Year: 1860

|


OF poverty and vice are to be witnessed The


task has not been a pleasant one. To see


what | have seen, and to bear up in the face


of every variety of degradation required a


deal Of resolution but having resolved to 90


through with it, did not blench or fal:er


from the hour of starting, about 8 o'clock,


last night, until tired and nauSeated | reach


ed my hotel at 2 o'clock this morning too
/ glad to enjoy the necessary renovation of a


bath, and sleep, refreshing it is true, but


crowded with dreams of the horrd sights and


scenes which have just passed before my eyes.
! Having secured the friendly and necessary aid
of two excellent detectives attached to the
admirable city police, six of US, making the
whole party eight in all, issued forth upon our
mission. The first place we reached was the
police Station-house near the Metropolitan
AS we entered one of those sad trials was


taking place that are only too common in
New York. Two unfortunate girls were ar
raigned before the lieutenant of police, on
charge of disorderly conduct The lieutenant.


who acted in the double capacity of clerk aud
judge, first heard the story Of the officers who


had them in charge. | watched this mans
cold, stony eye-his pale, faded face-aud
loon realized that familiarity with his occuDa-
! ton had wholly bIunted his SensibilitieS He
paid little attention to the defence of the
painted, Over-dreSSed creatures before him,


but entered their names and ages on his book
and then, with hard, metallic voice, directed


the officer to take them below lock them up


ard let them have no light. "Oh, for the


love OF God" said one of the glrlS, tears in


her eyes, as she turned from the itripaSsablc
lieutenant TO the strange spectators =" for the


love of God, not bcio1c. not do,cn HerE-I have
done nothing but drink little more than
ought TO have done" Her veil was I'D. She


had been handsome once and a sweet smile
had not wholly fed from her face Perhaps
she had left some happy home to hide her
shame perhaps some aching heart was break
Ing for her, far away perhaps she had no


body TO care for her. Alas if she is now
sought, she will be found probably, "do1cn
beLOto," her fortune, like her cell, dark" and
her fate unIighted save by the mercy of re-
decmiug God. Her companion was closely
yelled, and followed her into the cellar-prison
with silent and trembling steps


We turned from this rather sorrowful open
ing, got into our carriages, and drove to the
lower wards. 1t is some fifteen years since.
under an escort furnished by my excellent
friend MatselI, | passed along these narrow
streets and sitting alleys. There has been a
great change for the better. The Old Brew.
cry has given way to q mission house and a
sort OF home for children without parents
! arehonseS and granite stores are springing


up in new and crowded thoroughfares. But
! there is yet room, Heaven knows, for still
greater changes More than year ago,
gave yOu a short experience Of high hotel
! life IN this city, aud spoke of the almost exact


Similarity between the people of that time, in


the gorgeous saloons and sweeping halls of
| those " steamboats, ashore" aud the people
who tlirted, fed, and aattcred in the large ho-
teIS OF Ne" FORK, ten years before And if
had not known that Death had been busy
since my last nocturnal visit to the haunts of
lower life gathering his human harvest. |
could have almost sworn that the faces and
figures, the riot and rags, the filth and pro.
family of yesterday night were the same that
had saddened and startled me before The
evening was lovely one. There was a Young
moon III clear sky, and the atmosphere was
soft and cool. The close lanes were crowded
With mixed mass of men, women, and chill
dren-nOt those that Surged in and swept
along Broadway, but another race probably
as indifferent TO Broadway as Broadway to
them Music was heard from almost every
door ; glasses were clnking; and above the
din OF voices the tones CT the gentler sex were
heard as the octave flute is heard in the full
orchestra


Let US enter one of these dens. First is
the gin-shop, with a stout woman as the pre-
siding divinity, who welcomes us with no
pleasant air, but who does not refuse admis.
sir prl bn tlo
that shine beuignantly at our side Next. the
ball room Not bad copy of other saloons
with more preteUSionS. At the extreme end
is a balcony, or box, in which are a violin a
clariOnet, and fife, each with a bloated face
behind 1t, and the trio are producing sort of
drunken cotillion. The set is beng formed.
The women are first in position, each with her
partner, generally invited by herself. The
meu ere generally heavily begrimed and be-
whiskered and among them two who do not
look to be over eighteen Most of these"
said our guide, "are known to be burglars
and that fellow, at full length on the side
bench, is supposed to have been guilty of at
least three murders That woman has had
FIVE hpgbands-the last i3 at sea-and she
will soon haFe another and that young fel-
low, with the light cap, who dances so grace
fully. and is dressed SO well, is one of the
most expert pickpockets in the country" We
left the usual fee but were informed that
the girls could not get gin till the ball was
over. The tigresS at the bar kept them sober
on light potationS till this part of their slavery
was performed. These fraiI sisters are mostly
attached to these houses as so many fixtures
paying so much week for their board, (at
least 49, which they must earn by the double
sacrifice of body and of soul l heard some
stories of the way they are treated by their
overseers-who are too often iends in the