The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1889-10-20
A SCHOOL OF INIQUITY.
The Soups" Are In Full
Operation at the Old
Mara Foundry.
YOUNG GIRLS IN BAD COMPANY.
A Pastime That Is Not Conducive
10 MOdesty.


where the young are taught what they
an institution at present occupying the
old Mara foundry.
A friend advised me to go there aud see
something instructive went last night
and this is what saw. The place is
located between Monmouth and Varick
streets, on the south side of Grand street.
1t is about one hundred feet from the
street, and when got off the car found
it necessary to cross plot of mud on q
narrow plank that extended to the long,
low twO-story building, whence the
music of hand organ and shouts of
4znerriment reached the street.
The first person l saw was girl--or
rather two girls. Neither of them was
more than thirteen years of age. They
were having an animated discussion as to
with but seven cents in their joint
wti easury when the man at the door
demanded five cents each. The girls
compromised the matter by telling the
''ticket man" that they would give him
the other three cents during the evening,
and followed them into the place.
'Ticket, SIR" said this fellow. who
looked like prize fighter, and who wore
a cardigan jacket
"How much?" / inquired.
rive Genus, ne answered.
handed him nickel and got in return
q ticket that entitled me to one swing of
five minutes duration.
IN THE SWINGS.
/ entered and found six swings in full
operation In each was a girl beneath the
age of sixteen and young man. 1t aD-
pl ared to be the desire of the young men
I'd touch the low roof as they swing, and
it Is needless to say that this exercise was
not conducive to modesty of posture on
the part of the girls. regret to state that
they did not appear to care-except those
who were glad of it.
There were about one hundred specta-
tors who amused themselves by watching
the swingers and tickling the girls who
were not fortunate enough to secure po-
sitions in the swings. The girls were of
all ages between twelve and eighteen,
and they made but little resistance to the
familiarities of the men.
The place where all this occurred was q
room with a sawduSt covered earthen
floor lighted by few gasoline lamps. A
galley was on the east side but it was
dark and unocupied, the girls and men
preferred to be in the shade beneath.
watched the show for half an hour and
became thoroughly disguised.
A girl of twelve years. seeing that he'd
q ticket to the swings, came up and
asked me for it so prettily that l forgot
myself far enough to give it to her. She
JuduhGu u1c COAult11A1 6tnN fOiuAUCCICQ buG
information that she was going to get
her mash" to swing with her. / was
pleased to observe that he was a half
baked" youth not calculated to exercise
/, much influence over anybody either for
good or evil.
WATKINS OF LONE ISLAND.
When I edged my way up to the ticket
taker and said to him, Who is running
this business "
G Mr.. Watkins of Long Island" he an
swered.
"Who is he ?" inquired.
"Me," he said.
"On ?" i remember adding at suppose
you are here to stay while?''
+" Yes, we will stay here until spring."
he answered.
+" Is business good ?" l inquired.
''Jest as long as yer kin git gal to
swing there is always plenty of business, !"
he answered.
At this moment shouts of laughter
came from the second swing from us and
j saw that a thirteen-y ear-old girl was in
an attitude that should have been en-
barraSSing to her. 1t would embarraSS
ME to describe it.
/ had seen enough of the manner
young girls-children in fact-enioyed
themselves with the men who frequent
the place and i left and went to a neigh
boring liquor store. There / was told
that the swinging amusement was an
outrage, and that it was and had been
conducive to the grossest immortality.
The improvement told me that only a
couple of nights ago Policeman Jack
Nuaent made raid on two couples that
came from the ''scups" whom he found
in the neighboring stone yard. They all
fled and one of the men escaped arrest by
rushing through the front door and out
of a rear one of the saloon.
HERE'S THE FIRM
The man said that the people who ran
these ''scupso were two white men, a
colored man and woman, and that the
last named was the cashier and cook, for
all of them live at the foundry. They are
the same people, he said, that Father
Haniey recently drove away from Mercer
street.