NEW EDITION JUST OUT. H RESTEL'S Secret Liife n THESE WEHE HER VICTIMS THIS WAS THE WOJWflN GfffiS3Gn2Cfi3 she ^toops over and thrusts in her hand to try the heat. It is apparently 'not too hot. How steady her fingers are as they undo the exquisite gold button at her throat, and how calmly the garment is dropped to the floor, and she stands just as she entered the world, so is she going to leave it ! What a atudy that fac* and form are now, for a painter, yearning- for RESTELI/S SECRET LIFE. 9 immortality. The cheeks are a trifle paler, only a trifle, the lips a little more compressed, the eyes! oh, those eyes, that have looked down calmly into so many suffering mothers' faces. Ah ! what an expression there is in them now. A moment or two and she steps over the side of the tub into the water, sits down rather suddenly, reaches her hand under the skirt on the chair and draws forth the knife. Was that a groan she uttered from behind her tightening lips ? Ah ! quick, let us stay her arm ! It is raised with awful intent ! Too late! She knew where to cut, and the -carving-knife drops from her dying ahnd with a little plash into the water, slides from her breast like a gleam of light to the bottom of the tub. Its part is done ! her part is done ! She is dead already ! And the water is blushing scarlet at the dreadful deed. Still on it flows. The hot water is all drawn by this time from the boiler and the cold begins to run in. The blush begins to disappear after an hour, for the constantly renewed stream has carried the blood all away into the waste pipe. Hour follow» hoar, until tke servant, rising in the morning, chances to pass near the bath room. She iooks in — the water is still running ! and is now color« less and terribly cold. Her mistress is a stiffened corpse. She will not be tried. With her own hand she has quashed Comstock's indictment, and in desperation has appealed to the Supreme Court of Heave». Thither we cannot follow her. There we cannot see the vast array of witnesses, nor listen to the testimony of the little voices before that Tri- bunal. God is just and He will wisely do what is right. SECRET HISTORY OF MADAME RESTELL. "MADAME RESTELL."— This was the name that has appeared hi arious advertisements of a questionable character, during the past thirty- uu»in)tM'mm»mmimi»inHiTi'!;nnir Down into the cellar. " In the name of the law.**. 3* *en better hinunter. „3m Harnett fce* teffffi." * RIST ELLS SICRET LIFE. If Mid daughters behind our backs, and which have been, and still are, sap, fing the very foundations of society. The warrant was carried out to the letter, and the palatial abode of the •bortionist was ransacked high and low, from attic to cellar, and the officers •f the outraged law, secured her instruments, hooks, shears, needles, bottles, powders, liquids, pills, and indeed all the deadly weapons for that * crime against nature" which is so justly denounced as the most fashioa» able sin of the day. Previous to the year 1813, the use of these implements and drugs had to be proven before the criminal could be punished. But after the pas- sage of that law, the mere possession has been enough to convict the evildoer and bring down the penalty. It was a bold stroke and an exceedingly brave one on the part of Mr. Comstock to make the move he did. For if he had found nothing, he would have placed himself in an exceedingly awkward predicament^ besides getting himself laughed at for a blunderer. On the 11th day of February, another warrant was issued, this time for the arrest of Madame Restell. Though quite nervous, still her past successes in evading and defying the law, caused the accused to carry a bold front, believing that her money would in some mysterious way, get her out of her trouble. With all the airs imaginable, she ordered her carriage, and in th«»»o*t magnificent style she was driven to the Court. IN THE RAPIDS Madame Reetell was now unconsciously in the same condition as tfce hunters in the canoe, above Niagara Falls. They had often been across the river before, and knew its every turn and eddy so well, that they never felt at all afraid of it. Being strong and skillful and bold, they often paddled nearer to the awful cataract than anybody else would dare to. One afternoon they went out as usual, got nearer than ever, to the perilous brink, and started on their return, stemming the torrent success- fally, when all at once one of the paddles broke. This was fatal, for in another instant the canoe was swept into the rapids, and from thence, like a flash of lightning, over the chasm, into the seething hell of waters. Thus they perished at last. And so did the Madame, after all her many hair-breadth escapes. When she was taken to Jefferson Market Police Court, Mr. Comstock was placed on the stand, and testified, that when he made tb* arres*, he foand in the Reception room of Madame Restell, the wife of q&* «* oa* 2 13 RESTELI/3 SECRET LIFE. prominent citizens. He also testified to the finding of tbe illicit articles charged, in her house. So ; the evidence being of this direct character, there was no quibble, and Justice Kilbreth held her. Her Counsel claimed that there was only a misdemeanor declared that she would be acquitted of the charge, and asked that, pending ai> exami- nation, she be admitted to bail. In her satchell, the prisoner had brought twenty or twenty ?five thousand dollars worth of United States bonds, and when the Justice announced Ave thousand dollars bail on each charge, making ten thousand dollar«, la all, she jauntily produced the ten thousand dollars in the United States Bonds. What was her astonishment, when the stern magistrate, with a decided wave of his hand, said : " I cannot and will not receive such security. We must have freehold security, and two bondsmen." This was a erusher, but properly enough, the Justice remained inexo- rable in his decision. The next thing was to send out messengers in all directions, to her friends, to come and bail her out, but none came, which showed that the dread of public opinion was greater than the friendship of her friends. Night came, and still no one came, and finally the accused left the Court, entered her gorgeous carriage, and was driven, in grand style, to the Tombs, where she spent the night. The next day she remained in her cell. There were a number of calls made upon her, but she declined to see anybody except her Counsel, Mr. McKinley, her relatives, and one or two more of her most intimate friends. The former and another came in her own elegant cairiage, her turnout, with its liveried servants, making quite an ostentatious display. Thi* was excessively annoying to those who had her case in hand, but it cre- ated much prejudice against her, or rather let us correct by saying, it excited much just feeling against her. After a long interview with his client, Mr. McKinley went before the Justice and informed him that he demanded an examination, that the prisoner, in waiving one at the first hearing, did not comprehend her *egal rights, or she would not have done so. He also stated that they were now ready with freehold security. The Magistrate promptly replied, ihat so far from the prisoner not being aware of her legal rights at the hearing, she had been carefully and explicitly informed of them at tha* time, indeed just as thoroughly and carefully as if the Counsel himself ihad been present and done so As an examination was now demanded by the prisoner, he would wft. ftngly grant it, and fixed the fifteenth as the date. He stipulated, how- ever, that in case Mr. Comstock should not be ready to go on, there sh Id be a postponement till another day. The Judge added, that und«r EESTELL'S SECRET LIF1. If / • „ __ ihe circumstances, he would decline to receive bail most positively, pend- ing the examination. Counsel undertook to argue the matter and per- suade a different deeision, but the Judge was inexorable, and would not budge an inch. On the appointed day, therefore, the Madame was again brought into Court, and was confronted by her prosecutor, whom some of her friends had the effrontery to call her persecutor. However, that made no dif- ference to him. He was there in the performance of a high and holy duty, and though it might crush one woman who ought to have been crushed^ long ago, God knows, it might, and most likely would, save many other women. The Court now was packed with spectators, such was the public exciie- menu Promptly at the hour for the session, the Madame swept into the room in her magnificent attire, and accompanied by her Counsel and her family. The Judge announced that Mr. Comstock, the principal witness, being unavoidably absent, an adjournment, until his return, would be necessary. Mr. Purdy, senior Counsel for the accused, said that would suit him exactly. The question of bail was then resumed. Mr. James Gounod, one of the bondsmen, desired to surrender his bail. He had been prom- ised two hundred and fifty dollars for going on the bail bond, but he had not seen a ceat of the money. An examination then showed that a young man by the name of Thompson, had been the means of obtaining him as a bondsman, and for his trouble, had kept the money himself, a shrewd bit of business on his part. He had fulfilled his promise to obtain the Ktondsman, and now that the bondsman had surrendered his bail, Ae could w.ot demand the money, neither could the prisoner's counsel demand it tack. Mr. Jacob Schwartz, the other bondsman, now renewed his bail, and a second one was obtained to keep him company. This was Mr. John Loretz, of ITT West Twelfth street. He did not sign the bond until after ten thousand dollars in U. S. bonds had been deposited in his name, with the Trust Company, and he had received two hundred and fifty dollars in «ash for his trouble. This formality gone through with, Restell wai released, and drove off. triumphantly in her carriage. Her coachman« who had driven her for noarly twenty years, seemed to partake of the same spirit. Little did the indignaut spectators think how the invisible chain which Justice had fastened about that grandly dressed, haughty woman, was burning into her vitals beneath the covering of silk and seal skin sacquo,» as though each link were a red hot piece of steel. They little suspected that the conscience of the innocent, thoughtless. English village girl, was still living within what was now the hard womau of the world, that it 30 restell's secret life. was stinging her almost to desperation, that in a little month more it* Yoioe was to become so loud as to require the hands of a violent death le ahut it from her ears. Yet such was the case. The sheet of outer bra»6 Was thin, after all. Upon March 1st the