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Destroy the Vice and Save the Virtue.
Last Tuesday night between K> and 1 - o'clock,
while Broughton street in the vicinity of Bull was
thickly peopled with politicians and others inter
ested in the outcome of the late primary, a woman
appeared and leisurely promenaded hither and
thither through the crowded section. She had as
companions two young 1 girls. The eldest of the pair
could not have been more than sixteen. The
younger was thought by some to be not over twelve,
by others, fourteen. Very likely the latter figure
was about correct. No one appeared to know who
the girls were, nor where they came from.
The gaudy apparel of the woman proclaimed her
station in life, and besides, many in the crowd pro
fessed to know her and where she lived. She was
said to occupy a house of appointment on the West
Side, in the neighborhood of Waldburg street.
.After parading ostentatiously up and down for
perhaps an hour, the trio headed southward and
disappeared. When last observed, they were closely
followed by a group of men, young and middle-aged,
a dozen or more in number, who seemed eagerly
intent upon keeping to the course. Looking on, one
couldn't help thinking of the Pied Piper of Ilamlein
and the entranced children. Only here the order
was reversed and the children led the procession.
The sortie into the downtown section had been
fruitful of results!
There was no disorder, but the spectacle was
woefully impressive.
Obviously the two specimens of immature human
ware were strangers in the city, as their public
exposure would have been inexpedient under con
trary circumstances.
The incident, while somewhat unique by reason
of the publicity feature, should not and will not give
rise to the impression that a new evil has sprung
aji in this city. It has grown up and spread, but its.
newness belongs to the remote past.
Any man, much travelled and well versed in vice
statistics, will stand sponsor for the assertion any
where that he can speak without legally incriminat
ing himself, that as a home of that black cesspool
of depravity known as the house of assignation,
Savannah easilv holds the lead over all her sister
cit ies of anywhere near equal size.
Many others who have had no opportunity for
making comparisons are convinced that these havens
THE REASON
of the libertine thickly dot many sections of the
city, and that they flourish and grow in the absence
of well organized efforts to check them. While
society is busy reforming practically every other ill,
real or fancied, that afflicts it. the greatest of all
iniquities enjoys immunity.
Small account is said to be taken by patrons of
these dens of infamy whether they are presided over
by black women or white women. A shelter and a
hiding place is all that is required.
There is no rule excluding minors and no pro
scriptive conditions are imposed. Indeed, in the
activities of the procuress, special inducements are
held out to those of tender years.
Next to extreme youth as an enticement, the wed
ding ring is said to he the most alluring symbol.
These institutions observe no “closed season,”
no Sabbath, no holiday. The latcli-string is out at
all hours, day or night, rain or shine, hot or cold.
Special facilities are supplied for unostentatious
entry and for hurried exit.
*
Inquisitiveness is avoided and repelled and invio
lable secrecy is enjoined and pledged.
Some hackmen are alleged to be deputized as
guides and conductors for the benefit of “the strang
er within the gates.”
In some of the more pretentious resorts, tele
phones and “all the comforts of home” are said to
be provided for visitors.
When the “enterprise” is headed by a white
woman, she strives to locate in a “black block,” in
order that the possible scrutiny of prying neigh
bors may be least disconcerting to visitors arriving
and departing.
In a public restaurant a year or two ago, the
writer overheard a controversy among three young
men of the town at an adjoining table, as a result
of which it was revealed that the three combined
knew of forty-two illicit retreats within the boun
daries of the city. Nor did they pretend to have
knowledge of all that existed.
Os course no criticism of the police department
of the city is intended in this article. The police
have from time to time raided such places as were
complained of and whenever there appeared to be
any chance for convictions of the principals. The
department has received no assurances of strong and
determined support from the public generally in case