The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-06-17
DHPRAVING THE GIRLS.
The Soups Getting in Their
Vile Work at Thirteenth
Street and Jersey
Avenue.
A POLICE sERGEANT'S WORDS.
Young Girls Ruined Nightly through
Their Infuence-0ne Of
the Victims.
POLICE sERGEANT's WORDS.

On vacant lot behind lumber yard
on Thirteenth street and Jersey avenue
may be seen any clear night dozen soups
in full operation. THE JERSEY CITY NEWS
on Monday afternoon gave some account
of their influence in corrupting the young
people. especially the young girls of the
neighborhood.
went there again last evening and saw
strange gathering. There were little
tots of four or five years old. There wero
maidens in their teens. and still others
we're young women. Men and boys Of
all ages were also on the grounds and in
the soups. Some of these fellows looked
dirty and repulsive; their eyes were
bleared and their evil countenances de-
noted that they habitually drank deeply.
Some of the women had similar signs
about their faces. Men and women re-
quired no introduction to place them on
speaking terms. All the meu had to do
before the words were out of the mouth
the girls answer of:-"You bet, 81 don't
care" Pm your persimmon," and like
expressions could be heard
Frequently screams come from the
soups, screams that denoted half fear and
uhlk pl6totiL6, dLu III tuc atI6c-
tion of the soups could see some fellow
behaving in a manner only authorized by
the social code of Messrs. John e. Dunn
and George Bremner.
SCENES OF DEPRAvITY.
While l was quietly observing these
wandered away In the direction Of the
lumber yard, and others went to the dark
meadows a block Distant When these
couples returned 1t was to continue swing
ing in the soups. There were large num-
Der OF girls about the soups who had no
money. saw a number of these 20 up
to men and ask them for the price of a
swing. Frequently they would get re-
buff. but generally they got the money.
In nearly every case, however, the coin
was accompanied by some ribald joke.
This place, this burden of morality
should be removed from here.n said q
police sergeant when asked him the
character OF the place Il have no doubt
but that these soups daily cause the ruin
of some girl or girls. Skating rinks were
gardens of Eden compared with the soups.
No, don't often see drunken men and
permit them on the grounds. It would
spoil business, and a business that pays
profit of SIS to $40 a night Ia good ono
and one to be guarded"
ON THE DOWN GRADE.
During the time was at the ground
usually pretty girl of fifteen or sixteen.
Her features were regular, her form ele-
CANT and her complexion clear. Large
brown eyes were shielded by long black
lashes and heavy braid of brown hair
hung down her back. With ell this
natural beauty there was decided want
of refinement in the girl that could be
instantly detected. She stood but O few
feet from me and with O sad expression
upon her face was watching the soups
with avidity.
"Why ain't ye a swingin' 2" asked a
young fellow who looked like a truck
driver in his Sunday clothes.
"Cause amt got q blamed re0." was
the coarse answer that fell from the red
and beautiful lips. The answer sent .
cold chill down my spinal column.
"How'r you f1xed?'' continued the girl.
''1've got a couple of soakersn he re-
piled as he exhibited two silver dollars
''Well, Amt yer goin' to pay for ride
in de soups for me.
"Will you give fellow kiss?"
"Oh, go long; you're a fool. Who
dye think am, May Ellis?"
''WelI, no kiss, no swing" said the gall
liant young man.
Den it's no swing, fer l amt kisser,
I amt" and to her credit she turned her
back On the fellow. Ten minutes later
saw q man approach her and invite her to
swing with him. She gladly accepted
the invitation, and although she did not
know il then, she was in worse hands by
far than those of the Kissing truck driver.
Once I heard this girl give a short scream
OF half anger and Immediately aftsrward
she gave her companion vigorous box
on the ear.
This one case is but a sample of what
may be seen at these soups at any time
during a pleasant evening.