Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-09-09
TIE DMS0FGoTHAM.
Got the Expsrtsnes BHt Paid Dearly for It
swfndisrs WE FAKE the Life Of
an Assaysr Miserable.
tccsrespoaasnce OF The Richmond Dispaich.l
NKv YoBK, September & 1888.

kKu YoRK, September y 1885.
IA is hard 10 determine which dlstn-
euished clergyman deserves the credit OF
startirc Abe fashion OF ministers studying
the under life OF New York city by visit
ine its slums and dives. The late Henry
Ward Beecher once made tour OF
Gotham under the protection OF the po-
lice. The Rev. DR.. Elton, DIR. Hall, DIR.
Stephen Tyng, Dr. Wild, DIR. Simpson,
DIR. Parker, aud other pastors OF lesser
note went through similar experience
ut 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 10
illustrate their sermons and literary
work. or 10 throw light upon the compl-
Gated questions OF home missionary
work. A complete revolution was Of
fected in this regard by the Rev. L. De
Witt Talmage, who before. during, and
after his famous yiSit 10 the horrors OF
the metropolis, proclaimed the fact far
and wide, irosa the pulpit and the lee
tnre ruSxum, and through the columns
of the daily aud weekly press. Although
his venture created n seven days wonder,
NJ. singular 10 relate, stirred up no an
tagomxm.
c1xaoY,fFN "DoiSG THK TOWN.
Since that occurrence it IL no unusual
thing for minister's, especially those who
have been reared in the country and
have no knowledge Of city life, and for
theological students TO 60 summing
under the direction Of some detective or
Guide. This week party OF three. two
OF whom arc olergyInen OF good stand
ing and one student III local semi
nary, odd the town. employing as
their mentor detective attached TO
leading hotel uptown on Broadway;
The Iatter's story OF the evening and
night thus spent affords q good idea OF
The lower side Of the Empire city.
81 called for my party at s o'clock IN
the evening and found them ready for
me, having Just finished their dinner.
They were excited, nervous l may say,
and seesned 10 fear thnt they might get
sne0ed or robbed. | sort Of consolcd
them. and of we started We went first
70 n brace game in tho neighborhood OF
sixth ayenae and Thirty-first street,
where explained the mysteries OF faro
and gave them the pedigree of the dealer
and a couple OF csppers who were there.
They we're astonished, but chiefly on ae-
count of the eminent reepectablhty OF
the place and the people.
CIGARS AND DRINKS oPFERED.
Didn't tlre proprietor object ?" que
lied the reporter. =.
Not much Two done him lot OF
favors and he's grateful, in his way. In
,tead of kicking at tho doctors, he Offer
ed them cigars and drinks, which they
refused. Prom here we went 10 low
grade pohcy-shop that's chiefly patron
lied bv negroes and cheap criminals.
They play the envelope game mostly
new invention, winch enables the poor
devil 10 gamble with two or three cents.
The place didn't interest my employers
n bit. They were disguised oil through.
As We we're leaving clever mulaitO VINO
had dropped 10 us came up and gave
beautiful story Of sick wife. The stu
dent. before ! could say word, handed
n quarter 20 the fellow. The latter stood
etill as # wishing to say something. The
student, who WAS a generous sort OF
chap. sand to him:
My friend, is there anything else L
can do for you p?
"sYep. answered the fellow with an
anxious grin, give me q nun Der.
never played on dominic before.
II laughed to myself at the man
cheek, but it was a good lesson to all the
party and they didn't make the mistake
again that night
INA MUSIC HALL.
"We then took in big music hall on
Tventy-third street. At first sight my
three scholars were delighted. The
place was so beautiful. the music, sing
ing, and other attractions 30 good and
the people 70 we'll dressed and well be-
haved, that they thought l was foohng
them.
after littlo while, though, when they
ssv that most Of the girls who looked 80
young and innocent were drinking beer,
VINE, or vhiskey like old topers, and
heard part Of Lversation at the next
table which was just trifie Of-colored,
they were scared 10 death. When told
fhem that the patrons Of the place were
nearly all respectable businessmen and
that no toughs were allowed to enter, II
took their breath away.
HE TRIKD MISSIONARY WORK.
CATER the music l rushed them
through a half dozen places on the West
Side whose customers ID the nighttime
are giris and young women. They were 80
psralvzed they could hardly speak. In
one place the student thought he could
do little missionary work with very
pretty girl that's done time twice on the
island. He spoke very kindly TO her
and asked If it wasn't very unhappy
life she was leading. She looked HIM
over moment and then answered, L
don't know what kind OF racket you 70
working, young man, and l don't care
NV rule is put up or shut up. If you re
not gong to treat please contine yonr
remarks to your friends, because l won't
have them, and that's all there IS to
it,
IN AN oPIUM-DRN.
"The student blushed and turned away
rs il he had been shot They were get
ting a little bit tired from oyer-eXcite-
ment. 80. to give them a nigbt-cap. as
il we're. took them to an opium club
all that's left OF the old joints. We got
Into tbe place anu iouhu hpOu' WV
dozen men and women lying around
the room, hali-dressed and half-stupetied
with the morphine. They talked 30
nicely that one Of the ministers thought
he'd put a word in. He didn't finish
moro than sentence, when girl
she seemed hardly more than q mere
child-said 30 softly you could just
hear her: please come 10 order, my
dear Doctor. II is very bad manners to
talk religion or politics in JOINT You,
rs Q stranger, OF course do not know the
rule 20 pardon me for preventing you
INDUCING in such breach OF etiquette.
Anothg smoker gravely added; 1.-The
lsdy's fight Doctor. What more scold-
ing might have come can't say, but the
minister bowed and turned to the door,
When / took them to their hotel they
said Officer. you've done one thing.