Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-05-30
What Protects Them.


The facts as to the manner Of life OF Maggie
Morris and her associates. which were brought
out on the trial of the ruf'ian Crowley, revealed
nothing new 10 those who are familiar with what
goes on in New York after nightfall. Similar
testimony in regard to social habits and GUS
toms Is given almost daily in trials in the court
OF general sessions, but the cases do not COM
mand the great public interest which was
aroused by tRe exposure of the brutality and
NlIlainy OF this police sergeant.
1t appeared that Maggie Morris and another
girl, both hardly seventeen years old, after
stroiling in the streets during the evening, went
together and unattended to ball, at which
they remained until after two o'clock in the
morning; They were decent girls who worked
ligious duties, for, late it was when they got
to bed. they rose in time to attend mass ON the
sunday which followed their night OF revelry.
Both of them, too, had homes and mothers who
do not seem to have been alarmed because of
the late hours OF the girls.
Maggie and her companion simply followed
the custom OF their girl associates in leaving the
house al evening 10 90 abroad to get recreation
and excitement, and it was not unusual
thin. for them to drop in at the dance. Nor was
the dance, which was attended by respectable
girls, held in an unusual place, for ordinarily
the halls for such purposes are over liquor
saloons, and drinking always goes on freely
among the men, at least, SO that the ball is
up In more or less violent disorder when the
company have prolonged their festivities almost
until the break of day.
The testimony at criminal trials shows that
crimes OF various sorts are likely to take place
in the early hours of the morning. when the
streets in some quarters of the city are full of
people returning from reyelrieS of one sort and
another. For, besides the more respectable
dances like that which Maggie and her friend
attended, there are others which are utterly
disreputable, though decent girls are sometimes
tempted into them. EeSideS men and women
gather Ill the great drinking saloons, and after
midnight pour out into the streets more or less
affected by spirits or beer. Among the women
are many girls OF about Masgie's age. and, like
her, they work during the day for their living
and lead lives which are otherwise orderly.
temptations, and at least are pretty sure to
suffer In health because of lack of sufficient
sleep. But We cannot wonder at their desire to
go abroad at evening when their work is over.
Only in that way can they satisfy their demand
for social recreation. At home they are cramped
up IN narrow quarters, from which they are
glad TO escape, and they have nowhere to 60
except into the streets. where they walk
in pairs and meet their acquaintance. And.
once out, of course they are liable to be made
the victims of constituencies young Scoundrels
In their own line of life. for the enemies of their
purity are usually the men with whom they
naturally come into association in their early
days.
The wonder, then, is not that 80 many fall,
but that So many stand that even amid ali
spect and resist the allurements OF vice. What
IL 1t that Keeps them from speedy ruin? First
OF all their religion. and the protecting care OF
their church. Without that support the most
OF them would probably be utterly lost; aud
now when Il girl shows disposition TO neglect
her religious duties and To rebel against the adj
wiser, it is proof that she is preparing To take
the downward step, ii she has not already en-
tered the forbidden path.
What. then, would he the condition as to
morals in New York if the simple faith of these
girls was destroyed after the manner of that Of
the intidei agnOsticS who treat their religion as
a childish superstition. and yet are unable to
suggest for ii any substitute which would have
an equal power GDCio