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2 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