a street-walker, kneeling on the floor, with her face hidden in her
hands, sobbing bitterly. Mrs. Clarke, or one of the co-workers goes
down to the poor outcast, and whispers to her despairing soul the only
words of hope she ever heard. Others give evidence of their desire
to be saved, and the meeting devotes itself to prayer for them. Mrs.
Clarke’s keen eye sweeps the room, and at once detects the hesitating.
In an instant she is at their side, devoting her mild, but powerful
eloquence to urging them to take the decisive step then and there.
There is something wonderful in her mild grasp of the hand, and in her
earnest tones, “Come, let the Good Lord save you. He has saved others,
and I know there is a chance for you.”
“And He took him by the right hand and lifted him up.” Lifted him up!
my brother!
Churches
Among the great institutions of Chicago is the church. No greater
force for righteousness exists anywhere. The great, stately edifices
are scattered over the entire city; from the business center back
to the grand trees of the suburbs. Their tall spires point solemnly
heavenward, as if to lift the soul above the vulgar worship of mammon,
and at intervals the sweet tones of chimes come floating down into the
streets, telling that wealth is not all, folly is not all, business is
not all! but that there is something purer, nobler, waiting high above
the golden cross which the sunlight bathes so lovingly.
The music at the fashionable churches is superb. The organist is a
professor of reputation, and the choir is made up of singers of some
note who devote themselves to concerts and public amusements on secular
days.
Not many years ago the tenor of one of the best choirs in the city
was also the popular singer in a State street “Free and Easy.” He
had a magnificent voice, and his secular engagements were constant
and profitable; often keeping him in the concert hall all through
Saturday night, and until the small hours of Sunday morning. The tenor
unfortunately had a weakness for his glass, and it was a constant
wonder to his friends that he contrived to get his head clear enough by
church time on Sunday morning to take his place in the choir of St. ——
church. For a long while, however, he managed to fill both engagements
creditably, but at length misfortune overtook him. He had sung at the
“Free and Easy” on Saturday night and had gotten through the morning
service with credit. The eloquence of the preacher lulled him into a
profound slumber, and all through the sermon he was dreaming of the
concert hall and the jolly crowd assembled to hear him render his great
song of “Muldoon.” The sermon over he was aroused from his slumber by
a fellow member of the choir, who whispered that they were waiting for
his solo. Still half asleep, and with his head yet full of the saloon
and the applause awaiting him, he staggered to the choir rail, looking
about him, broke out lustily:
“Come and see me, I’ll trate ye decent,
I’ll make ye drunk; I’ll fill yer can,
Sure, when I walk the strate,
Says each one I mate,
There goes Muldoon; he’s a solid man.”
The reader may picture to himself the sensation the tenor’s solo
produced in the church.
The recklessness with which the churches rush into debt is appalling.
No other class of real estate in Chicago is so heavily incumbered as
that of religious associations; and this in spite of the fact that no
sort of property has a more uncertain tenure of its income, the whole
depending, in a large measure, on the popularity of the ministers,
and the good will and prosperity of the members. Nearly the whole
of the debt thus created, is for the enlargement of the churches or
constructing new ones. Scarcely any of the congregations go into debt
for the purpose of increasing the minister’s salary, or to enlarge the
contributions to missionary funds or charitable enterprises. All is
for show. Old fashioned, comfortable churches, free from debt, are torn
down or sold, and new edifices, rich and costly in every detail, are
erected. A little money is advanced, the church plastered over with
mortgages, and the next generation left to pay for the vanity of the
present. Sometimes the mortgages are paid, but too often the reverse is
the case. The mortgage is foreclosed, the beautiful temple is sold, and
perhaps is converted into a theatre, concert hall or factory.
So handsome are the churches, as a rule, so conspicuously do wealth and
fashion thrust themselves forward on all sides, that the poor rarely
seek them. They are too fine, and the pride of the honest poor man will
not permit him to take his place in a house of worship where he is
certain to be looked coldly upon, and made to feel his lack of worldly
goods.
Fashion and wealth rule with iron hands, even in the house of God, and
in these gorgeous temples, the class who were nearest and dearest to
the Master’s heart, have no place. But what have the churches to fear?
