St. Paul daily globe., 1885-06-28
Club Rooms Which Are the Resort OF
the Depraved, and Pitfalls
for the Young.
The Notorious Buckingham, Where
White and Black Commingle
and EVIL RetgnS.
Under Nigh,,s Sable wing.

ucDduCuS0 WuUSc olC SoehAASo OiA
only under cover of darkness; the untor-
tunate night-worker whose occupation has
revised natures order of rest and labor
all constitute class numbering many
thousands, of all ages, conditions
and both sexes. The busy re-
porter witnesses numerous interesting
incidents after midnight, and he
perhaps jots them down in his note book, or
permits them to pass unchronicled exceptin
reference sheet. In city the
size of Chicago the streets are never quiet
in the business district Street cars run
with frequency and regularity, always
crowded with belated club men or men who
will mention the club or lodge in
making their excuses to their wives.
Homeless wanderers are plentiful, especially
these warm nights; policemen are more
easily found than in the winter months,
while Pinkertons alert watchman are seen
fitting to and fro, peering into windows.
trying doors, occasionally rOusing sleep
ing vagrant from some dark nook, ordering
him to '.move on" Hacks, cabs and
gurneys are moving
NOIsILY THROUGH THE STREETS,
which are still brilliantly lighted, and but
for the tell-tale illuminated dial on the
board of trade tower one could easily lmag-
inc the time 10 p. m. instead of near day
break A few nights since the GLOBE rep
resentative had finished his nights work
just as the clock struck 2, and was making
his way homeward when he met sergeant
of the police and detective
on their way to disreputable
dance hall to keep the hilarious dancers IN
good order. Come along with us and
1ato
and nothing 10th the GLOBE linked arms
with the officers and sauntered down State
street. Below the fashionable retail dis
trict short distance are scattered saloons,
lunch houses, hotels of all classes, and some
with unsavory regulations. Ihere
had been Sparring match be-
tween two local celebrities at one
of the variety theaters in the neighbOrhoOd,
and the contest had ended but a few min
utes before the newspaper man and his es-
cort arrived at the place. The theater was
still brightly Illuminated, and the street
was full of excited men, and women, too,
who crowded about the entrance,
eager for glimpse of the boxers when
they emerged from their dressing-rOoms.
The saloons were wide open, and the busy
bartenders had all they could do to supply
the bars. Here and there a police officer
was keeping an eye on some suspicious
fellow, now quelling a disturbance. and
occasionally making an arrest The ap-
pearance of the contestants of the evening
was the signal for
A SHOUT OF APPROVAL
from the crowd, and the winner of the
match was carried on sturdy shoulders to
his carriage, while the loser and a few
friends hurriedly crossed the street, enter
ing saloon, where in private room they
discussed their defeat over strong drinks.
In a few minutes the lights Were out in
the theater and the crowd had dispersed,
most of them disappearing in the saloons or
cheap lodging houses. Now, let's make a
call on some of these club houses, "
said the detective. ''We're certain to
find some kind of amusement, and suiting
action to the word he turned into narrow
hallway, passing up the stairs, where in an
swer to ring at the bell, a small slide in
the door panel opened and single eye was
visible glancing at the officer and the GLOBE
man. Apparently the scruting was salts
factory, for the slide closed with slam,
and the visitors were admitted into a
large, well-lighted room in which were a
half dozen couples in various stages of ine-
briefly. ''This is private club house,
where dancers from the hall next door can
adjourn for refreshments, said the officer.
''Here, Sam, give us some sand
wiches and beer" he said to
the colored waiter. While the waiter
was absent filling the order, the scribe
made mental inventory of his surroundings.
Opening off this large room were ten
l14,,- 1x,fo nd
containing table and four chairs. Just at
that time the chairs were all occupied by
patrons. In one of the rooms were two
men drinking bumpers and
TELLING FUNNY STORIES,
over which theylaughed hilarlously. Through
the half-closed curtainsof another were seen
two men, accompanied by two females
whose health they were drinking in bump
ers of beer. The women were undoubtedly
of the demi-mOnde, as their dress and painted
faces indicated, and they were doing their
best for the temperance cause, if putting
liquor out of the way can be called help.
Their conversation was of that character
that parents prohibit in their households by
excluding RabelaiSian works from the
family library. One of the men with
them looked to be 40, his bloated face pro-
claiming him an old-timer. But the other
was not more than 20, apparently, the soft,
peachy bloom of youth being visible through
the flush caused by drink. He seemed
nervous and i'll at ease. Probably expected
to be spanked and put to bed when he got
home, and it's to be hoped he did.
We visited several other places of
similar character, and in each
place the officer assured himself that there
about $3.50 we entered the Buckingham pal
in the West. Situated in the worst quarter
white and cOlored, fraternize, it may
readily be inferred that the gather
ing was not first class, or the
conduct the most unimpeachable. The
musicians were struggling with the Rae
quet, as were also hundred dancers,
while the galleries were filled with noisy,
drunken crowd of both sexes, who cheered
with delight the bold gyrations of a hand
some mulatto girl swung iu the embrace of
a white partner. There was that
FREEDOM FROM ALL RESTRAINT
and decorum that led the officer to remark
that the crowd was having ''sheol of a
time" Later the GLOBE man was ap-
preached by the ''foor manager,"a a drunken
fellow in short sleeves, with ''Want to
dance, boss? I'll git ye a pardner. Only
25 cents a number. Some fine dancers
here. Can't dance? Oh, that don't make
any difference. Take yer girl out and buy
her some beer. Say, by -, you'll dance
or git out of here, and -" Thesofficer had
been listening to the persuasive eloquence
of the floor manager with considerable
amusement, but when the fellow became
threatening, he stepped forward and tapped
the other lightly ON the shoulder, calling
attention to a small gold star hidden meath
the lapel of his coat. With gruf apology
the big fellow shuffied of, to the great re-
lief of the newspaper man, the loud remarks