examination was finally reacted. On the on« side »tood the indicted woman and her friends, on the other District Attorney Henig, Samuel Colgate, President of the Society for the Suppression of Tice, and Anthony Comstock. Mr. Brady coolly moved for a dismissal ef the complaint. After an interchange of legal argument \ Judge Kil- tareth denied the motion, and turning to the prisoner, said : " Mra. Lohman, you have been examined on the first charge preferred against you, I will now proceed to the second." Then came the routine questions and answers usual in examination» Her answers were given in a dreamy, uncertain way, until that in reply to the question : * Are you guilty or not guilty f " She glanced nervously at her Counsel, and then in a hurried and assumed, firm tone, said: " I have nothing to say." Then came the formula of putting down the trial for the next general teem of the Court. Bail ten thousand dollars. Madame Besteil was led into the Sergeant's room, and her Counsel went off in a carriage, to find bail, it was said. But instead, he returned with a writ of certiorari, from Judge Donohue, calling upon Judge Kilbreth to show cause why Madame Restell should be thus deprived of her liberty. The writ waa served on the Judge, who was very much nettled at it, and Mr. Herring denounced it as an unprofessional feature, to thus trick the Court. The Counsel's own reply, was, to produce another writ from the Sapreme Court, upon the Sergeant, Williams, to produce Mrs. Lohman in that Court. Judge Kilbreth had, by this time, recovered from his surprfse, and aeaV ing himself, he said firmly : " The prisoner is in my custody, not the Sergeant's. She is suspected ef a crime, and on these grounds she is by me committed to the Tembs." And, taking up his pen, the Judge made out the commitment Mr. McKinley protested, and said : ; " I have this writ, then, to serve on Sergeant Williams the moment be takes her into custody. " Ah, your Honor," remarked the astute Mr. Comstock, with a compla- cent smile, " I think I can help this matter If you please, bw»d the •ommitment to Officer Sheldon instead of the Sergeant." 1 Bbstell's secret lists, 21 This completely flanked McKinley, and he denounced Conistock's Interference with the duties of the Court. Attorney Herring said ; " I move, your Honor, that the prisoner be placed in the custody of Officer Sheldon." Another wordy conflict ensued, the final result of which, was, that ia the custody of another officer, the prisoner was taken at once before Judge Donohue, of the Supreme Court. Here the war was resumed» But Judge Donohue fully decided, in reply to her Counsel's earnest appeal: " I only know her as an ordinary criminal. And I propose to treat this case the same as any habeas corpus case brought before me." The final result was, that the prisoner was placed in the custody«of the Sheriff, who charged Major Quincy with her safe keeping till the follow- ing Tuesday. Upon that day the case was proceeded with before Judge Donohue. A decision was not reached, and the case went over to the following Thursday, when the writ was dismissed and the prisoner remanded to the custody of the Court. Then her indefatigable Counsel made a motion for a reduction of bail, not only before Judge Lawrence, but before Judge Sutherland. But, after all the battling of her Counsel, Judge Kilbreth was sustained in every point. The District Attorney then stated he would accept her own bond in five thousand and the other bondsman, besides which he required her to deposit ten thousand dollars in XJ. S. bonds in his office. This was all done after a number of necessary formalities, and the prisoner was free — until the trial should commence, en April first. But we all know that never came. All fools , day dawned 4«u the lifeless body of the prisoner lying in her bath tub in her brown »tone palace. The Court assembled, and all the participants of the former hearings, were, with an expectant audience, awaiting the coming of the prisoner. In vain! a despatch was handed to the Judge, announcing the suicide. At first, on account of the day, some thought it was a silly hoax. But Ihis notion was soon dispelled officially. There remained nothing but to enter the event on the record, and drop the case, which was accordingly done. " Nolle pross'd by Death," as one of the lawyers remarked. DOWN THE PAST. • « As we have stated in the previous part of this narrative, Madame Resiell was an innocent, merry country girl, and none of those who knew her at the age of nineteen, would have ever believed that she and the old 22 RESTELl/S SECRET LIFB. woman of sixty-five, who had attained such an awful notoriety, were onr and the same individual It shows how carefully young people should look to their footsteps in early life, yes, and at every part of their life journey. Restell was a. widow before she took the final steps, which, while in conjunction with her second husband, led her to enormous wealth, still they led her, also, Jo that dreadful abyss, over which she at last flung herself into eternity. It has been truly said that this woman held in her possession, the keys to the skeleton closet of secrets of the high-toned families, not Only of New York, but also of others scattered all over the United States and Canada. People of* respectable standing would send their daughters and sisters, travelling for the benefit of their health, but, in reality, they would be sent to take up their abode with the Madame, either in her house or m the hotel which was built on the adjoining lot of ground. There these unfortunates, or wild creatures, as the case might be, would remain until they could safely return home without suspicion. la the event of so expressing a desire, the infant could accommodatingly be "adopted out," that is, they would never be troubled either with cr about it. Oh, how horrible a suspicion does this cause ! Were they all adopted I Poor little innocents ! Oh, what mothers ! and what relatives, who couii thus bargain with the abortionist, to have the helpless little being, it/ ▼eins fliled with their own blood, its very features being the impress of themselves, " adopted out! 11 They might as well have said, " we don't care whether it lives or die*, we'd rather it would die. But we don't care either way. Do just as you choose about it. Only we don't want to hear of it again." They were always assured in the most solemn manner, that their secret was safe in the tomb, and they gradually, it seemed, grew to have confidence in her. As to her charges, sometimes a fee of five thousand dollars would be an ordinary one, yet according to the wealth of the vie« tim. But not in money alone, did the snare work to her advantage, bat also in influence to secure the abortionist from harm in a legal aspect. And once in the meshes of her seine, they felt it was impossible to get away. One of the papers in New York, truly remarked, that hundreds of fashionables quaked, when they heard that Comstock had taken hold ef her, because they knew he would not let go, till his object was accom- plished. And they dreaded that when she would find herself driven te the wall, and they afraid to help her, there would be some State's evi- dence about their affairs, and all the skeletons would be brought out to fublie view. So when it was announced that she was dead, they breathed restell's secret life. SS A^ely, and felt that the sword of Damocles had been taken away from oyer their heads. At the time of the Beecher Tilton affair, there were many rumors about that party and their friends, in regard to her, but we are satisfied that they were nothing more than gratuitous slanders on all concerned, and therefore will not refer to them. That case has already done harm enough to the public mind, though, like a chronic cancer, 1t seems again about to discharge its horrible humor. The young lady from Philadelphia, to- whom we referred, was very/ beautiful and spirited, with a fashionable education, and rather wild m: disposition, though naturally a good girl. Not knowing the gentle restraint of a kind and loving mother, she was unfitted to encounter the arts and wiles of an unprincipled admirer. The father wag engaged, like many others, in the pursuit of wealth, and did not pay that strict atten- tion which he should have done, to his daughter. He depended on an old governess, a querrulous, harsh lady, who repelled rather than attracted her charge. The consequence was a natural one ; the lovers, soon found means to evade and deceive her. Then came the old story, a deserted,, distracted girl, an absconded scoundrel, and a fierce, revengeful, father, who held his child responsible for the disaster instead of himself. The unfortunate daughter was hurried off to New York, and there turned over to the keeping of the Madame. How many years have fiowt since then* We do not knew whether she is Hying or dead. If the for- mer, she must be an old woman now. Of course, poor thing, she was broken hearted, but in spite of all en* treaties, she refused to be attended in the manner her father desired? making the constant reply: " Oh, no I Heaven knows I am not bad I have been deceived, cruelly deceived, and I alone have to bear the shame and the heart-burning of my inadvertent sin. But I swear before Heaven, rather than add this crime upon my soul, I'll die. There I kill me, if you like, but jou shall never induce me to do this.'* Thus the brave girl defied them both, and in the due course of time, she clasped to her heart a sweet little baby boy. " Oh, darling little stranger," she would murmur, as she kissed the wee, pink cheek. I will live and repent for your sake, and you shah remind me always of the past. You shall be the angel to lead me up to Heaven, to keep me from falling into the abyss, which might otherwise swallow me up." How little the fond young mother dreamed of the plot which had been laid by her inexorable father, and which was soon to be devoloped. Tb» baby was but a month old, now, and one night its mother felt a peculiar drowsiness coming over her after supper. She could not account for it, bat she had a dread of it, and did her best to shake it off Tighter dm RESTELL'S SECRET LIFE. she ela.