The Labor enquirer., 1883-02-03

SeeLneu 10 ENJOY Lne Iun as well as tne
girls. The World man, anxious to know
/ the reason Of this extraordinary clemen-
cy on the part of the .'cop," accosted
him, when he told the following story:
WHAT A POLICEMAN KNOWS. I,
Il F'I neverl like to bother the young peo-
pie" said the blue-coat, for they have a
hard road of it, the way things are going
i'm our days, 1 have been on the force
since Mayor Vauxs time, and l tell you
things are getting more rotten every day.
The worst sign Of the times is to be found
right in this fact that these poor girls in
our workshops are not only the victims
of mans avarice, but also of his unbridled
passions. Machinery tears out limbs and
'crushes the body but there is something
worse that is poisoning the virtue and
corrupting the souls of these little toll
ers. What I am trying to tell you is
simply this: there are demons Of men
who make business of searching out
little girls who work for mere song,
tempting them by presents and other
ibribes, saying nothing Of their honeyed
words, to become their companions; in
-debauchery and le1dness. Just think
of it-little girls fourteen and fifteen
years of age, with all the knowledge Of
mature women, with all the strong pro-
pensities of full grown bodies, and yet
without its discretion or will power
When temptation falls on them, they
fall benath it and are ground to frag
:ments
There is a man who can be seen on
Chestnut street every morning. lie is
probably So years of age, his hair is gray
and his face we'll marked by the lines of
debauchery. This man is the most no
torious child corrupter in this city. He
spends annually large sums Of money
among the little girls in the workrooms
of this city for immoral purposes. When
he has satiated his terrible passion he
throws them aside, and then begins their
career of shame; by the time they have
reached twenty they are on. the down
ward road to pauper's grave. From
the workshop comes annually large
number Of girls who, in spite Of all the
protestations of parents and friends, fill
the ranks of outcasts who to-day make
society smell Extensively.
"There is an awful consideration to be
thought of. These little ones, who are
not deliberately immoral, are forced into
the Workshop because of the low wages
sof their parent. They take their place
sin the battle for bread. The workshop,
filled with dust and stencil Of oil, is not
Tin any way elevating to morals, especial
8ly of children; but when men, from
whom should come words of encourage
ment and of charity, take advantage Of
their helpIessness and the influences
with which they are surrounded to MUIR
Sder their womanhOOd and drag them
zkdOWn to lever Will lne DedSlS vi lHe
#felds, we can but shudder at the state Of
Fsocety and the corruption of mems
hearts. This man that stalks abroad un-
molested, and sees no flower too fair t.
be blighted, is but one of many. If l
Iscould only get him within the shadow
-of the law, what lively time l
would stir up, and how l would
make two or three other men that
l know tremble in their shoes. For
s.instance, North Eighth street store
knan, who employs girls for $3.50 per
*week, and none are employed unless
hey come up to certain standard of
eauty, scarcely ever keeps them