Are they not strong in the power of God?
Concert Saloons and Damnation
The concert saloons are among the worst features of the social evil.
They flourish in almost every quarter of the city, and are so many
places where the devil’s work is done. The better class of citizens
are helpless to abate the nuisance. The vipers in human form, who keep
these soul-destroying places, are men so small in principle, that their
poltroon souls would rattle in the eyeballs of the most infinitesimal
animalculæ that ever infested a stagnant mud-hole. These are the men
the city authorities allow to continue their nefarious business,
against the wish of a majority of property owners of Chicago. Woe
betide a mayor or chief of police who will deliberately ignore requests
for decency on the one hand, as against immorality on the other.
These concert saloons provide a low order of music, and the liquors
furnished are of the vilest description. In former days the service
of the place was rendered by young women; many of whom were dressed
in tights and all sorts of fantastic costumes; the chief object being
to display the figure as much as possible. The girls were hideous and
unattractive, and were foul-mouthed and bloated. The visitors were
principally young men, and even boys, though older men, and even gray
heads, were sometimes seen among them. The women are prostitutes of the
lowest order. They encourage the visitors to drink, shamelessly violate
every rule of propriety, and generally ready to rob a visitor who is
too far gone in liquor to protect himself. These places are frequented
by all classes of society, from the lowest dregs to men and women who
claim respectability, and occasionally a man and his family are seen
in these places. Ruffians, bent on robbery, keep a close watch on the
visitors, and when one of the latter, overcome with liquor, staggers
out of the place, follow him, lure him into a back street, rob him, and
if necessary to their safety, murder him. Oftentimes they lure their
helpless victims to the river front, and there rob and kill him, and
throw his body into the water, where it is found by the harbor police.
The dance halls are often handsome places, but were simply rendezvous
of street walkers, and men who came to seek their company. The
principal establishment of this kind was the infamous Apollo theatre
and dance hall, previously mentioned. All were admitted free. We enter
through a lobby into bar-room, back of which is the dance hall. The
place was furnished with tables, and chairs are scattered about the
sides of the first floor, but the central space is kept clear for
dancing. The galleries are also provided with tables and chairs. At the
back is a dimly lighted space, fitted up like a garden, where those
who desire may sit and drink. The place was always well filled. The
women present were the inmates of the neighboring houses of ill-fame,
and street walkers. Each one is a prostitute, and each one is intent
upon luring some man into her chamber. The men are mostly young, but
on “gala-nights” and during the “balls” which were given here in the
winter of 1877, would cause the givers of the First Ward annual ball to
turn green with envy. An orchestra in the gallery opposite the entrance
provides the music, and the dance is on. The air is heavy with tobacco
smoke. Men and women are constantly passing in and out; drinking is
going on in every part of the hall. In spite of its brilliancy and
splendor, the place is but one of the numerous gateways to hell, with
which Chicago abounds.
Men meet abandoned women here, and accompany them to their houses,
risking disease, robbery, and even death, with a recklessness that is
appalling. Young men of respectable families come here nightly, and
spend hours in company with these abandoned women who frequent the
place. These same young men would shrink with fastidious horror from
even a moment’s conversation with the cooks and housemaids of their
own homes. Yet here they find pleasure in the association with women
equally as ignorant and unrefined and in every way unworthy to compare
with the honest and virtuous maids of their homes.
A great deal of immorality is carried on in the city of which the
police cannot take cognizance, and of which it is impossible to obtain
statistics. This grade of vice is confined largely to persons of
normal respectability. The columns of certain city journals contain
numerous personals by which appointments are made, and communications
exchanged between persons engaged in intrigues. These people support
the numerous assignation houses which abound in the city. Some of the
most fashionable are furnished and owned by men of respectability. They
put a woman in charge of the house, and share the large receipts with
her.