^p her arms about her baby, for somehow or other, the impr03sioo was with her, that, if she fell asleep, she would lose her child. Her struggle was a futile one, however, and presently she was in a Stupor. Then there glided to her bedside, a female figure, who, quickly throwing the helpless mother's arms from about the baby, picked up the the latter, and wrapping it up, hastened from the room, and gave it to a man who was waiting down stairs for it. He immediately left the houae> entered a close carriage, and was driven off. The next morning the mother awoke to find herself robbed of her baby.. As soon as she could, she arose, and, putting on her wrapper, hurried to the Madame 's room. There she found her, and said : " I have come down for my baby, why did you take it oat of the Toom ?" " Oh, don't bother about your baby. What do you want with a baby, «ny how ? It would only be a trouble to you." "That is no matter of yours," retorted the young mother, "you don't have the trouble with it. You get well paid for what you do/' "Your father don't want you to have that baby." "I don't care what my father says!" excaimed the mother, in,a fury, *'I want my baby 1" " Well, you can't have your baby ! I adopted it out to a strange lady!" A wild cry escaped the unfortunate mother's lips, and she sank upon a lounge, and buried her face in her hands. In a few moments, she sprang to her feet, and approaching her companion, who remained as cool aa though nothing were happening, said : "I will leave this house at once." It was now the former's turn to become excited, or, rather, nervous, for there was a terrible calmness in the young mother's manner ; a calm- ness that meant danger. As she spoke, she turned, and, going out of the room, went up stairs to her own apartment. There she commenced to dress herself in her out-door costume, and while she was thus engaged, the Madame came in and inquired what she intended to do. " That you'll find out !", replied she. "You can't go out till your father comes." "Can't I? Weil, I'll show you if I can't go out I" And her eye« fairly flashed fire. The other saw that violence would do no good with her boarder, and iried reasoning and pacification. Said she : " You ought not to blame me for what has been done. I did not brfog you here, and in what I have done, I have been guided by your father's express wishes and orders. He wanted the child adopted out, and I have aoaa §o. You cannot find it, and so you better take my advice, and, at I'll do it now, while all are asleep ! " she said fiercely. 1. „Sefct will t$ e* t§nn ; tf e fäkfett »ffe," fagte fte entfAIoffm. llESTELl/S SECRET LIFE. 27 any rate wait till you see your father. I will write to him at once, and tell him to come here to see you immediately." This seemed to have a quieting effect on the young mother, at least she made believe it did, and sat down. " Well, I'll wait till father comes, and then if he don't or you don't give me satisfaction about my baby, I'll make the City too hot to hold you. You say you'll send for him right away." " Very well, do so, and I'll try and be patient till then." The matter appeared to drop here, and the Madame breathed more freely. But she did not, with all her shrewdness, read her boarder's character, for the pretended submission was only a ruse. That same afternoon, the Madame went out on business, and the moment the front door was closed upon her, her young boarder hurriedly dressed herself again, and, ere anybody could prevent her, she was also in the street. She directed her steps to a Magistrate's Office, and entered her complaint in due form, made her affidavit, and had a search warrant issued, for she suspected that her baby had really been killed. She returned to the house. The Madame was yet out, but when she came back, there were the officers of the law ready for her She was exceedingly indignant at the turn affairs had taken, and she threateningly shook her finger at her boarder, who scornfully laughed at her, as she replied : " You're a sly fox, but you could not deceive me." In those days, as we have said, there was no legal danger to any one for merely having in their possession either drugs or instruments for pro- ducing abortion, and so the finding of these things did not worry the pro- prietress of the house. Presently the Officer took a lamp, and going to the kitchen, raised a trap door that led down into the cellar. " What do you want there ?" exclaimed the proprietress. " To see if there are any babies' graves there !" hissed the young mother, speaking for the Officer. " Shall I hold the lamp for you sir?' This to the searcher. " Oh, no, you just stay where you are. I will carry it, and find all I wish to," was the reply. As the light and its bearer disappeared down the trap, the Madame said : " Oh, you hussey, you ! This is a pretty, dirty trick you've played en me ! I wish I had never seen your face." * You'll wish that more so before I'm done with you !" replied the other in cold, determined tones. " I guess I'll step down and help." The next moment she, too was in the cellar, pulling tubs and benches, pot« and tin boilers hither and thither. With a keen, woman's scrutiny, she examined every nook and eorner. In a corner were small piles of old 28 bestkll's secret life. bottles. Here and there, among these, was one with a dusty cork in it. These she pulled out, and turned whatever of the partial contents they had, out upon the cellar earth, and making some sharp remark about them so that the Madame could hear her. In another corner was a peculiarly shaped piece of wire, which had rusted nearly all away. Near it was a small knife and some silk cord. On the opposite side, near the coal bin, was a little bundle of linen rags, stained with some red or brown liquid, which the dampness had caused to feel moist. This she undid, but there was nothing in them but greese, so she threw them down. Her companion poked in the coal ; there was nothing there. Next a slight mound in the middle of the floor, attracted attention, and with the shovel it was dug. But, finding it had not been disturbed, but was erU dently the natural shape of the hard earth, the digging was given up. The search was fruitless, after all, and was discontinued. Upon the warrant of arrest, the Madame was taken before the Mafia» träte, bound over, and as we have recorded, she was sentenced to a year in the Penitentiary on Blackwell's Island. We have already referred to RestelPs affection for her grand-childrea, to the oldest of which she willed the great bulk of her enormous wealth. At the time she resolved to erect a monument over the grave in her lot, at the Tarrytown Cemetery. To show the steel-like character of the woman, she sent for the sculptor, who, when he arrived, found that she had takes a dead baby, laid it on a cradle mattress, and fixed it in exactly the posi- tion she wished, with the corner of a quilt thrown across the body so as to expose certain parts of it to view. After a little conversation with the artist, the latter began to express his opinion as to what he would do. She interrupted him almost fiercely, with the words : 11 Now sir, I'm obliged to you for your suggestions, but it's got to be done the way I want it." "O very well, Madame," was the reply, "it 6hall be so." The monument was made, accordingly, on the model of the dead child, as it was there, and in due course of time, it was placed in the lot at Tarrytown. It is very odd and beautiful, and is enclosed within heavy slabs of the finest French plate glass, as clear as crystal. On one side is Hush, tread lightly, our child is sleeping ; fler life on earth is o'er ; Vacant hearts at home are weepisg, She sleeps to wake no more. On the other panels are cut the names and ages, dates of birth death of the two little ones, buried beneath. RESTELl/S SECRET LIFE. 29 s A. philosopher might argue, that a mind naturally affectionate, but soared and distorted by bitter experience in life, might become centered in its love upon one or two objects, and yet be bitterly cruel and murder- ous toward others. It is a great blessing, indeed, that there are but few * of such characters, for they are nothing but hnman tigers and hyenas. The career of Restell furnishes food for serious thought, as to where the nation is drifting. As the individual mother is, so will be the family, and as the individual family, so will the nation be. It is appalling, when we know that thousands upon theusands of mothers, who have learned and resort to the vile tricks — the "crime against nature," taught, or rather made fashionable by Restell and others of her class Let us repeat, with all possible solemnity, what we have said against this horrible crime, in the earlier portion of this work. Let us execrate those who would excuse and palliate such wickedness. There was a Professor in New York City, who, the Sunday after Res- telPs death, delivered a discourse in one of the public halls, iu which he actually defended Restell and her pernicious practices ; because, as be said, there were members of church who did the self-same thing, highly respectable people. He added, that he could name a certain fashionable minister, who had knowingly permitted his wife to do the very act, and then defended it on the ground of morality, and necessity. If so, he should bare denounced that minister by name, for such a shepherd as that, is worse than a wolf in the lock. A minister of God's holy gospel j Frightful thought! It is enough to make an honest man's heart tremble for his children, to think of such a thing. But we care not how holy his character, he should be dragged from his polluted pulpit, and his carcase given to the foul birds that feed on fetid flesh. He is no longer to be tolerated among really respectable people, even the poorest and most lowly in station. It does seem as if what is called the upper crust of society, has become awfully immoral, not only so, but that the middle classes are beginning to be contaminated by the leprosy of immorality. Should it ever spread to the poorer strata of society, theu farewell to the whole fabric of the American nation, for it is doomed. Fathers should take warning in time, mothers should also take warning. The former should inculcate in the hearts of their sons, the necessity for a pure and upright life, for a manly assumption of their future marital relations, and a love for virtue. The latter, even more sternly, should teach their daughters, that they should look forward to the bearing of their portion of life's duties, and that God wil? fwfcf h&i them respon- sible for neglect or criminal avoidance thereof #0 A SORROWFUL SEARCH. Years have gone by since we issued the foregoing history of the secret life and doings of that human vampire, Madam Restell ; and her memory, like her dust, was crumbling away into forgetfulness, when one day lately a lady entered with the book in her hand. After introducing the subject and conversing in a general way, she finally said: "Well, I have no doubt you think it curious to have a lady call to see you about this ; but you will no longer think so when I tell you that unfor- tunately I was one of the principal actors in a portion of that terrible life, which