The evening world., 1892-01-04

thC Va tHt tlkcl luil bioSh hS"u " ~
poked through small opening In the portal,
but not recognizing familiar IN the visitor
he quickly closed the lookout" and refused
to listen to any questions.
Downstairs the barroom and designations
parlor were open. All comers were ad-
mitted. There were very few vacant seats
at the tables. The general topic Of CONVEX
sation was the dives, and Mr.. kelly's defiant
attitude was enthusiastically indorsed by his
admirers.
"Kel, old stocking, / glory In your spunk,"
was the greeting OF one of the painted women
as the proprietor passed by her. She was
drinking wine with a chance acquaintance
whom she was bleeding and she invited Kelly
to Join them, but he excused himself
Business was rushing at McCormick's and
scribners Pickwick dive, Broadway. near
Thirty sixth street. They were doing "a
splendid Saturday night trade" In the words
Of a habitue, and business was almost as gooi
last night.
FRANK sTEvENsoN's "sLIDE."
The dive kept by Frank Stevenson at 1877
Bleecker street, known as "The Slde,' Is
morally the lowest In New York. London,
Paris or Berlin, with all their iniquty, have
nothing to parallel this sink OF vice ana de-
pravity.
Other dives have become notorious on ac-
count OF their proprietors or the many crimes
that have been committed In them, but The
Slide Is notorious chiefly on account OF its
immoral character.
Much has been written about the degrada-
tion, corruption and wickedness In the
slums OF the city, but there the poor
wretches shrink from notoriety, while the
abandoned creatures in stevenson's Slide :"
make nightly public exhibition OF their evil
doings. These beings, without moral sense or
shame, are billed as the chief attraction in
that pit OF shame.
"Tne Slide" Is basement dive. 1t Is
reached through the barroom. which Is
separated from 1t by u partition with a glass
door, and through side entrance. There is
space about 40 feet deep and 20 ieet wide
behind the partition, where there are tables
and drinks are served.
Back OF this space about the same breadth
and depth, the floor has been raised about
twelve feet. hight OF steps leads to 1t. This
elevation is called gallery and from 1t
full view OF the place may be had.
There are ABOUT twenty tables, and stools
there are no chars-are ranged around them
and all along the wall. Chairs take
up more room than stools, and
Mr.. Stevenson's object Is not to provide COM
fort for his patrons, hut to crowd as many as
possible into the smallest space. The stools
are handy, however. as weapons OF ofrense
and defense during row.
NINE O'CLOCK VERY EARLY.
At o O'Clock Saturday the lights were burn
Ing low, and but one waiter was present.
young man went in and sat down at a
table. The waiter, who seemed lonely, ap-
preached.
"iou are early, stranger" he said, in an
encouraging tone, and sitting down next to
the reporter he leaned against the wall and
rested himself In an easy attitude.
"They don't begin to come here until mid
night" he went on. I'VE never do any busi-
ness to speak OF until then. But from ~
O'Clock until . In the morning you can't get
standing room here. Why, Christmas Eve 1t
was SO packed you couldn't move. We had to
put them out at o'clock, saying we were
going to close up, but we didn't. After we
cleared the room We only let in those we
knew.
~ don't think there'll be many here to
night, though" he went on. Ever since
that EVENING WORLD began writing up the
dives we haven't had any music or show
here. stevenson says the reporters are
around to all the dives, and he don't want his
place written up, so when the reporters come
here all they Will see is people sitting around
the tables and drinking.
WISDOM FROM STEVENSON.
THAT EVENING WORLD Is breaking up the
business for us. 1t downed Billy McGlory,
and stevenson says that Kelly and McCor.
mick will have to close II the paper keeps on
rapping them"
1.-The proprietors OF these places are, then,
mere afraid OF THE EVENING WORLD than
they are OF the police :" was asked.
Bet cher life. The police won't bother
them II the newspapers let them alone. This
place is a regular mint for Stevenson. He
m ade all the money here he lost backing Kill
rain against sullivan, and he has made that
and more, too, since. He has this and another
saloon at the corner OF Thompson and Third
streets, and thought OF starting another one
in the precinct, but l do not think he viii
now until he KNOWS what the new Captain is
going to do.
FRANKS AT THE OTHER PLACE.
"lt's Tom stevenson, Franks brother, who
is boss here. Frank stays up at the other
place. He comes here about 10 o'clock every
night, sees that things are going all right,
and then goes home. He takes It easy, rakes
in the money and let's suckers work"
man and woman arriving lust then In
terrupted the conversation. The newcomers
ordered drinks and after he had served them
the walter came back and let fall another bit
OF the inside history OF the dive.
I" See her jobots over there" shaking his
head IN the direction Of the woman. " Her
partner Just got two years. She done up n
Ooke, and this ones just as slick"
THE GUESTS ARRIVE.
Others began to arrive. Four more walters
also came on duty. BY this time It was IL
O'Clock. The den swarmed with dissolute
creatures Their talk was shoe ing. Many
OF the men had painted iaces and they called
each other by female names.
And the pity o. II was that most OF the yis-
itoI- We're young men. The allurements
proved too great a temp, alton for one young
man, who apparently had never been there
before.
" Let's CO." his companion urged. :" You
said you wouldn't stay more than ffteen
minutes, and we've been here an hour"