The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-11-05

in the throttling Of the evil. In all cases
they have evinced commendable will
ingness 10 comply.
The use of the post office as an aid in
carrying on Of this baneful industry is
fortunately rendered both dangerous
and difficult The government officials
have. as a rule, shown themselves COM
mendably diligent in dealing with these
cases.
The police departments Of our cities,
and particularly that Of New YORK, shoulu
receive nigh praise for what they nave
ACCOMPLISHED for the suppression Of vice.
No one will assume that the police are IN
tended to be active moral agents, but oc-
caslons are always arising in which, but
for their efficiency, the power Of evil IN
the community. that is the insidiOus forms
OF evil which elude statutes and courts,
would be tenfold what IL is. The curse
OF gambling affords an instance or TINS.
While stUl a highly deleterious influence,
gamblers are no longer the scourge they
used 10 be. The trouble presents itself
now i'm "a far more insdious form than
formerly. Cases of young men ruined aud
homes desolated are all too common. The
New York Society for the Suppression Of
Vice has had called to its notice the
circumstances under which a once trusted
boOkkeeper was found to be a defaulter
TO the extent Of nearly $4,000, and at this
moment he is a convicted felOn. Two Of
the gamblers alleged to have taken the
major portion Of the stolen money were
subsequently convicted and one Of them
was fined S2ji Adequate punishment truly
for a $4,000 crime!
Another case in which action was taken
was that Of a clerk whose employer called
at the society's office in reference TO It.
civ 81
certain sum and told 10 cash it at bank.
IJpon returning to the office, after per-
forming this errand he had less than
quarter Of the proper amount about him.
IL seems that after cashing the check
this young fellow had gone into an open
pool gambling den and succumbed TO the
temptation of "sure tip" He lost $40
on this sure thing. Not having money
with which 10 make the deficiency good
he tried another sure tip and lost NO
more. In bewlderment and dread he
wandered into another resort OF the same
stamp and placed $50 in a desperate at
ternnt 10 make good his deficiency Again
he lost And so the deadly game IN when
this miserable fellow had involved him
self went on until he turned up hall Graz
ed in his employers Office
Thus our fellow creatures are placed
in the way of perdition in nearly every
large centre Of population and mus they
will continue TO be until communities
realize how vital a matter Is this work
Of the suppression OF vice.
That men Of standing are appreciauve
Of this fact is shown by the list OF actiVe
participants in the cause. Honorable
Abram S. Hewitt, Rev. Dr. Morgan
Div hup,lstin Dalv. Elbridge T. Gerry,
Cornelius Vanderbilt, J. Hooker Hamers-
lev are some Of the many who give to
this work active and substantial support.
Others TO whose active and personal IN
terast much of the success of the work Is
due are the officers and directors Of the
New York Society for the Suppression or
Vice
Is the work progressing; is vice being
suppressed? Yes. The public conscience
is not 50 dead to these things as II once
was The very cutlery Of those who suffer
through this warfare on crime Is PROOF
OF this. Nothing is more dangerous IMAM
silent unobtrusive evil. When evil doors
nnd n necessary 10 come out OF the DARK
ness It shows that they are being success
fully contended against.
But Organized crusades against vice are
always more or less dependent upon IN
dividuai interest. Every man and woman
can do something. Every little effort
counts. Teachers in colleges and semi
naries, employers Of labor othclals IN IN
stitutions. are those whom it behoves 10
be especially vigilant. Information that
will aid In the suppression Of evil should
be impaired without fail to the nearest
proper authority. Wei organized societies
can and do respect condolences. If head
wav is to be made against vendors Of OBJ
tectionable wares literary and others,
there must be established a tacit free
masonry in the interest Of the public good.
And when a community has determined
that evil shall not be tolerated, so far as
q arfects the general welfare. the sup
nression OF vice will have become an es-
ANTHONY COMSTOCK.