the author of your little book describes with such intense vividness. I am Mary Appelgate !" It was most assuredly a startling surprise to hear this avowal of identity on the part of our visitor ; but when we remembered her positiveness of disposition on the memorable occasion when her infant daughter had been taken from her by force, our surprise measurably abated. "My life since then," continued our visitor, "has been spent in trying to accomplish one and only one object." "Did you ever succeed in getting your little girl back?" inquired we, as she paused. "Ah !" exclaimed she, burying her face in her hands and bursting into tears, "how did you know? Did anybody ever tell you of my hunt ?" "No," we explained, "but it was the first thought that came into mind when you just now mentioned your name." "And that is just what has brought me to see you to-day. It is rather a long story, but I hope you will have patience with me while I tell you, and then I think, or at least I do hope, you will help me in my object, which is to find my child." "Most certainly, Miss Appelgate, both the one and the other ; your search through all these years shows the noblest devotion of a true mother's heart. So not only shall we listen to it, but we will send it broadcast all over the country, and who knows but that may be a means of discovering the where- abouts of your little one — though, as you say, she must be quite a woman now. "God bless you for your kind words, and now let me correct one error ia the book you issued at the time. You said a little boy, but it was a girl. After I had Madam Restell arrested, my father sent me to Peekskill to board with a farmer's family there, and promised to at once cause a search to be made for my baby." "What was its name ?" we inquired without thinking. Otherwise the question would not have been asked, for, with a scarlet blush, Miss AppeU gate replied : irn^... " It has grot to to be done my way ! " said she, pointing" to the child. «mg pföthtn »ie t * »id! £)<*« fage t# l M mtt> fie jeigte awf *ai £t»k "'] A SORROWFUL SEARCH. 33 "It had no name ; but I just called it 'Darling,' and I don't think I would ever call her any other name if I found her, though, no doubt, somebody else has given her a name. Oh ! sir, sometimes my heart feels like as though it must break when I think of everything. Why is it that women must always bear the brunt of everything and endure all the suffering and. odium ? But, no use in mourning over the unjust cruelty of the world. Father kept his promise faithfully, and did all that money could do to trace the woman to whom Madam Restell had given up my child. That villainous old wretch, when he went to her and explained to her his errand, said to him : " 'All right, but not a single clue will I give you till you pay for the loss and misery that girl of yours has cost me. ' 'How much do you ask ?' f Not a penny less than five thousand dollars cash down — no checks— but the crisp currency. It ought to be ten thousand, but I'll take five. No difference to me whether you come to terms or not. And even if you do, I won't insure your getting the child back. You see, when proud parents em- ploy me to save their daughters from disgrace, and to rid them of the dis- agreeable consequences of their peccadilloes, I act faithfully for them. So, when I give the babies away its the same to me as if I stood on the deck of a steamer in the middle of the ocean, in the middle of the night, and dropped them into the water. Therefore I'll be honest with you and tell you that for your five thousand dollars I can only put you on a trace, and nothing more. ' "Of course, father could not get the money till bank hours the next day, and the next night he took it to her. She then told him all she knew about the woman who got my precious child. But after tracing her for some time he lost her in Cincinnati. "From there he returned home, and, shortly afterwards was stricken with paralysis, and had me brought home also, forgave me for all the disgrace and sorrow I had caused him, and died in my arms. "He also left me his money, and much of that I have spent in the thus-far vain search. But, oh, sir, I would willingly give every penny of all I have left, and work hard the rest of my life to once again clasp my child to my aching heart. I often wonder if I shall be forgiven above as my poor, dear father forgave me, and as the Saviour forgave Mary Magdalene. Every day^ every hour of my life has been one of sincere, contrite repentance. "I often compare myself to Hester Vaughan of the Scarlet Letter story* But she had the consolation of being with her child, while I have not. Oh, but that gnaws at my heart night and day like a canker-worm and, like Cain, I am sometimes ready to cry out, 'My punishment is greater than I can bear!'" 3 S4 A SORROWFUL SEARCH. "Perhaps Providence is only disciplining you, and will yet bring you and your daughter together again, so that the supreme happiness of that re-union may fully compensate for your long years of patient suffering. Then, again, did it ever occur to you that she may possibly not be living?" A wild cry of anguish from Miss Appelgate was the reply to this sugges- tion. "My Darling dead ? Oh, no ! no ! She is somewhere ! Somewhere in this great, wide, wide world, and some day — some day I will — I will see her and clasp her to my bosom once again. Once again !" she added after a pause, and speaking in almost a whisper, "once again I do that, then I can lie down and die in peace and happiness." Again she became silent, and then in a bright, hopeful manner said : "Oh, yes, I feel now that I shall find her. With the help you have just promised I feel that she and I will be re-united — and then, then we will never be parted again, and I will be so happy ! so happy ! so happy !" "Well, now, let us speak practically," suggested we. "Are there any marks about her body by which she could be identified?" "Yes, on the left arm just above the elbow, on the side of the arm next the body." "What are they, and we will print a description in the book." "No ! please do not do that. I will gladly tell you what they are, but do not print them. I tried putting them in advertisements in the 'Personal' column of newspapers, and received replies from dishonest people, who had the marks tatooed on some girl's arm and then endeavored to palm it off on me. But when I looked for another mark which I had put on the body, it was not there. So I quickly discovered the cheat. Please say where the marks are on the arm, and if a description is sent I will go to the place and see if the bearer of them is my poor, lost darling. And when I find her — oh, I fear my heart will almost break with joy. And reward — a hundred ? Yes, I would gladly give ten times that and the gratitude of a whole life- time besides." "Well, Miss Appelgate, you are a thousand times welcome to whatever we can do to help discover the whereabouts of your child. Your case re- minds us strongly of the Charlie Ross affair ; but may heaven vouchsafe you a different ending from that." Tears rolled down the cheeks of our visitor as she bade us good-bye in a voice trembling with emotion, and we feel that every reader will share with us the hope that she may soon hear of her lost dear one. MISS ALDEN'S ESCAPE. ONE night as officer Tarelton was'patrolling his beat up town, his atton, tioa was attracted by the figure of a young woman who was walking «lose in to the walls of the houses in the avenue. The peculiarity of her motion, so suspicious, caused him at once to hasten toward her. He did not accost her immediately but following her own motions kept himself in the shadow of the houses, taking care not to remove his eyes from her, however. Presently he saw the woman go up the steps of a building and kneel «p on the top stone and peer — as he thought at the key-hole. Now to a police man even the ordinary action of every body out late at night be- comes suspicious, but if it comes to such extraordinary motions as these, well he knows his services as Paul Pry are needed. Tarelton already toad a record as a keen brave officer and this record being at stake ht itesitated no longer, but starting on a dead run he was in a moment or wo at the young woman's side, aud demanded of her in no gentle tone, "Here I what are you about?" She looked up, and in the dim light of the stars and distant gas lamp» seeing his uniform, she exclaimed : "Oh, sir, yon are an officer! I am so glad. I now have nothing to fear. I am looking for Mr. Talmadge's house." "Gome, come, now, young woman," said he in a warning tone ef voice, M that may be so, but you've been acting so mighty queer that I think jorte trying to give me taffey." 4 A THRILLING E2CAPS. 41 Sir ? *' asked she in astonishment. The officer had purposely used this bit of slang to see if she understood Si But either she was acting a part most excellently or else she knew nothing of the terms in use by thieves. So he altered his manner to one of less harshness and continued ; "Miss, I've no doubt you are nil right; but the hour is late and when we see people keeping in the dark parts of the side walk and then peop- ling in keyholes of front doors it looks suspicious, and we want explana- tions that will be satisfactory. And without we get them our orders as well as our duty are to take em in to the station. New yon say you want to find Mr. Talmadge's house. If you mean the minister of the Tabernacle, then he don't live here, nor noways near here." The young woman seemed to perceive in an instant the dangerous predicament in which she had placed herself by her apparently question« able manner and actions and so for a moment or two she felt most terribly frightened. "What did you want with Mr. Talmadge, anyway?* inquired Tarelton, feeling undecided what to do or ask, although his official instinct made him feeling like arresting his trembling companion. 11 I wanted to tell him the story of my escape from the Oneida Free Love place up in the state." This reply rather discomposed the officer than otherwise, for while it might be only one of the thousand and one trumped-up stories which come so glibly to the tongues of rogues, there was something in the tones ia which it was uttered that made him feel that quite possibly the speaker was telling the truth. "Your escape from the Oneida Free Love Cummunity!" he answered, "well now what do you suppose Mr. Talmadge would want to know about that subject ? Do you think he would like it because he's been showing up the dens in the city, and unmasking hypocrites in high life here. Because if you do I don't believe he'd care to meddle with it. I guess he has had about enough of that. But look here young lady I've got to do my duty. Will you tell me where you live ? If I had seen yo» walking along like any other body does when she goes hunting * minister's house I should not have said a word to you, but when yotf went along the way you were agoing, dodging in and out just like burg- lars' pals do, why I felt I ought to look after you." "Oh dear me ! oh sir, I never dreamed of such a thing. Why I am not a burglar. And the reason I was dodging in and out was because I have been afraid of my life for a long time. If you will go with me 1 Will quickly prove to you that what I tell you is the truth.