Great efforts are being made by benevolent people to lessen the amount
of vice with which the metropolis is cursed. The problem is fearful
to behold. The most successful of these various means that have been
adopted to rescue fallen women from their wretched lives, are the
missions. They are open to all who seek refuge in them, and invitations
are scattered among them by agents. The women are treated with
kindness, and encouraged to reform. They come voluntarily, and leave
when they wish to do so. They are always welcomed, however often they
may wander back into sin. “Until seventy times seven,” is the rule.
Divorces
If you watch the daily papers you will frequently see advertisements
reading similar to the following:
Divorces without publicity, in 30 days, all causes; every state;
consultation free; experienced lawyers; success guaranteed. 86 ——
street.
SMITH, JONES & CO.
Divorces cheaply, without publicity; desertion, incompatibility,
non-support, intemperance, compulsory marriages; any state;
explanatory blanks free, always successful; consultations free;
confidential. 105 —— St.
LAWYER SMOOTH TONGUE.
The divorce lawyer is a prolific sort of a fellow, and somewhat of a
nuisance. No self-respecting attorney cares for divorce court practice.
It is considered by attorneys of established reputation to be degrading.
The divorce lawyers announce to the public that they have powerful
influence with the judges and that it will be an easy matter for them
to secure a divorce for the unlucky man or woman and that they can
untie the marriage knot, and the guarantee to do it with the ease and
celerity with which it is tied. This would seem strange in a state
where the laws regulating divorce are so rigid; but the divorce lawyer
knows how to set even these at defiance, and that his efforts are
successful is shown by the handsome income he enjoys and the elegant
style in which he lives. He does not rely upon Chicago alone for his
field of operation; some states are more liberal in this matter, and if
the separation of husband and wife cannot be procured in Chicago, he
can easily accomplish it in some other part of the Union.
The divorce lawyer devotes himself to this branch of his profession
almost exclusively. He is sometimes an ex-member of the Bar, who has
been disbarred for dishonest practices, and cannot appear directly
in the case himself. He hires some shyster lawyer to go through the
formalities of the courts for him, and sometimes succeeds in inducing
a lawyer of good standing to act for him. His office is usually in
the quarter most frequented to by practitioners of standing, and is
located in some large building, so that his clients may come and go
without attracting special notice. The outer office is fitted up in
regular legal style, with substantial desks and tables, and the walls
are lined with cases of law books. The private consultation room is
elegantly furnished, and is provided with the coziest arm-chairs, in
which the clients can sit at their ease, and pour into the sympathizing
ears of the “counsellor” their tales of woe.
Let us seat ourselves, unseen, in the private office of a leading
divorce firm. They are located in a superb building on La Salle street
and have elegantly fitted up apartments. Counsellor ——, the head of
the firm, conducts the consultations. He is a portly, smooth-faced,
oily-tongued man, possessing great powers of cheek and plausiveness,
just the man to lead a hesitating client to take the decisive step.
A clerk from the outer office announces a visitor. A richly dressed,
closely veiled lady is shown in and the portly counsellor, rising
courteously, places a chair for her. The seat is taken, the veil thrown
back, and the counsellor finds himself face to face with a woman
of beauty and refinement, and evidently of wealth—a most desirable
client. In his blandest tones he invites her to state the nature of her
business with him. Then follows a long tale of domestic unhappiness,
the sum and substance of which is that she is tired of her husband and
wants a divorce from him.
“Upon what grounds, Madam?” asks the counsellor, settling down to
business.
“Grounds?” is the startled, hesitating reply. “Why—t—hat is—I am so
unhappy with him.”
“Is he unfaithful to you?”
“I do not know. I hope he is—I am afraid not, however. I thought you
would ascertain for me.” “Certainly, madam, certainly. Nothing easier
in the world. We’ll find out all about him. We’ll learn the innermost
secrets of his heart, and I’ve no doubts we shall find him grossly
unfaithful. Most men are.”
“Oh, not at all, sir,” the lady cries, a little startled. “I’m sure
that——”
Good sense comes to her aid, and she pauses. She must not tell all,
even to her “legal adviser.” The counsellor smiles; he has seen such
cases before. It is only an affair of exchanging an old love for a new
one.
“Has he ever maltreated you—struck you?” he asks.
“Oh, no!”
“Never attempted any violence with you?”
