The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-12-04

ters come out and patrol the Strand, the
Newmarket. Regent, oxford, and Govern
try streets, without any pretense or us
sembnng their business. They promenade
slowly. they loiter at corners, they look
into mems faces with alert questioning
glances, they whisper soto voce endear-
ments TO passers-by, and hold themselves
poised, so to speak, ready to swoop IKE
a hawk upon the stranger who SHOWS the
faintest disposition TO hold parley with
them. Londoners. as | have sad. grow
so accustomed to this that they soon cease
10 notice it, or think anything about u,
any more than they concern their minds
with the fellows selling penny toys on the
curbstone. Apparently, his afternoon
involves only country visitors
and foreigners.
In the evening a large proportion OF
these girls, or rather of the English-born
part of them, go TO the music halls. or
places like the Royal aquarium and the
Agricultural hall. Islington. which bears
a certain rough resemblance to the Old
Madison Square garden. At the more Sc
lect and expensive music halls, such AS
the Empire and Alhambra. there now APP
pear women OF a superior class, so far rs
dress, manners and ambitions go, who
ssurp the best places on the p~romenades,
and queen Il over their less ~pretentious
sisters. Before midnight, most Of this lat
ter class VIII rave gone home again In
hanson cabs, or be eating supper at the
more fashionable restaurants in gay COM
pany. to drive home with their companions
when closing hour. 1890 a. m, arrives
The poorer girls who are Htfli alone 20
forth into the streets again. and gradually,
as closing time for the bars approaches.
work their way toward Piccadiilv and the
streets debouching from Piccadilly circus.
At l o'clock this whole district swarms
with them. and crowds remain TIL a much
Yator hnssr Y net uranAe- a@ A on ~ 4ha ~nArr
ing. a publisher friend Of mine and 7, re-
turning from a birthday dinner OF an
other publisher, and walking because no
cab was within hail. found three poor
devils OF German girls shivering at the
corner Of Regent street. They were we'll
dressed. but half crying with cold and
hunger. We bought them some hot pota-
toes from the can Of a vender who came
along, and while we were doing so, two
others, equally necessitoCs, Belgian girls
came running up 20 share this unlocked
for windfall Then a policeman drifted
along, through the darkness. and affablv
consented TO toln the group, and have a
potato or two himself. The girls could
speak hardly any English. but they joked
'amiabiy with the policeman TO the extent
81 their ability. He was coldly civil TO
them. apparently out OF Difference 20 us
and our potatoes, lie told US. I remem-
Der, that there were at that hour proh-
feNAS AAAAN IS 1bAA9Rt1 WaEfsl EEUTQ OF
his truncheon, II he should rap n on the
pavement, but we saw no others.
As 7 have said. the policeman OF e dIvfs-
ton. who have charge Of this district. are
universally believed TO levy blackmall up
on these girls. and 10 a lesser extent the II
DIVISION men Of the Strand are supposed
70 do the same thing. Once in a while
Z definite charge 81 this sort is made.
Some girl, who gets arrested. swears that
she is being prosecuted because she rs un-
able 70 pay The half crown or five shg-
fngs demanded as hush money; but no ef-
Tort s ever made to test the truth Of her
story The public does not need proof
because f. firmly believes II already. SCOT
land Yard and the magistrates do not want
any proof either. because they would deem
i their duty TO disregard Il in any case.
All this gets upon the Londoner's nerve.
ana predisposes him 10 join from time 10
Ine any movement for reform which nre-
sents itself. The original agitation against
the profnen7des, or spacious loungfng
places with Hquor bars Mt the rear Of ina
music halls. commended itself at first TO hia
instincts. When the licensing Of these
nails was taken from the magfstr3cy ana
vested IN the new county council. and that
body, taking its duties very seriously. be-
gan 10 Impose restrictions upon the moral
tone OF The performances. and tfnon .ha
conduct ard even existence or the prom
enades, / think The large majority Of Ton-
doners wished the council we'll But. after
a little, Il became apparent that this was
merely fooling with the fringe of the ntiea-
ton. Mrs. Ormiston Chant, who hreezlv
COX charge OF the agitation, and those
Wno followed in her lead, maas =, clear
mat Their plans ended with humilfatinv
Sir. George Edwardes. ard hanstringtna
MS Empire investment. That meant sim
ply turning several scores or hundreds az
additional girls into the streets between 2
oGock and midnight. 70 be enlvfed and
plandereo BY the police. Toward a real