* There was something about this reply that convinced the experienced ▲ THBILUNQ ISOAPI. $ officer that his companion was really truthful in her assertions and bt said : "All right, Miss, you must excuse me, and if you want to find out Me Talmadge's address, you will find it in the directory down at the drugstore on the corner there. What or who is it you say you are afraid of yottf life about ? Some man I suppose." "Yes, sir," was the reply. "Well, why don't you swear it against him ?" "What do you mean by that, sir?" required the girl. "Ah, I do believe yon are a green one," laughed the officer as he step* ped back a pace and contemplated the other. " I do believe you are a real country girl. What I mean is why don't you go to a magistrate and havo this man, whoever he is that you are afraid of, bound over, put under bail, give security, which ever you choose, so that he won't touch you ?" "Can I do that ? " "Yes, to be sure vou can." "And that would make me safe from all danger at his hands? n " I don't know of any safer method. I don't believe he'd want to bother yon any after \äai. It most always settles off these chaps thai takes to misusing the womon folks." " But he is rich and I am poor, and besides, I would be ashamed to go tot law. It is always so disgraceful for people to go to law." "That depends on which side you're on," replied Tarelton. "Now, if you be a plaintiff, why it's ail honorable enough ; but if you be the de- fendant then it aint But for all, whether the one or the other, you hardly ever know which way tUe see-saw is going to throw you. And eometimes I've seen cases where the plaintive was a good deal worse off than the defendant ! Well, here we are at the drug store. I'll stay out and you can go in and look at the directory." The two had involuntarily walked along while they conversed, until they now stood upon the pavement in front of the apothecary "They won't think it queer of me will they, if I ask them to let me do such a thing as look at their directory ? " inquired the young woman. "Oh, my goodness gracious! no! not at all!" laughed the policeman, "why everybody does that when they want to find anybody's else ad- dress and don't know it." The young woman thereupon entered the druggist's and having ascer- tained what she wished, came out, and told the officer what it was. "Oh," said he, •* you are a long way off from that I can tell you." "Then I bette* go home, I guess," said she. 41 Yes, I think you had." € A THRILLING ESCAPE. She then told him where she lived on east Eighth street. "Why," exclaimed he, "that's exactly where I live myself, or at least not half a block away/' "Ah, then I am glad of that," she replied, "for I shall feel safe in walking back there with you sir." "Yes, but I am not going there. I can't leave my beat," said the policeman, "but," added he, "I can give you in charge of the man on the next beat, and he can pass you safely along till you get right to the door." "Oh, I shall be ever so much obliged to you sir, if you will," was her reply, "or at least till I get to the house of a lady I met today, and who was very kind to me, and by whose advice I came to seek Mr. Tal» madge." "Ah, who was she ?" "Her name was Mrs. Tarelton — " "Why! bless my soul! interrupted the policeman that's my wife!" "Your wife!" reiterated the girl, "yoar wife! what a strange co-ia» cidence." The officer at once became completely friendly to the young stranger and said : "It's allright, Miss, I am satisfied. Two blocks below is the end of m/ beat, and I'll give you in charge there and you'll be all right. And don 1 ! forget, whatever I or my wife can do for you will be done with the greatest pleasure. Here! there! what do you mean? eh?" exclaimed Tarelton in a gruff, stern voice, slipping to the other side of his compan- ion, and seizing a burly fellow who had come across the street and peered into the face of the young lady, who tremblingly clung to her friend and protector. "Is this the man who has been scaring you so?" asked the latter, tightening his grasp and drawing his club, as the prisoner seemed disposed to wrench himself loose. "Come! come! no nonsense with me you know ! What do you mean ?" "I diden't mean nothin ! I seen you had copped the gal, an' I thought mebbey she wuz one of my friends an' I wanted to bail her ef she wuz !" "No, sir, he is not the man," said the girl. Upon this the officer released his prisoner, who strode away into the darkness, in a fury, and threatening to get even with the policeman for assault and false arrest. But that worthy only laughed and said : "Oh, these roughs like to hear themselves talk! that's the way they let themselves down easy like. But come," said he after a pause, "here A THRILLING ESCAPE. we are, and I must leere you. What did you say your name was ? yoe didn't tell me I think." "My name is Jenny Alden," was the modest reply. "Well, Jenny, I'm glad you fell in with me, for I tell you New York is a dangerous place for a pretty young girl to be walking round in after night fall. Here, Joe ! " This exclamation was addressed to another policeman who was patrol- ling on the other corner. << Hallo ! Tarelton, what's up ? " " Nothing but I want you to see this young lady across to Harry's beat. She has lost her way and lives within a block of my house. Who's on next to Harry ? " "I don't know." "Well tell Harry to see that Miss Alden here is passed all right. * Joe, a stalwart man, and quite genteel in his bearing raised his cap and offered Jenny his arm. She took it with such an innocent freedom and yet so modestly «a Tarelton bade her good night, that he could not help, smiling and saidi "You're not used to city life, I should say, Miss." "No, sir, I was never in New York before, but how do yon know that ? " • ' ' From your manner." "Then I'm behaving awkwardly, I suppose.*' "No, not at all, but you see we policemen get so we can tell a strangwr in an instant almost, as soon as we see them." " Mr. Tarelton was telling me it is a dangerous place here. But I don't see how that can be, when there are so many policemen, I'm su#e I have seen at least ten as I came along this evening." "Well it is such a place that we have over two thousand policemo*, and even with all those, there's a great deal of iniquity goes on that we can never stop nor prevent." The two thus conversed pleasantly until the next patrol was reached when our heroine was given in charge to him, and he taking her across bis beat delivered her safely to the next. In this way she speedily reached her home in Eighth street. The next day she went to see Mrs» Tarelton, whose husband was home off duty. And to the latter she re- peated her story but with fuller details than she had to the wife. We here interrupt our narrative to insert in it an account of a meeting of ministers called at Syracuse, New York, to agitate public opinion con- cerning the suppression of the Oneida Communists. We merely give our opinion individually when, after reading about the meeting, we say that while the actual life of these people among themselves may be harmless S A THRILLING BSOAPR. to them and from their stand point, the example it sets to the people ra* rounding them is a bad one. A Community of unclean lepers shut op in a city of refuge by themselves may require no looking after, no restraint» may live and even enjoy themselves. But if they be allowed to be close to other people how long will it be before the whole nation becomes leprous? The Oneida Free Lovers point to the Mormons of Utah and say the United States Government allow them representation in Congress. Alas! we know it I we acknowledge the burning shame! but, with the help of the Lord, we shall cauterize the vile sore from the body politic in a few years. And we shall tolerate no Utah in the beautiful valleys of the East here. God forbid that the golden band — the wedding ring «hall ever bind but one loving, trnsting woman to a man. Oh, mother ! you whose white hair scantily covers temples once fair and unwrinkled. «hall your loving heart be broken in the Autumn of your days, by such practices? Oh, daughter, fair budding, thoughtless girl! shall your sweet dream of hope — the winning of one noble manly heart — be clouded by the dread that some day you will be cast aside as no longer attractive. Thank Heaven, no! There are all sorts of wickedness in this world, but let us keep it within its boundaries, and see that that it does not break through the restraining banks and deluge all the land with its reeking tides. THE MINISTERS MEETING. i A movement was organized in Syracuse which has for its object the eradication of the Oneida Cummunitv. The head and front of the crusade is Dr. J. W. Mears, of Hamilton College. The first steps were taken at a former meeting held at the Syracuse University. In response U a call, in which reference is made to the great wrong done society by the institution known as the Oneida Cummunity, from its deadly opposi- tion to the principles of morality, about fifteen ministers of the Gospel responded to the invitation. Among these were Bishop Huntington, of the Episcopal diocese of Central New York ; Bishop Peck, of the Metho- dist Church; Chancellor Haven, of the University ; Dr. Mears, of Haniil-/ ton College ; Rev. James Porter, of Brooklyn, Congregationalist, Rev. Miner and nearly all the local clergymen of the various denominations. < The movement has been developing for a long time. Dr. Mears stated it before the Utica Presbytery a year ago, and was appointed chairman A THRILLING ESCAPE. t of a committee to collect information as to the practices of the Coo* inanity. At simultaneous meetings of the General Association of the Congrega» tional Church and a Synod of the Presbyterian Church, held at Oswego last October, resolutions denouncing the Community were passed. Tbt Presbyterians called it a "pernicious institution, which rests substaa« tially on a system of organized fanaticism and lust. 1 ' Bishop Hunting* ton, in his last Lenten pastoral letter, condemned the Community in good round terms. Outside of this the movement has slumbered until