Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-01-30
section running den that respected

section running a den that respected
the law.
1--WE walked around the corner down
st. Paul street and found there was
wooden shed adjoining the building,
which gave the appearance of being
lighted. We could also hear voices
from the place that would sound very
familiar to your boys. Upon examine
ton we discovered a little narrow
walkway between the buildings. Creep
Ing along in we found a glass In the
door. through which we looked and
found others gambling.
I'VE then went through Bank to
Washington street. which was resonant
with the music OF wasted lives and
blasted hopes. AS walked through
the street and saw their painted faces
painted to hide the growing traces of
despair and remorse-I could not help
thinking these are some mothers chill
dren.
"'Once she was as pure as the morn
ing dew,
AS she knelt at her mothers knee;
No face was so fair. no heart more true,
And none was SO sweet as She
'Wesgive them over to the licentitIous
and ungody. to be sneered at as they
pass along the streets; but we don't
hhON tihS lillnS uDOul lllClI DuSt. 1dCk
yondcr in the country there may be q
poor old mother, wrinlsled and grey,
kneeling with uplifted eyes and hands,
pleading with God for her Maynard
Child. But her damnaton is we'll nigh
sealed. She is sought after by the
wicked, neglected and left alone by the
Christian people. She has forsal1en the
guide of her youth and abandoned the
covenant of her God.
oh Il
section was thoroughly alive. Our next
point was Talbot street. Sunday is u
Die day here. One bar, bearing the
metropolitan name of "Mctropole,"
which has an ordinary license and
doing business in an Ordinary way
Their business was in no way cloaked.
and regard this as being the best
place we visited. You could walk along
the sidewalk and see all that was done
from eating cold sandwich to wash
ing 1t down With intoxicants.
On reaching Church street we were
not deceived regarding its unsavory
reputation. Crap joints and bagiiios
ana parrooms were In full blast. From
the sidewalks at the corner OF Church
and Water streets we looked in win
dow and saw through Il door ajar two
bar clerks behind the counters busy
oeaiing out drinks to n noisy crowd Of
customers. The proprietor of this cs-
tablishment has published n card
stating that his place was not open
that night. Then he ought to have
some one arrested for breaking omen
his place at night. will go on the wit
ness stand and swear that he was open
ana doing business. There was n no
liceman near by but, of course. he
never saw It, Let a policeman in this
city pegin doing his duty in this respect
and he will be spotted" An edict will
go out from headquarters and some
charge Will be preferred against him
and the Police Commissioners will
promptly deal with him.
In short. nearly all the barrooms in
me city do thrifty business on Sun
day. The Chief OF Police admitted this
to me.
After making the rounds we went
to the station-house, and to our sur-
prise and deep modification found off,
GERS playing game of cards Sunday
night. and officers pledged to uphold
and maintain the law desecrating Gods
holy day by playing cards 1t was
hitting climax to the dcviltry we had
been Witnessing
Il am not expecting anything from
,hat crowd am creditab!y informed
that the big barkeeper' had an officer
upon one occasion in his gambling
room right In it with his boys This
Is the Chiefs own admission. He told
me that policeman had to be taken
from this class who frequent these
places, so they would be familiar with
them. This may be his policy. but
don't believe you can ever make the
vicious anxious to arrest vice. There
may be good men on the force, but they
are in the minority
II spoke 20 the Commonwealths At
torney and he said that it would be
good thing to teach all boys to gamble,
and confidently referred to himself as
being n shining evidence of his theory.
These people when you speak of re-.
form point you to the failures of the
last reform movement. They did fail
In not giving the people all they needed,
but their failures We're an infinite
blessing when compared with the pres
ent administration. May God and the
good people of Norfolk give us
change in our condition"