“He once seized a paper weight on the library table, very much excited,
while I was talking with him.”
“Indeed! he tried to dash your brains out with a paper weight, did he?
That is very important evidence, madam, very important.”
“But, sir, I did not say that he——”
“Oh, never mind, madame. Wives are too ready to forgive their husband’s
brutality. The fact remains the same, however. This infamous attempt
upon your life will be sufficient evidence with the western judge
before whom the case will be tried. I congratulate you, madame, upon
the prospect of a speedy release from such a monster.”
The woman is delighted, pays the retainer, which is a handsome one,
agrees upon the amount to be paid when the divorce is granted, and the
parties separate, mutually pleased with each other.
The counsellor now goes to work in earnest. Operations are carried
on in some western state. Witnesses are provided who will swear to
anything they are paid for; the divorce is duly obtained; the fee is
paid; and the madame coolly informs her husband that they are no
longer husband and wife.
A year or two ago the Chicago paper contained an account of a man who
had gotten one of these patent divorces from his wife. Not caring to
part from her just then, but wishing to do so when he pleased, he
locked the papers up in his desk, and said nothing to her about the
matter, and for ten years she lived with him as his mistress, in total
ignorance of her true relations to him. At last becoming tired of her,
he produced the decree of divorce and left her.
All sorts of people seek the assistance of the divorce lawyers to
free them from their matrimonial ties. Extravagant and reckless wives
of men who are not able to meet their demands for money; dissolute
actresses, who wish to break up an old alliance in order to form a new
one; married women who have become infatuated with some scamp they
have met at the theatre matinee, or through the medium of a personal;
married men who are tired of their wives and desire to be united to a
new partner; lovers of married women, who come to engage fabricated
testimony and surreptitious divorce for the frail creatures whose
virtue is still too cowardly to dare the more honest sin; all who, with
or without protest, seek a release from the married bond. For each
and all the divorce lawyer has a ready ear and an encouraging word.
Nothing is easier than to obtain a divorce, he assures them. If the
cause assigned by them is insufficient, it can be made strong enough;
if evidence is lacking, it can be obtained—manufactured, if necessary.
He receives a retainer from each, and all, and sends them away with the
happy consciousness that their matrimonial troubles will soon be over.
A divorce costs anywhere from twenty-five dollars to whatever sum the
applicant is willing to pay for it, and can be obtained in Chicago,
or in any state, according to the wishes of the party and the desire
to avoid publicity. Any cause may be assigned; the lawyer in a great
many instances guarantees that the evidence to support it shall be
forthcoming at the proper time. It is a little more troublesome to
obtain a Chicago divorce, than in some states, but the machinery of
the law is sufficiently loose even there to enable a well-managed case
to be successful. The divorce lawyer has witnesses upon whom he can
depend, some of them are regularly in his pay. They will swear as they
are instructed. The proceedings are often private, the courts using
their private chambers for the hearing, and are no doubt frequently in
collusion with the lawyer conducting the case. Even the newspapers fail
to record the occurrence. The defendant has been kept in ignorance of
the proceedings, and naturally does not appear in court in person or by
counsel to offer any opposition and the case goes by default. The judge
hears the evidence, which has been carefully prepared, in the case;
submits a decision in favor of the plaintiff; and the first thing the
defendant knows is a dissolution of the marriage.
Adultery is a favorite ground with the divorce lawyer, and strange as
it may appear, it is easy to fasten such a charge upon the defendant,
if that person happens to be the husband. This is how it is done: One
of the “agents” of the firm makes the acquaintance of the husband,
who is in total ignorance of the plot against him, and after becoming
somewhat familiar with him, invites him to a quiet little supper at
some convenient restaurant. When the wine has done its work, a party
of ladies drop in, quite by accident, of course, and are pressed by
the agent to remain. The innocent victim joins in the request; he
would be an ill-bred fellow if he did not. A dead set is made at the
victim, whose wits are generally somewhat confused with the wine, and
the natural consequences follow. The “agent” coolly looks on, and takes
his notes, and the particular beauty who has won over the victim to her
charms becomes an important witness in the case. There is no difficulty
in proving the charge.
