AMERICAN GOSSIP.

Inangahua Times, Volume II, Issue II, 16 February 1880, Page 2

AMERICAN GOSSIP.

" Silver Pen," the San Francisco corres* pondent of the Auckland Herald writes under date December 21:— I bavp spoken at length on tbe characs ter and calling of the boy hoodlums some time ago. A glance at the girls of the same terrible class will show the state of morals in the Golden City. Quite lately, two girls, of tbe ages respectively of 14 and J2, were arrested in a hoodlum !odj>ing-house (of which there are about 60 in the city), and brought to the bar of justice for leading dissolute lives, which resulted in a sto y from tbe lips of tbe elder too revolting to publish in full, but. summed up, it goes to tell bow a gang of,, girls, from 10 to 16 ply the trade of naked shame on the city front-*-that is in the vicinity of the shipping. Here may be seen these little children, some even under ten years old, walking about, ae* costing the lowest kind of men, both white and black, though studiously avotfling the more decent sailors and working men there employed, T wo w '" plant tliemselves at a corner as decoys, while the others disperse and pick up who they CBn, when they adjourn to a low tavern and indulge in debauchery of tbe most tirifie kind ; drinking, cursing, and so forth. An investigation showed that these girls recifed their initiation in vice at a barber's shop. Tbe devil who plies his trade among the lowest class of men, has been for some time enticing young childen of seven and eight years old in o his service with bribes of candy and dime pieces. You may imagine, from the tender ages of these poor children how little they know of the nature of their crime when a five-cents' worth of candy is h.e}d out as, an inducement, and received in return for their chastity. It is dreadful to see this class of girl waylaying boys of the same age, following i hem up, and walking past their homes, day after day, as I have wituessed. The hoodlum girl is known at a glance, of whateyer age. She generally walks; if with one of the opposite sex, with his arm round her waist; ber shoulders are covered with a loose shawl ; her hat is old, and trimmed with tawdry finery; brass earrings, bracelets, and finger- rings, give a glare of sin to the shabby finery ol ber drpss, which is decked out with worn and faded ribbon, on ber face an impudent leer, and often in her mouth a cigarette. Should you happen to enter a ear in which a paifcy of these hoodlum girls are, the smell of liquor pervades the air most disgustingly, and talk about swearing every second word is either slang or an oath. They spit about, too, just like men do — indeed, spitting is not conßned to this class by any means, for every roan in the city spits about tbe cars and streets until you feel sick. Imagine walking along in a handsome dress and having it spaj: upon over and over again. A lady must pick her way carefully to avoid the disgusting ordeal, and noticeably on the marble steps of offices you find tbe same fiMiy element; so much so, that, unless careful, one stands a good chance of slipping and breaking one's neck; But to return to our hoodlum girls. There is go redemption of them, it appears. Nathaniel Hunter, the Secre'ary of the Society for the Prevention of Truelty to Children and Animals, makes 'he most iraiseworthy exertions on behalf ot this misguHed class, placing girls in good families, only to find them run away to old haunts in an hour after; or securing them within the boundaries of i he Industrial ddiool, where they remain for months for reformation, again to hike to the streets when delivered from their prison. They are '* smart," too ; it is not uncomm m for a girl of fi teen to head ■■i gang of youthful burglars or shoplifters, and prove perhaps a more determined commander tlian a boy would. MERRY PHKI§TH4«, ClirKfmas once again, with a blue sky nnd cariloals of fl'weis; nith strawberries and cream ftd Uhitum. Pan Francisco is arrayed in g'ia costume. Once more the candy 'hops are rich in luives. crabs, flowers, trt-es, Nohl^s arks 'lolls fi s i. 'its cats, and every other ■ levice under "lit? gun — all m tvndy. The p venien's are impassable with toys t velocipedes, glassware, c'uufiware, Japanese ware, and all other wares. Once mo?e, turkeys at Is (Id per Ib, and s^ck«

ng pigs at four dollars each, bom ont at the market stalls ; everything speaks o r plenty to those who can buy. Tlj© Mechanics' Pavilion free from walki' >g matches and cnrnivals, is utilised as a <i onster toy bazaar, where you may pur<chase any holiday gift you please, and where Santa Claus l>ol<is his reign and gives little children free gifts, to pro* pitiafe parents to go in largely for the elder brancheg. Four bands discourse swept music for a prize, and " your sisters, and your cousins, and your aunts " is the inspiring strain that gratifies old and young, so much do we all love " Pina* fore," Every liying sou! is making ready gifts, for the ladies work for months previous to this happy week in order to present their gentlemen friends with 'angilile proofs of their love. Happy bachelors ! Now will your bureaus be crowded with pin«.cushions, collar and glove boxes in silver cardboard wi'h monogram therefore, and other nick* nacks ; how lovely your beds will hence forth look with those beauteous "shams," with initials in satin stitch badly worked in the centre, Fair ladies, how your hearts will beat waiting for the costly cadeaux <ou look for in return, anrl which you'll get-> earrings, bracelets, dia monds, furniture — everything, in fact, for Christmas presents in Francisco mean something worth waiting fur, and the men are very generous at such seas ms. The streets are impassable ; men, women, and children may be seen loaded with packages. At this season the Chinese merchan's make costly presents to the wives of their employees, the most costly and elegant presents too. Nests of tal les in papier fflatfie, trays, toys, candy, and I think the Chinese candy ithe most de ieious I ever tasted ; in fact, it is like no other, so I won't pretend to describe it. Among if, however, are crystalized rjgjfts, which are peculiar and delicious. When one looks at the work of the "Heathen Chinee" it seems a farce to talk about the suieriority of the Christian ditto; their paintings on paper and silk, as thin as gauze, are more exquisite than anything J ever saw. All these are presented to their white friend* at Christmas time, and more than I could mention in ten pages.