The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-11-20

TO Loathe-A Cruel System.
II Harry Walker, the ostensible pro-
prietor OF the low dive on jefferson street,
known as the Peoples Theater, keeps on
doing business on the plan adopted by
him recently he will grow rich in very
short space OF time. The scheme is novel
and intensely original, the only bar to its
success being that it won't work after the
people are made acquainted with its features
through the columns OF vigilant and hon
est press. II was by mere accident that
THE APPEAL discovered this recent eXhi-
bition OF Walkers peculiar methods OF do
ing business, and in order that he may find
no more victims TO be inveiglod here with
golden premises and then left without q
dollar at the mercy OF the world, THE AP-
PEAL proposes to ventilate his little game
SO thoroughly that even the unfortunate
people who follow the variety stage will
shun his house us they would the pest.
Walker has two places miscallcd thea.
tiers, one here aud the other in Birming-
ham. About two weeks ago he brought
party OF people here under engagement TO
play two weeks, at salaries ranging from
SIS to S25 per week. In the company
were one Mrs. May and her daughter
Jessie, Miss Mabel Floss, Miss Minnie
Patterson, and two or three male perform
ers whose names are unknown TO the
writer The stage at Walkers is rs cold
rs the North Pole, and these poor people
shivcring in their stage toggcry and with
their teeth chattering, went through their
-
blood, buoycd up by the hope that the
miserable stipend allowed them would be
paid promptly.
On Thursday, November S. Walker
skipped of 10 Birmingham, leaving u
servile tool of hisin charge OF the business.
When pay day came and the shivcring
and hali-slarvcd actors crowded with
hopeful eyes around the box Office in mo-
mcntary expectation OF receiving the beg
carly piitancc which is their due, they
were informed that Walker had lost $500
in bets on Cleveland and had He'd TO
birmingham, leaving not dollar behind
him.
The disappointment and despair Of the
deserted company can better be imagined
than described. Some had board bills TO
pay, Others needed money TO redeem their
clothes ut the laundry, and all OF them
were in n condition Of desperate dcstitu-
ton. They clamored for portion Of the
next nights receipts, but were informed
that telegram had been received in
struciing the troasurer-lIcavon save the
mark,-to pay Dobson and wife above all
things, and let the Others wait. Dobson
and wife were so-callcd star per-
formers, and managed an alleged bur
lcsquc, the main features OF which were
female scmi-nudity and male yulgarity
Well. the Dobsons got their money aud
left, and the others OF the company were
instructed TO make their way to Birming-
ham and receive their pay there. Mrs
MAY aud daughter left for Birmingham,
but the others, who have had enough
OF Walkers dives, have not gone
there, aud decline 90 DO 30. In
order that there might bc no
mistake as TO the facts. an ArpEAL re-
porter called at the place last night and
interviewed a man named Mortimer, who
Is Just about the coldbloolcd and heart
less style OF creature TO lend himself to
Walkers purposes. lie had the ehront-
erp 10 pretend that the unpaid company
had contracted to return To blrin-
ingham, and would receive no
money unless they did NO. when protest
was made that no such contract was bind
ing, he replied that Walker would be here
himself tomorrow night and arrange the
matter himself.
The public will easily understand how
by this system white women and girls can
be reduced 10 a system Of slavery almost o.
calling, as cruel, ~ relentless and inter.
mihablc ~ that which prevails In the lum-
Der regions OF Wisconsin.
A year ago the civilized world wa,
struck with horror and amIemcul at the
published accounts Of the hollish bO4lago
imposed on the poor girls who wcro in.
weighed 10 a life OF iniamy IN remote cor
ner OF Wisconsin, and Kept Ia perpetual
slavery by means Of b.oodhoundl. shot
guns and prison walls. In more civilized
communities these blrbaritics arr not
tolerated, yet the yoke Is Just ~ heavy,
Just as relentless, Just ~ degrading. Tie
poor, miserable girls who have BEEN lurcd
into these dens, and In utter wearincss
and disgust try To shake of the degrading
icticis are hcdgcd In by poverty, by debt,
by want, aud thus in sullen despair are
induced 90 endure the slavery they abhor.
This Is the little game which Mr.. Walker
and his ssryiccablc tool, Mortimer, are
trying 30 work In this cammunity;.b 4
cannot be successfully played here. and
nowhere clsc where the warning voice ol
an honest press Is heard aud Needed.
4. NJ. NouLr, Of worihingion. Ohio. de-
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