The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-11-17

FIRST Is Not beginning Ut the isU"t
of the EviI-RecruitinS Grounds
should be First looked After.
They Arc Often in tho Family, ut
Questionable Places of Amusement
aud on the Strcets-some Interest
ing Interviews on a Great Subject
Incident to the crusade against the
houses OF i'll fame in Chicago inaugurated
by Mr.. Stead, the famous London editor
and reiormer, the Chicago laa is pub
fishing an interesting series OF inter
views with noted keepers Of houses OF
i'll fame IN that city regarding the work.
The articles are void oil sensationalsm,
and are OF unusual interest, as they con
tain many suggestions from the stand
point Of the woman OF the world regard.
ing the work OF the crusade, and throw
much light upon the obstacles that are
in the way OF accomplishing the reform
sought in the manner adopted By Editor
Stead. The women discuss intelligentIy
and frankly the causes and effects Of the
social evil, and point oft the way OF
practical reform. They base their con-
clusions upon their experience and OBJ
seEvRtions during the years OF their
traffic in human souls, and attempt TO
show by arguments and statements that
the crusade does not strike at the root
oil the evil.
The concensus OF opinion among
these women is that in attacking the
brothels first, and Ignoring almost en-
treIy the recruiting stations for these
dens OF vice, the reiormers and the
authorities are beginning at the prong
end. The arguments and conclusions
can best be given in the words OF the
women themselves, and the INTELLGdEN-
GER herewith reproduces portions OF
two OF the interviews referred TO upon
this subject, the importance OF which is
not confined to Chicago, but affects
every city and home IN the land
DORA cLAFLIN's TESTIMONY.
Dora Clafiin, the keeper OF one OF the
most noted OF the gtided paiaces OF sin
in Chicago, does not believe that the
crusade should begin with an attempt
to reform the inmates, but that it
should begin at the recruiting grounds,
whence graduate the unfortunate wo.
men. She thus gives the reasons lor
her faith:
prostitution is an effect" said she,
mot careless, voluntary choice on the
part OF the fallen. Girls do not elect to
cast themselves away They are driven
to the haunts OF vice. You may call it
weakness in them 10 yield their all for
q price. Perhaps it is, but that weak
ness is natural and must be taken into
account in all efforts looking to the re-
formation OF the girls on the street and
in the houses OF ill.fame The more
delicate tho color the more easily it is
soiled. The more distinGLively woman
~ girl is-and l mean by that the
more she has beauty, deicacy, love OF
dress and adjournment, feminine weak
nesses-the easier u mark is she Tor the
designing. And the designers are not
wanting.
"Girls, and I say this emphaticalIy,
are not seducers. They have innate
delicaCy and refinement. The shame
facedness Of the average CouttesSn is an
alter effect Woman's great struggle is
to overcome the fear, the repugnance
incident to the frat step in wrong, and
say honestly that do not believe that
one woman in 10000 would cast herself
ut the feet OF lust except under duress
or under force OF will stronger than
her own. The first step IS alwaya taken
outside the bagnio, and then the bag
MO receives the curse oil condemnation
IN Coll W, IY,k
take the material that is made Tor us.
And right here ietme point out what
/ think is common fallacy | refer to
the way in which keepers OF houses get
their girls. The idea that the house OF
ill.fame are peopled by the efforts OF
procurers and PROGRESSES who roam
around to lure the pure aud innocent
from the path OF honor is mistake
That this ia occasionally done in the
worst dives think to be true. But
they are the exceptions. The average
sporting. house keeper prefer women old
in vice. They do not send out--they
do not have to send out for girls. The
fallen apply for admission to houses OF
their own accord, and | am convinced
that when they do that the efforts OF
reformers are wasted upon them. The
girls are then in the main past redemp.
ton. They have lost their all. Their
evil deeds are as a rule known, so that
secrecy can no longer be used as cloak
for assumed responsibility. They are
calIous aud indifferent; do not want,
nay, repel prayers and exhortations.
Degradation is their business, and while
they do not glory in itthey do not biush
to own it."
TIE REcRufriSG GROUNDS.
nRnfnrm finn il ON. OF thn meg.