to-day, when it assumed something like a formidable aspect. Each person who entered the University to day was handed a copy of the American Soci- alist, the Community organ, which bristled with editorial and other articles of a natnre calculated to create a favorable sentiment. A boy stood at the door to make the distribution. Its editor, William A. Hinds, waft also present, notebook in hand. The assembled divines read the Socialist until Chancellor Haven called the Conference to order. On his motion Bishop Hmntington was chosen chairman. Bishop Peck offered player appropriate to the occasion. Dr. Mears was asked to read the call, with" which request he complied, closing with a statement that it was not expected or desired that others than those who had been invited by letter should be present. This was directed at the reporters, who were there in large force, all the New York papers being represented. IT he gentlemen of the press retired. After the doors were closed and a g»iard placed thereat the meeting proceeded to business. Exclusive as were the council they failed to rid the meeting of the presence of a member of the Oneida Community who was there in the guise of a delegate. Editor Hinds left the room with the reporters The interloper was not discovered, although the precaution was taken to call for the name, residence and faith of every person present. After the call of the roll the chair called on Professor Mears to state what facts were ii/> his possession in regard to the Community. Professor Mears alluded to the first action taken some time ago by the Synod of which he was a »iemb«r with respect to this local evil, and to the resolutions that were passed at a later date by the State Baptist Association, in harmony with the action of the Synod. Professor Mears then gave a brief sketch of the rise and progress of the institution. The movement was headed by Noyes, a graduate of a college. He based his theory on the second chapter of Acts, where it is stated that the early Christians had their property in common; but Noyea diverged from the Scriptural view by holding a community of persons as well as of good. Noyes, in college, was a bright student and promised to be a useful man. His communistic movement was started at Poult* 10 A THMLLING ISC API. ney, Vermont, in 1347. The people rose against it and Noyei was obliged to flee. He came to this section about thirty years ago. I may •ay that these people are good citizens, orderly and cleanly in the manner in which the conduct their homes. A similar community was started at Waüingtord, Connecticut, bat it failed. It did not contain the elements of success that the Oneida Community does. In the Oneida Community men and women live together in a sort of concupiscence. No woman has a husband of her own, and no man has a wife of his own. They declare that they live the resurrection life, in which "they neither marry nor are given in marriage." They are not allowed the right of choice. If they violate this rule and show any particular attachment for one another they are criticised for so doing. Noyes has great influence among them. Their institution is the outgrowth of vile passion. A person going through this community sees nothing there to offend. All is secret Our students who visit the place say that the men look passably well, but that tb« women have a dejected look, and how such women can be the mothers sit an excellent stock of men is one of the problems which the students di *- cuss. Three or four years ago a similar community was started in tie Northeastern part of this State. The Oneida Community has its location in the very centre of the State. I did not know but that we were to hate the State clothed with these communities. That Northern Community* however, has been sold out Whatever can be done ought to be done :'*• New York as it was in Vermont for the sake of the morals of the State. Chancellor Haven asked whether the women ever leave their precinct 1 The answer was, "Not much, if at all." Dr. Fowler asked whether Frin fessor Mears thought the leaders in the Community were sincere in com* parison with the Mormon leaders ? He replied, " I presume they are. Noyes says the Community would be a failure without the present method of social intercourse. " Dr. Fowler — Is it dying out? Professor Mears — It shows no signs of it, Professor Mears added that they are educating their young men so as to perpetuate their institution. One or more have been at Yale College. The total valae of their property is about $500,000 or $600,000, according to their estimate. Bishop Huntington said <( this is not an isolated community. It should be shown in the light. There is an impure emanation from it Young people go there and return with these Impure thoughts and association» in their minds." ' At this point Dr. Porter, of Hamilton, read a letter from Congressman Baker, in which the writer states that it is a disgrace to the United States that a Mormon delegate should be admitted to Congress from Utah, and that it is a disgrace to New York that such a community as this is allowed A THÄ2LL1NG SSCAPX. 11 to exist in the State, The speaker held that this syatem is a foal blot ob civilization. Bishop Peck indorsed the view given that the exigencies of this parti* cular time demand that we do something. He indorsed Congressman Baker's letter. This meeting should have succession and permanence. We should neither look for sudden success nor ultimate failure. The evil is too deep seated to be easily eradicated. It is in the hands of sagacious men. The method of treatment must be moral and Scriptural. If the Community stood alone without sympathy from the outside public, and with less sagacious leaders, it mignt be overcome by a popular uprising. Hot headed men will do us no good in this work. The opposition most be soundly Scriptural, The following resolutions were introduced : — Resolved, That it is the urgent duty of the people of the State to tab» and press measures for the suppression of the immoral features of th| Oneida Community. Resolved, That a committee be appointed, to whom shall be committed all questions of fact or law relating to the Oneida Community and of measures which ought to be adopted, and to report at a future conference which the committee will call. Bishop Huntington was appointed chairman of the committee, with it» structions to associate with himself Dr. Beard, of Syracuse, and Dir Mears. of Hamilton College. Rev. Gt. M. Pierce, of Utah, editor of the Rocky Mountain Advocate, being present, was invited to speak, and he pictured the deplorable socitA state of the Mormon people. The Chair called on Mr. L. W. Hall, a prominent member of the Syr», wise Bar, to present the legal phase of the question. Mr. Hall said it Would naturally be presumed that such offences have been treated else- where. Repressive efforts have been] taken in Massachusetts and Cock necticut against adultery and lascivious coabitation. In our own State adultery has not been made a penal offence. In regard to this particular case it occurs to me there must be specific legislation. If we can get a moral sentiment aroused, public feeliug turned toward Oneida, we will not need severe legislation. If in the statute in regard to disorderly per- sons the word "all persons living in concupiscence and adultery '' were inserted, it would embrace every one in the Oneida Community Some suppose that it will die out of itself. I think legislation would speed it en its way. Bishop Peck's resolution will cover what we ought to do at this meeting. The Chair here asked what Congressman Baker means by saying that this fa an indictable offence at common law. 12 X THRILLING ESCAPE. Mr. Hall replied that there is a difference of opinion on this point I do not think that it is an indictable offence as the law stands« Chancellor Haven proposed that the committee inquire into the law and practice of the Oneida Community and into the feeling of citizens of the State without saying anything about suppression. He had no doubt that it is the wish of Christian people to arouse the feeling of the people against this system. Bishop Huntington was right in saying that it dif. fuses an impure sentiment. He would like the committee to inquire what is the duty of Christians and citizens. If they tell us we ought to express our opinion and stop we will do that If they tell us we should petition the Legislature we will probably do that. He thought that in the reso- lutions they should not assume what they were going to do. He did not want a committee to tell them how they ought to suppress it. Dr. Torrey agreed with Chancellor Haven's views. He thought more decisive action should be taken. He wished every man, woman and child to understand that there was no doubt as to the immorality of this institu- tion. He thought they should not be afraid to express themselves in unequivocal terms in regard to the Oneida Community« A lively dis- cussion followed on Professor Mears' resolution, which was finally adopted in a slightly modified form. The question then arose whether the members present were pledged to secrecy, and a spirited discussion em the subject ensued. Finally the secretary was instructed to furnish One press with the resolutions adopted, but nothing further. AN INTERVIEW WITH AN ONEIDA MAN. I met J. Humphry Noyes, the acknowledged leader of the Community; but, as he is suffering from an affection of the throat which prevents hie indulging in prolonged conversation, directed my interview to William Alfred Hinds, the accomplished editor of the American Socialist and author of many works on Communism. Mr. Hinds cordially welcomed me as the representative of the Herald and cheerfully responded to my request for information regarding the views of the Community upon the proposed efforts of the clergy to destroy that body. The result of the interview and replies to my questions wne as fellows: — Mr. Hinds — We first heard of the meeting called by Dr. Mean, of Haailton College, Bishop Huntington and others a day or two age m \ A THÄILLING ESCAPE. ]£ the newspapers. The announcement created no more excitement in our Community than did any of the former agitations of this character, almost the whole ground having been gone over in the sensation of August of last year, which was based upon the misrepresentations and garbled re- ports of a New York Bohemian What originated that excitement ? Mr. Hinds — A report that there were internal dissensions in the Coin- munity and the reported secession of ten members of the Community. This is not the first time that Dr. Hears has agitated this subject ? Mr. Hinds — No, sir. He brought the Community to the attention of the Presbyterian Synod of Central New York and other like bodies a few years ago. What do you think is the object of the meeting called for Syracuse this week? Mr. Hinds — We think this is the preliminary to an effort to make thn movement against the Community general ; an effort to concentrate the views of representatives of the various churches of the State for the pur« pose of creating public sentiment, if possible, in favor of State legislation against the Community. In fact, Dr. Mears stated this purpose in sub» stance on August 10, 1878, to the editor of the Utica Herald, when he said that he "thought if theCommunty was ever disturbed it would havt to be by the passage of a special statute to fit its case. What the prospect of enacting such a law was he could express no opinion. He had visit«! the Community and been most kindly treated there. He regarded iU members as upright men in business life and believed that the founders of the Community were sincere in their peculiar doctrines. 