THE most astounding disclosures of wickedness in high places in London are being made by the Pall Mall Gazette. The nature of these disclosures, and the vast amount of iniquity revealed amongst “the upper classes” are appalling, and far beyond the conception of any who has not read them. Of course it has produced a sensation, for “Honorable” and titled villains are so accurately described in connection with their lecheries that they are readily recognized. Newsdealers and boys in large numbers have been arrested for selling the paper; and many more seem interested in stopping the hideous revelations than in stopping the abominable practices. It is a well-established fact that an active market is sustained in girls from thirteen to seventeen years of age, often drugged and taken to the houses of the dealers, and some of the rich and honorable purchasers are very fastidious—none are accepted unless accompanied by a doctor’s certificate that they are innocent girls! These certificates are obtained in the house of the procuress. The following is from the notes of an interviewer:—
“A well-known member of Parliament being interviewed by a commissioner, laughed heartily. When asked what he knew or surmised concerning the traffic in young girls, he said: ‘It is true maids are obtained at so much a head. I myself have procured a hundred at £25 each. The girls knew what they were doing and it is nonsense to call it rape. They know their purity is a realizable asset and they are not slow to set a price upon it.’”
One of the law-makers “laughs heartily” over the horrible facts produced! The following extract from a report of an interview with a dealer will give an idea of what is going on in the metropolis of the chief “Christian nation” of the earth:—
“The price has perhaps fallen, but the loss resulting from this is more than made up by the increased demand. For instance, Dr. ———, who used to take a girl weekly at £10, now takes three in a fortnight at prices ranging from £5 to £7 each.”
“What,” exclaimed the reporter, ‘take seventy innocent girls yearly?’
“Certainly,” replied Mme. X, ‘he would take 100 if procurable, but,’ she continued, ‘he is so very particular, we cannot supply him. He will not touch shop-girls and then, too, all must be over sixteen, because of the law in regard to abduction. I am careful enough to keep within the pale of the law,’ said the Madame.”
If Sodom was worse than this, what could it have been?
The Saturday Half-Holiday Movement
The Christian at Work says, "The Saturday half-holiday movement is fairly under way, and the stores and offices are generally being closed, some at noon, mostly at one o'clock, others close at three, and still others refuse to close at all. But the movement is in the air—it certainly is in the air, and the end will be a free Saturday holiday."
Perhaps all do not see the significance of this movement, which the religious papers are so actively championing. It is simply a move toward a strict Sunday law. One argument against such a law is that it is an injustice to the laboring classes, to prohibit them from having a holiday on Sunday, when they have been confined all the week. The Saturday closing movement was devised to remove that objection, so that there could be no excuse for not having a quiet Sunday. It is claimed that business will not suffer by the change, if it becomes general.
Camp-Meeting Supplements.
By Editor
WHEN ordering by mail do not be afraid to tell just what you want. And in doing this remember to tell us:—
1. Full particulars about the meeting, including the date, location, names of speakers, railroad fares, etc.
2. If there will be a book stand, provision stand, restaurant, accommodation for teams, etc.
3. How many of the four-page camp-meeting supplements, containing one full page advertisement of the meeting, are wanted.
4. To whom the papers shall be sent and to whom charged. PUBLISHERS SIGNS OF THE TIMES.
Sunday Newspapers.
The Catholic Examiner says: "We notice that all the conventions of Protestant divines that have met recently have taken occasion before adjourning to open their vials of righteous indignation on the Sunday newspaper. Did these clergymen condemn the Monday newspaper they would be nearer right. The Monday morning paper is, for the most part, set up on Sunday; the news for it is gathered on Sunday; the editors who make it up work upon it on Sunday, when they ought to be in church listening to the preacher discussing the tariff, the political outlook, the Eastern imbroglio, or any of the other more or less sacred and important subjects over which the Protestant pulpit is wont to grow agitated. On the other hand, the reportorial and editorial work in the Sunday journal is done on Saturday, and in many instances it is printed before 12 o'clock on Saturday night."