The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-10-20
Wilmington a Hot Bed Of Cor
..A.. ruptiOn.
So Says Mrs. Marks
Before the w. 7, T. U. Delegates
in St. Paul's M. E. Church
Yesterday Morning.
The Suppression Of
The Evil.

Mrs. Lafayette Marks, who for the last
year has taknn such an active part toward
the suppression OF immortality in Will
mington, has awakened wives and moth.
era OF the city to sense OF their rsspon-
ability. In st. Pauls NJ. E. Church yes.
terday to the W. G. I. u. delsgstes she
susimttted her report as superintendent
OF the Social Purity Department 1t
needs NO comment and it was as fol.ows
AZ the days have gIded by durlng the
past year have asked myself again and
agaln will IL be possible to stir up the
women of Delaware to take hold OF thts
important branch OF our work. the pro
motion OF social purity, ami fear as tho
year closes can bring little to you but
the echo OF the thoughts instead OF u re-.
port OF solid work done.
i cannot say the year has been fruit.
less. We feel that greater knowledge
has been gained of the need for work
elong this line and perhaps suggestions
as TO how we should proceed.
Our Efforts have been mainly put forth
In our own city. We have become ac-
qualnted with shocking state OF affairs
We are led TO feel that our beautiful
city is q veritable hot bed of moral cor.
ruptIon. 1t Is alarming to sse with what
rapidity houses Of ill.fame are sprinRing
up and spreading with some of the best
parts OF the city.
We have urged the Suppression of these
dens OF iniquity and some efforts have
been put forth In that direction, but our
CHIEF OF Police has beeD hooted at as a
gIeat reformer and met dlscourag msnt at
every turn. Those to whom we should
look to support such efforts cried down
every attempt to clear out these houses
Would that could Impress upon every,
one here the danger to the homes of not
only our city but to the whole comlnuni.
ty the through existence Of such pitfalls
We have fled to ascertain IL possible
tha class who lrequnnts such places. This
proved not 80 great task as one might
think. Their tracKs are not so thoroughly
severed as perhaps they themselves ina.
gine.
] We have been horrlhed at the revsla.
tions made. can only say to you here
Jaw OF us can afford to turn away Indilfer
Sntly from this grave question. Meet it
II we must for the sake of our children
our husbands our brothers, and yes our
daughters.
1t seams TO me our very Indifference to
eiie matter Is causing cup of bitterness
10 be pressed TO the lips OF husbands
wives and parents In homes upon which
We have been accustomed to look as re-
proachlese.
Shocking as 1t is to us we have found
That 1t is not alone the places designated
houses OF iil-fame that arc used for i'm
tao:al purpose. but barber shops. stables
And even some OF our places OF public
amusement. again and again have young
girls been traced in company with young
men OF whom we felt We had a right to
look upon as gentlemen.
Our Chief OF Police has been called uron
hne and again within The past year by pa
rents not only In our city but from all the
surrounding country to sssk Tor their
daughters and as often have they been
Gaced TO these places / have mentioned
Satan 10 never at loss for ways and
means. Would that those OF ua who pro.
fsss to follow Christ and do the work he
uas entrusted no our hands we're working
Ss earnestly, diligently and skilfuily as
are the followers OF his satanic ma ssty.
How soon would these datk plsoes be
made bright and the great blots which
o'oud our city be effaced.
believe there is Il great number OF
people. both men and women, who are
not ignorant of Lhese facts and would be
clad TO know they were blotted out If
only somebody else would do it. | toll
you. dear friends. there is nothing so
huch needed as m oral courage.
The lack OF this element Ia deplorabls
even among those of US who ara look ed
10 to carry on this work. Why ual't we
have the courage of our convictions? Ii
10 know oil these wrongs going OH about
ns why not be bold enough to speak out
And insist that these things must be
righted.
II our present laws will not n,t>s the
case then let LIS insist upon having laws
that Will meet It, The women of oul
st,s<s can accomplish this IL they will.
Women have mighty Influence II they
will only use It.
Before passing from tho subject I
would like to call attention to the in.
Grouse OF these housss of disrepute ac-
cording to tho official report of the Cnief
OF Police. In his report OF January l,lS94,
there wore ssventy.three OF those houses,
and OH July !, 1884. there were eighty
eight such places,
Mothega wtres sisters can you In the
face ofNNch facts as these sit with closed
Lips and feel That you have no rssponsi-
billty2 wsuld have you answer those
houses to such characters as occupy them
They could no mora exist without IN oney
than could yours or mine And where
does the money como frolnp We all know
not from honest labor.
And now that facts have been brought
bcfoIe you which perhaps you have not
been aware of before. l would lave you
remember that your responsibility is
greater. and see TO 1t that you cast it not
inside lest the poisoned arrow pierce your
own breast.
During the past year signal OF warn-
ing was giyon, when an arrest was made
Ql one who was reported to have carried
bn most nefarlous business in our city
Tor a number OF years and which was
most uneEyiable crime. Although the
victim OF the arrest has mover been
brought to trial we feel that we have
CLOSED one such place. and 1t stands out
rs warning TO others who may attempt
~ uhmnio upon Inc laws or our state
Aside from har report Mrs. Marks spoke
oil tho ahsurdlty of licensing the houses
and said II they were only ralded eontin-
ually they would be broken up. She was
mot afraid to speak of the evil. and II she
could get other women to act with her
there would not be house of III fame In
tbe city In week.
She then dwelt on the exhibition OF nude
pictures and the Victory they had achieved
along that line. The ordinance making
u unlawful for young girls or boys TO be
on the Streets aftor nine o'clock In the.
evening, unless ccompanied by a guar.
dian, was also commented upon, The re
port closed with review of the work OF
the Girls Industrial school.