1 ' In addition to the Presbyterians, the subject of abolishing the Community has been brought before the Methodist and Baptist bodies, but we have no knowl- edge of any particular action. A few years ago a committee was appointed by the Presbyterian Synod of Central New York to look into our affairs and suggest some plan for action, but to our knowledge this committee has never made any report» Tho members never made any formal call here, nor did any of them apply for information, whi«h would have been given cheerfully. Do you not think that the new Polygamy act of Congress has stimu- lated Dr. Mears and his confreres to renewed effort? Mr. Hinds — It has doubtless given live to this movement, but that act Vas no reference to Communities. About thirteen years ago, in the last difficulty with a seceder, they tried to get the Community indicted in Oneida county, and for this purpose sought to obtain the services of Counsellor Ward Hunt, of TJtica, nor Justice Hunt, of the Supreme C*nrt of the United States. After 14 A THRILLING ^SOAt>« tearing the man's story Judge Hunt informed us that he did not like the man nor his effort, and he would have nothing to do with him ; but, after knowing thoroughly our principles and practices he very willingly espoused our side in the matter, and the effort for indictment was again dropped. What form of legislation do you anticipate will be sought for against you? ^ l Mr. Hinds — We have no idea as to how they intend to declare our manner of life or the acts of the Community a crime or even a misdemea- nor. If the State feels called upon to make special legislation we shall not resist. If the legislation should be of such a character that we felt as if we could not conscientiously conform to it then we might conclude to withdraw from our Community form, or, for instance, turn Shakers. In fact there is a great deal of similarity between Communists and Shakers. Our Community is a non-proselyting institution. All we ask, and all we have ever asked, is to allow us to go on our peaceful way. We have been quite careful even in our own paper to keep our radical society prin- ciples in the background. For a year at least we have not circulated at all any of our publications explaining these peculiar principles. In fact, we have entirely withdrawn them from circulation, and at present have m> intention of thrusting them on the public But supposing these mem- bers and self-appointed guardians of social morality should succeed in breaking up the Oneida Community what would be the result ? It cer- tainly would have this result : — It would set free a great many people i»ere to go into this very business of proselyting. We have quite a üiumber of writers and speakers who would like no better fun than to spread our principles by lecturing and all means that are usually taken advantage of for such objects. And then these wise men ought to bear in mind that no system ever dies so long as it is subject to persecution. In fact, if these reverends had genuine faith in the good old Gamalian doctrine they would consider that they would do the most service to the world hy letting the Community severely alone. "For if this thing be of men it will come to naught ; if it be of God, they cannot over- throw it." Furthermore, it will do no harm to remind the members of this self- constituted conference that they each and all represent sects that are very young in years since the first Methodist was seen in Massachusetts, and Congregationalists, Presbyterians, Episcopalians and all the rest need not go back more than two hundred and fifty years to find that their sects were terrible persecuted by other sects that happened to be in power. We Communists cannot expect, a new system of society, based on a new mteryretation of the Scripture, to fare any better than the grandfathers A THRILLING ESCAPE. 1? •f the defines who are to met in Syracuse. We probably shall go through t»ome such experience as the Shakers have in this country. Everybody respects them now and speaks well of them, but during the first years of their history they were subject to terrible persecutions, maltraited in various ways, their meetings broken up, property destroyed, their socie- ties threatened with violence, &c. They have lived down the opposition to them, and so has the Oneida Community in its immediate neighbor- hood. It is only necessary for our permanent peace that the whole State shall come to know us as well as our neighbors do, and the present move- ment may help us in that respect. What was the effect of the agitation of last summer % Mr. Hinds (smiling) — The newspaper notoriety attracted attention in a way that increased the demand for our manufactured products, and so materially helped us. The present agitation may possible result with equal advantage. You have read the formal call for the meeting. What have you to s»f as to its assertion ? Mr. Hinds — Tbe call of the reverend gentlemen asserts that the Com* munity is doing " a great wrong to society from its deadly opposition t* the principles and practices of Christian morality." What is meant by this we do not quite understand. Certainly our system is an example i cut you out with me I tell you, if you behave yourself. I am going to »narry you all right when I get you up home in Oneida County. I saw torn the start what style your father and mother were. You know how stern they are about things, ana so I had to plot a little to get you. I know you will forgive me, if you love me as you say you do." " What do you mean ? " asked I in some bewilderment as to his inten- tions. 'Come, sit down again, and I'll explain to you, so you won't mis» understand." * Passing his arm around me he pulled me back to the lounge and eat down with me, and recommenced; "Now then Jenny, there'll be no good in your getting mad about this affair and flying off at a tangent, not a bit." He then gave me the details that I have already told to Mrs. Tarsi* ton, which caused the most terrible sorrow to take possession of me. "I will not remain another instant with you?" I exclaims«, now thoroughly aroused. "I will go back to father and mother." "Weh, you can't do it! " laughed he. "I fixed ^ thai before I starts* When you met me at the walnut tree by the Spring, I had a note wrtttsct £2 A TUEILLIM.; ESCAPE. hi your ijancL When you and I walked away I just laid that note dow* on the little bench you know. It was directed to your parents. This is a copy of it let me read it to you, to show \ou that they would not let you come back. It would do you no good to tell them that I wrote it- Tour hand writing was too well imitated. Listen: "My dear father and mother, I have concluded to go away with Mr. Doyle and marry him. Some day I may come back on a visit to you. But I have made up my mind to be my own mistress for the rest of my life. I love him and shall marry him honorably when we reach our new home. And when I settl* down you will hear from your ever loving daughter. Jennie." I knew not what to say. I saw at a single glance that I was in a predicament from which I could not extricate myself with any honor. I could not go home again ; for though I might convince mother and even perhaps father of my own innocence in the matter, I could not expect to silence the tongues of the scores of neighbors who would by this tim* have learned of all the particulars of my in voluntary elopement " Well, Jennie, in view of my love for you, don't you forgive the inno» cent bit of deception I have practiced on you. Had I not done so, I would most likely have lost you, and sooner than have that happen, I would made through blood up to the eyes," Thus spoke Doyle, and after a long silence I replied : " I don't know what to say to you Eddie ; but I hope you will keep youl plighted word, your solemn promise. I see no other course to pursue bat to go to your home with you, trusting that I shall not be farther deceived by you." "That is a sensible girl, Jennie," said Doyle, as he drew ma to hue and pressed me to his lips. In reply to my various questions as to our future place of abode, pro- spects and so forth he gave me a glowing description, and I began te lose somewhat the heaviness of spirits that I had felt, at the first dis- covery of his method of proceeding. The next day we started for Oneida County, and in due course of time we arrived at what he called home. XTome! what a dreadful mis-roomer is that title when applied to such a place as the Oneida Free Love Settlement ! It is nothing more nor less than a second edition of the Mormon system of Salt Lake, only in a form that is really more offensive to any woman of the least particle of spirit ©r the least self appreciation." [It is a strangaly significant fact that all these isms wherein women are madeHhe slaves as it were of the men and their degraded lust, are always constructed with the utmost selfishness. Women in Utah or the Oneida Communty have no liberty to take several men as their husbands, tot one man has the privilege of taking as many women for what art A THRILLING ESCAPE 2& mlled wives, as be can get. And yet, in face of the fact, that, the higher the moral grade of women, the higher is the grade of the nation, there are hundreds who would defend the horrid immorality Editor.] ' A CRUEL EXPERIENCE. "Doyle took me to a cottage that stood a little distance off the road, where I found an old woman of about sixty. She was rather deaf and he told me to call her Aunt Mary. He took her out of the room and theft both returned after a long interval. She beckoned to me to follow her, and doing so, I was led up stairs to a chamber. "I'll be back soon, 1 ' said Doyle, as he turned and went out. I did not feel disposed to talk for I