wiles individually, but
the danger OF their calling soon led
them to form a guild Of lheir own.
whose constitution, like that Of
Britain, is unwritten, yet doubly bind.
log for mutual protection. The alas-
rity with which they avail themselves
OF every opportunity to increase their
power by widening their field Of opera
sious through the agency of innocent
persons commands admiration.
No sooner had Secretary Teller
announced his intention not to ap-
point women in his department than
the disappointed seekers for place mel
to consult over their discontinue A
society was formed to assert the rights
Of women to a fair share of govern
mental employment, composed princi
pally OF innocent women who felt tina
an indignity had been done their sex
but who we're not so anxious to resen
it as to get places that would yielC
bread and bonnets, the sirens led then
into the foolish act Of issuing a de
nunciating TRADE upon all heads o
departments, and upon Secretary Tel
Ter 10 particular. Having taken thi
step, the adventuresses easily led tn,
innocent in the society into deepeI
depths. The name of every femal,
applicant for Office 10 the city O
Washington that could be obtained
was placed on the rolls, and these
persOns we're requested to pay in theiI
little dues. The fund thus accumu.
lated formed a nice little capital fol
the sharp wits TO work with but the
expansion Of their acquaintance by
tommingling with the numerous mem
bers Of this society, was the great
bonanza for these pert pelicans. The
personal history of such member and
her blood, social and political con.
nections, we're soon familiar to the
designing ones, and all we're used to
advantage. Innocent girls Of this
society who get places in the depart
ments were induced to contribute to
the sustensnce of those still out in
the cold, and less conscientious orea.
lures we're thrust into place by this
concentrated force made to act as spies
on women already in government EN-
ploy. This was what these precious
pirates most desired. 1t is an accu
rate knowledge Of the social relations
OF officials and female clerks thai
makes the class Of women about whom
this article is written such formidable
claim agents.
The course Of the Mosby woman in
the Rothschild's case is fair sample
Of their manner Of operations. She
learned what o@cers OF the Treasury
Department it was who had the set
Element Of claims. She became a
boardeF ct the same hotel with him
She ate at the ssms table. She serapsd
an acquaintance with his wife. She
attended the wife Ia sickness. She
gradually got the freedom of the off.
DIAL acts. She got access to the official
papers be brought to his rooms to work
on evenings. She became conversant
with the history Of special cases. She
visited his Office. She became acquaint.
cd With his assistants. She says she
learned his partislIty for pretty lad,
clerk in his department. Che but .
detective on the track of the
official and the pretty clerk. She
suddenly demanded a settlement OF
the AothSohild's case. Exposure and
disgrace Of both Official ald clerk were
thTeatened unless the case was settled
Could blsckmail be more systematici
This is presumably only one of many
cases, for there are many Of the kind
Secretary Teller, Jay Hubbell, Sen
ator Vest, OF Missouri, and other,
have been the victims Of their socie.
y'G publications. The president O.
this society openly boasts that she ha,
the names Of bureau aad department
haads upon whom she can fasten som,
social scandal; that she knows of Il,
or more Congressman who have lille.
gitil9ate children in u Washington
institution Of charity, whose mother
are in the departments enjoying ii,
aottest positions. Nor does she res
satisfied with her knowledge, but sh,
declares that it shall be the mari,
wand that will place her favOritos il
official positions.
A Hero.
San Francisco letter.
An exciting incident which ha