The Indianapolis journal., 1883-07-26
CHILDREN OF THE PAVE.
Some Features of the Social Evil as
1t Exists in England.
Obtrusive and Annoying characteristics OF
the Vice-The Efforts Being Made
for Its Suppression.

LONDON, July 14.-The social well or i'll
being OF the people of England is necessarily
matter of deep concern to the people OF
the United States, owing to the intimate
connection existing between the two coun-
tries. Obviously therefore, it is the duty
/ of the American correspondent to occa-
sionally describe in judicious terms the ef-
forts that are being made here for the sup
preston of vice. Among the many evils
which afflict human society in all climes,
there is perhaps not one that has so puzzled
the brains of legislators, or seemed to so
completely set at naught the best laid
schemes Of neral reformers, as that arising
from an infringement of the social code by
( which the relations of the sexes should be
governed Despite all efforts to restrain
this evil it still 1ourishes, and there is
scarcely community on earth in which its
sway of death is not constantly extending.
Not that it exists to-day in the brutal and
revolving forms in which our forefathers
were familiar with it. This could not be-
Civilization has changed, society has
changed laws have changed, and in conse-
quence changes have occurred in the old
agencies have been doing battle. But it has
only changed. Nowhere has it been crushed
out or satisfactorily regulated. And what
is thus universally true with reference to
this great evil has a relevancy in its appli-
cation to this country which makes
the situation of affairs not only
alarming, but almost hopeless. Toward
some of the most obtrusive of
the modern phases of this evil the attention
of the British House of Lords has recently
been directed. First committee of inquiry
was appointed and finally the recommends
tions ofsthis committee crystalized into legis-
lation in the form of the criminal law
amendment bill. Among the discoveries
announced by their lordshps' committee,
was one which could scarcely be called
revelation, since virtuous people here had
long been familiar with the fact as they
had also most bitterly deplored it, The evil,
1t is found, haunted itself in most outra-
geous and unblushing manner before the
gaze of the public. That horrid traffic which
usually courts privacy, and whose devotees
might be expected to stink from the light as
naturally as darkness flies before the sun,
was here plying its vocation openly, with no
apparent regard for either decency or law.
So said these titled investigators, and every
observant visitor, equally with the annoyed
residents, could bear testimony to the truth
of this verdict. This is, in fact, the particu-
lar phase of English vice which the Ameri-
can notices first, last and all the time. He is
compelled to observe it, and only the utmost
discretion can save him from being often
personally humiliated by it. Happily in
our own country the evil is largely confined
within doors. Here it exhibits itself in the
most shameless manner on the streets, and the
work of unholy solicitation goes on in broad
daylight. In some of the busiest thorough
fares OF London, gentleman who walks
along leisurely any time in the afternoon is
liable to be accosted half a dozen times
before he has proceeded as many squares,
and in some instances it is with the
greatest difficulty that the vile leech can be
shaken of. Age is no protection q .sc
these assaults; indeed, for some unaccounta-
ble reason the gray beard often proves a
magnet of attraction. After night, as a mat
ter of course, these pests of the sidewalk,
who have not hesitated to hunt their prey in
the most public places during the hours
which honest folk devote to legitimate bust
ness, take on still bolder front and push
their trade with an audacity that is simply
shocking
One wonders why this has been tolerated
so long. At times it has seemed to your cor
respondent as though the authorities did not
not wish to put a stop to it, 1t appears,
however, that the existing law has not given
them the necessary power, and England, I'M
fortunately, is slow in effecting changes,
even where great social and moral interests
are at stake. There has been a statute max
ing it an offense to loiter and importune
pedestrians, but its force has been inval-
idated by clause stipulating that these acts
must be committed ito the ANNOYANCE" of
those who were made the subjects of them,
the DIFFICULTY having been in getting men to
come into court and swear that they had
been annoyed. This difficulty the bill lust
passed has removed The qualifying clause
is now left out, and when the measure shall
become law conviction can be secured by
merely proving the lettering and i'm portun-
ing. This it will be seen, leaves the matter
almost entirely in the hands of the police,
for the magistrates are sure to do their duty
and the average English jury can be equally
relied upon in such cases.
ANOTHER AND WORSE PHASE
The other phase of the social curse special
ly dealt with in the criminal law amendment
bilfis even more deplorable than the one al
ready described. 1t was found by their lord
ships that the monster was gathering within its
deadly embrace an immense number of girls
OF tender years; and here again. as in the
other case, anyone who walks the thorough
fares with open eyes must be painfully aware
of the correctness of the verdict. You can
see these soiled buds of humanity every
where and at all hours of the day and night
the school life exchanged for life of sin
and the kindly shelter of the parental roof
for den of debauchery. The bloom of
youth still fingers on their plump cheeks.
but with no blush of innocence or glance of
purity TO keep it company it ks strangely
out of place, and you may be sure it will
not be there long. The sun of their exist
ence has but just arisen, yet even now it
hastes toward its setting, and the heavens