Where the husband is a jolly, good-natured man, and loves to take his
pleasure, the “agent’s” business is greatly simplified. He has but to
shadow his victim, note down his acts, even his words, for the most
innocent deed can be distorted by a shrewd divorce lawyer into damaging
evidence of guilt. The least imprudence is magnified into sin, and
little by little all the needed evidence is obtained.
Sometimes all these arts fail. Then the lawyer has but one course, to
employ paid witnesses to swear to the husband’s guilt, where no overt
act has been committed. The divorce must be obtained at any cost; and
the lawyer knows no such word as failure.
Sometimes business becomes dull. People appear to be satisfied with
their partners, and applications for divorce fall off. The divorce
lawyer is equal to the emergency, however, and sets his agents to work
to drum up business. They proceed upon a regular system, and seek high
game. They operate among persons able to pay large fees, and seek women
as their victims in preference to men. A member of the Bar, conversing
with a friend, not long since, thus explained the system pursued:
“You understand, of course, that society is not happy in all its
honors. All the brownstone houses have to have closets put in every
year in order to accommodate the skeletons. Still, many a woman and
man, if let alone, would bear his or her connubial burdens meekly,
rather than to face the scandal and publicity of a divorce trial. Our
special divorce lawyers know this, and so they invade society. They
transfer the base of operations to the drawing rooms. How? By using
swell members of the fashionable world to first find out where there is
a canker in the case, and then to deftly set forth, in a perfect way,
how divorce is the only cure.” Nine-tenths of this delicate business@
is employed in pursuing hesitating wives. Husbands could hardly be
approached in their own homes with a proposition to break them up. Take
an impressionable woman, already unhappy, who has once been thinking of
divorce, and the case is different. She is clay for the moulder. The
serpent whispers how nice it will be to bank her alimony, tells her
lies about the old man, induces her to believe that the firm down-town
will put in no bill if they don’t succeed, and so the affair is
arranged.
For this despicable service the “agent” receives ten per cent of the
fee paid the divorce lawyer by the wife, which fee, be it remembered,
comes out of the husband’s pocket.
Oftentimes the “agent” is called upon to personate the husband,
especially in serving the summons of the court upon him. The lawyer in
charge has the case quietly put on record in the proper court, and has
a summons prepared for service upon the defendant. A boy is called in
from the street, anybody will answer, and is paid a trifle to take the
summons to the defendant’s place of business or residence, and deliver
it to him in person. Arriving at his destination, the boy is met by
the “agent” of the divorce lawyer, at the door or on the steps. The
agent sharply demands his business, and is answered by the boy that he
wishes to deliver a paper to Mr. X—. “I am Mr. X—.” The boy in perfect
good faith, for he has never seen Mr. X— in his life, delivers the
summons upon the defendant in person. He is then dismissed, and plays
no further part in the case. His affidavit is sufficient for this part
of the proceedings, and the shameful mockery of justice proceeds to
another stage.
This is no exaggerated description. The acts of these divorce lawyers
are well know in Chicago, and members of the Bar are familiar with
their mode of proceeding. Reputable barristers denounce them as a
disgrace, not only to the profession, but also the judges on the bench
know these men by their ways. Yet, neither the Bench nor the Bar
Association make any effort to stop the evil or disbar the wretches,
who thus prey upon the most sacred relations of life. Lawyers of
standing are afraid to attempt to bring it to justice, lest they should
draw upon themselves the vengeance of the courts and so injure their
own professional prospects. So the evil will continue to grow. It will
flourish as long as there are foolish people to take advantage of it.
Tramps’ Paradise
Chicago is the paradise of tramps, the term is generally applied to
able bodied men and women who are too lazy to work, but prefer to pick
up a precarious living by begging food and clothes from house to house.
In mild weather they sleep in the parks and public squares, and in
winter take refuge in the police stations. During the warm season they
leave the city in large numbers, and wander through the country, going
into many states, but in winter they flock back to Chicago, where they
are sure of food and shelter. Some remain in the city throughout the
year. They are dissipated as a rule, and the majority have been brought
to their present condition because of drink.