The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-09-09
IN THE SHADOWS.
How Clergyman Visit the New York
Dives and Elephant Jungles.

DIVES ana ElepnanC JungleS.
NEW YORK, Sept. SIT is hard to deter
mine which distinguished clergyman de-
serves the credit of starting the fashion of
ministers studying the under life of New
York city by visiting it's slums and dives
The late Henry Ward Beecher once made a
tour of Gotham under the protection of the
police. The Rev. DR.. Eaton, DIR. Hail.
Dr. Stephen Tying, DR.. Wild, DR.. Simp-
son, Dr. Parker, and other pastors of
lesser note, went through similar expert
ence at or about the same time. All kept
their trip more or less secret from the
general public, and made use of the
knowledge gained in this manner to illus
trate their sermons and literary work, or to
throw light upon the complicated questions
of home missionary work. A complete
revolution was effected in this regard by
the Rev. T. Dewitt Talmage, who before,
during and after his famous visit to the
horrors of the metropolis, proclaimed the
fact far and wide, from the pulpit and the
lecture rOstrur, and through the columns
of the daily and weekly press. Although
his venture created a seveb-days' wonder,
it, singular to relate, stirred up no antago-
nism
Since that occurrence it is no unusual
thing for ministers, especially those who
have been reared in the country and have
no knowledge of city life, aud for theolog-
ical students TO 60 ''slunming" under the
direction of some detective or guide This
week party of three, two of whom are
clergynen OF good standing, and one
student in local seminary, did the town"
employing as their mentor detective at
tachcd to leading hotel uptown on Broad
way. The latter's story of the evening and
night thus spent affords a good idea of the
lower side of the Empire city
81 called for my party at o'clock in the
evening and found them ready for M, hav-
ing Just finished their dinner. They were
excited, nervous | may say, and seemed to
fear that they might get suggel or robbed
/ SORT Of corsoled them, and off we started.
We went first to brace game III the neigh
borhood of Sixth avenue and Thirty-frst
street, where explained tho mysteries of
faro and gave them the pedigree of the
dealer and a couple of cappers who were
there They were astonished, but chiefly on
account of the eminent respectabillty of
the placs and the people.
Didn't the proprietor objectp queried
the reporter.
Not much. I've done him lot of favors
and hes grateful, in his way Instead of
kicking at the doctors, he offered them
cigars and drinks, which they refused.
From here we went to low grade policy
shop that's chiefly patrouiz d by negroes
and cheap criminals. They play the en-
yelope game mostly, a new invention which
enables poor devil to gamble with 2 or 3
cents. The place didn't interest my EN-
ployers a bit. They were disgusted ell
through. As we were leaving a clever
mulatto who had dropped to us came up
and gave q beautiful story of a sick wife.
The student, before / could say wcrd,
handed a quarter to the fellow. The latter
stood still as if wishing to say something
The student, who was a generous sort of a
chap, said to him:
"'My friend, is there anything else l can
do for your
"'Yep.' answered the fellow with an
anxious grin, give me number. l never
played on dominic beforep
| laughed TO myself at the mans cheek,
but it was good lesson to all the party,
and they didn't mako tee mistake again
that night.
We then took in big music hall on
Twenty third street. At first sight my
three scholars were delighted. The place
was 50 beautiful, the music. singing aud
other attra ctions so good and the people 50
well dressed and well behaved, That they
thought was foolin2 them.
After little while, though. when they
saw that most Of the girls who looked so
young and innocent were drinking beer,
wine or whisky like old topers, and heard
part of q conversation ut the next table
which was just trsle off color, they
were scared TO death. When tol them th at
the patrons OF the place were nearly all
respectat le business men, and that no
toughs were allowed to enter, it took their
breath away.
~ After the music rushed them through a
half dozen places on the Wesc Side, whose
customers in the night time are girls an
young women. They were o peralyzed they
could hardly speak. In olie place Tie stu
dent thought he could do little missionary
work with very pretty girl that's done
time twice on the islaud lie spoke very
kindly - her and asked II il wasn't very
unhappy life she was leading. She looked
him over moment and taeu answered:
81 don't know what kind a racket you're
working, young man, and don't care. My
rule is put up or shut up X you're not
going 20 treat, please confine YOU remarks
20 your friends, Dec4use won't have tnem
and that's all there ID to itp