The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1890-05-29
The Temptations of a Large City.


to our ideal conceptions of life! and what a
paradise this neither sphere would be were
it possible to realize, even in small meas
ure. the pretty theories of the philosopher!
What structure of woes would be
raised from the overburdened hearts of the
sorrow-riven mortals if all would do unto
others as they would have others do unto
them. If we were all as charitable and
just in practice as we are theoretically the
milk of human kindness would then lubri
cate the wheels of progress and annul the
crushing strife that now colors the every
day life of the world at large. But, as the
poet says, MAN was made to mourn" and
mourn he certainly does if he makes the
slightest back-step from the stereotyped on
ward progress of an insensate world.
Prosperous individuals 60 to their homes
after the busy whirl of the day, and when
alone in their cOZy apartments mentally
blend their sympathy with the tears of the
oppressed and resolve to aid materially
their less fortunate fellow-mortals. But in
the morning these good resolutions are lost
sight of and the uneven struggle of the day
begins again. So much for Theory versus
Practice.
However, this is not an important part
of the subject, and it is useless to linger any
longer over this aspect of the question, for
it is so and will not change until some fut-
ure day the world will be cOnvulsed by a
general internal revolution in the individual
that will forever wipe away the dross of
selfishness and uncharitableness. Money
is king at present and all must bend in
obeisance to the golden despOt. 1t is this
tyrannical ruler that is the cause of the
major part of our woes. In city like
either of the two larger ones of our state
the minds of an ever increasing majority
are always intent upon devising means to
make money and make it fast. And it is
this condition that is the cause of so much
crookedness under the guise of legitimacy.
1t is well known that to acquire wealth
by other means than the ordinary pursuits
and callings of life it is necessary to cater
to an abnormal or depraved taste; and GER
tain it is that our Twin Cities are not behind
in the pertinent adaptability Of the meth
DDS used. Everywhere one goes you will
find attractive means whereby to squander
money. The saloon keeper has all the
recognized cOncOmitants of his business.
such as music free lunch. cards, pool tables
and enterpriSing ''sucker- er-Steerers" to
wheedle the hard earned dollars from that
gullible class. the transient wOrkingmen.
On the streets may be seen parading. both
night and day, the tinseled victims of mans
duplicity. some of whom are now so hard
ened and degraded that they will resort. to
the lowest and most depraved actions to en-
trap the unwary. In various parts of the
city may be seen innocent-looking games of
chance conducted upon too small scale to be
considered gambling, yet it takes good hard
cash and plenty of it to buck against them.
But of all the various temptations of a
large city the saloon is pre-eminently the
most insidious as well as the most destruc-
tive. From tho lowest dive to the emblaz-
Oned ''sample ROOM" each has it's special
attraction suited to the tastes of the pa
irons; and these "attractions' are always
certain in time to ensnare the least gullible
as easily as the most untutored patrons.
It is said that a gambler or fakir never