was weary and my head ache4 badly, so I merely threw off my outside wraps and lying down on ft lounge soon fell asleep. From this slumber I was aroused by Doyl«, whom I saw standing beside me with a strange man. The latter wa* introduced to me as a magistrate of the district« He went over soma rigmarole, holding an open book before him and at the end of the cere- mony, Doyle advanced and took my left hand placed it flat on his fore- head and uttered something that I could not understand Then stepping three paces he made an arch like with his arms and the strange man motioned to me to pass under it. I did so mechanically and Doyle at once lowered his arms three times just as children who play the game of London Bridge. Each time this occurred both he and his companion uttered the words: "Thus she becomes one of our community." After this, placing themselves on either side of me they instructed me to kneel three times toward the East. This ended the ceremony and the stranger took his departure, after, as I thought exchanging significant glances with Doyle. Whether it was my ignorance or my foolish trust I know not, but whichever it was, it caused me to not have any suspicion of anything really wrong. I had read in the papers of different kinds of ceremony in marriages and I judged this was merely different from the usual kind at home. Of course, now, I know and feel keenly how dreadfully I was deceived, but I never even suspected it then. Perhaps I might have ob- jected t? jft, and wanted my own ideas ; but when I thought of how cruel 24 A THRILLING ESCAPE. father was sometimes to me, and that in his bouse I would bavt bat a *orry time of it, I silently submitted, trusting and hoping for the best. For about two mouths Doyle was kind aud attentive to me, though the old woman, Aunt Mary, was exceedingly worse and disagreeable, so much so that I hated to come near her, or have her come near me. For over a month I scarcely exchanged any conversation with any of our neighbors for Doyle preferred me to keep at home, and as he did so in the evenings I felt in duty bound to please him by obedience to his de- sire. But, as I have said, the dream was fading away, and the moment was fast drawing near in which I was to waken to the most terrible realization to which any woman can ever awake — the moment in which I was to und myself the discarded unloved victim of a base designing man. During the last week or ten days of the period I refer to, Doyle became distant and cold, and once when a man named Reynolds was there spoke in a way that I thought highly improper for a husband to Bpeak to his wife when any male friend was present. But when I spoke to him about it he merely snapped out : "Oh, shut up your mouth, and don't let me hear any such prudish stuff. You'll have to learn to obey the rules of the Community.*' "No Community rules will be obeyed by me except what are right, bat i don't see what you are at by making that kind of a remark when I /pieak about a matter of good manners when a male irrend is present in o»tr house. You know you ought not to have spoken the way you did, ii you had proper respect for me." "Bah ! that's got nothing to do with it Reynolds has taken quite a fancy to you and admires you very much, and next month I expect to stud you over to his house to keep house for him awhile, and the lady keeping for him now is to come here to take your place!" "I'll die at your feet, first, you villain!" I almost screamed such were n>y excitement and fury, for, silly and stupidly trusting as I had been I could not mistake this. The dark future in store for me appeared be- fore my mind's eye like the black clouds of a thunder storm, which with- out any warning sometimes covers the fairest blue sky." "Not much you won't!" he retorted with a sneering laugh. "Go op stairs! go on!" "I won't !" exclaimed I, and with a rush I bounded toward the door with the design of making my escape. But quick as were my motions/ Doyle was quicker and in a moment more he had me in his arms. Ho was a very muscular man, and with savage anger he pressed my ribe so ughtly that I could not breathe, and carrying me up stairs he threw me aown so violently on the floor as to stun me for several minutes. When «Sä A THRILLIHO BBCAWL ft I had recovered somewhat, he seized me again bj the wrists and jerking me roughly to my feet dragged me to a chair and made me sit down. "Now," hissed he, adding a dreadfnl oath, "if you go to cutting up any nonsense, your life won't be worth a candle stump in twenty four hours. You might as well snbmit first as last. Yon women don't know when you're well off." "Hold your tongue, yen contemptible wretch!" I exclaimed. "I am not afraid of you ir' I am a poor creature without friends here. You can kill me just as soon as you like but I'll never do such a. thing. Now I know why all the women I meet here are such sorrowful looking cre- atures. You break their spirits and cow them down with your vile doings. They know they have no hopes outside, if it were known that they had been common members of this rascally "Community" as you call it. But you cannot beat me down that way!" Without another word Doyle seized me again and hurling me on tbt floor reached over to the bed and taking off it a quilt deliberately rolled me in it like a log of wood, my frantic struggles, amounting to no more than would those of an infant Until this moment I had not made any noise; but now finding myself deprived of the use of my arms and limbs I began to scream as loudly as I could, which was not very loud as tk* compression of the quilt on my body was so tight. "Ha!" he laughed, "I'll soon stop that kind of singing!" and the next moment rolling up a handkerchief into a ball he thrust it in my mouth. This finished my resistance for I at once bagan to suffocate and in a short time lost all consciousness. When I regained my senses I found myself alone in the room locked in and therefore a prisoner. I was lying on the bed, free from the quilt or any other restraint, but when I tried to get up I was so weak that I could not do it. I laid there, surmising what would some to me next, and was thus occupied, when the key in the lock turned, the door was pushed open and there stood Doyle, with a sardonic grin upon his face. "Well, my dear little she d 1," said he after contemplating me im silence for awhile, "do you want to have another taming ?" I shook my head but made no reply. "All right," continued he, "you learn to behave yourself and do as you are bidden and it will be better for you. Here, get up and come to the window I want to show you something." I raised myself on my elbow, but fell back again and closed my eyes. He immediately uncorked a flask and gave me a small dose of brandy, which stimulated me, and in a few minutes with Doyle's help I got to the window. liaising the sash he bade me look into the yard, first, however leaning out himseJf aud snapping his fingers, and giving such a whistle 2$ A THRILLING ESCAPE. as men call dogs with. I put my head out and in an instant a feroeiou« looking dog leaped up against the wall of the house, gnashing his teeth and uttering the cry peculiar to he Georgia blood hound. I quickly drew back and Doyle gloatingly remarked as he shut down the sash : "The door's bolted, Jenny, and the window, we'll leave open for you if you wish to go out that direction. And the only way you can leave this room is by submitting to the rules, or climbing out to Nero there, and if be gets hold of you — well — " "Give me a few days to consider it," said I at length to gain time, for I had already resolved on my plan of action. "All right," said he and he then left the room. My father used to have just such a dog as Nero and I knew exactly how to conquer him. The window therefore had no terrors for me though I had been careful not to let Doyle perceive this. "I want an answer by next Saturday night," said Doyle, coming back and looking in at me. I told him I would do so. Thursday night came and with it weather fuvorable for my design a drizzley dull evening. From an old bonnet he»x that lay in the bottom of the closet I made a funnel, in the small end «f which I inserted a half of a broom stick and bound tt securely in itfl position with an old corset lace which I got also from the closet. Inside ius funnel, which was about ten inches across the mouth, I placed a bunch d\ matches, fastening them to the extremity of the stick with some twine. 1 then dampened them so that they would not ignite. Next with a piece «f flannel I rubbed the lucifer ends till they glowed and threw out a luge cloud of firy smoke. In the afternoon I had already cut up and plaited two sheets, first tearing them in suitable strips. Everything fo&ing ready I resolved to make my desperate endeavor to get away from Viis Sodom and Gomorrah region. Carefully pushing up the window eash, I put out the funnel aud rapidly let it down with the sheet rope. Ill this way no stray eyes could observe the glow of the phosphorus on tl/ie matches, except of course, the dog and they were intended for his social inspection. A moment or two later I slipped across the ledge and quickly descended to the ground. The dog lay asleep in his box ; but rousing the instant my feet touched the earth rushed at me with a snarl. But quick as he was, I was ready for him and thrust the funnel on his head, in such a way that while he saw the luminous phosphorus he also got the full effect of its deadly fumes in his nose and lungs. Gasping and terrified he sluük away to his box, while I safely took my departure. I knew the direction to Syracuse and so I took that road, but had not gone more than a few rods ^hen I saw in the gloom within twenty feet, the figure of a man. Something told me it was Doyle and A THRILLING ESCAPE. 3ft> like a shot I crouched close down by a tree, and almost felt his coat brnsk me as he went by. When his steps had died out I rose and hurried on. He must have gone directly to my room, for, in less than ten minutes I saw two lanterns coming along the road after me, evidently carried by men running and presently, I also began to run, I heard the baying of the hound. Immediately I left the road and entered the woods which hap- pened to be there, intending to get the dog in some thicket and silence him without his master seeing me. Luckily I still retained the funnel ;>As I had expected the beast with his unerring instinct traced my winding footsteps exactly, and halting behind a clump of bushes I kneeled down and awaited his onslaught watching also the occasional flashings of the lanterns about a quarter of a mile behind him. I had not long to wait» and with a rush he came upon me. But keeping perfectly cool I hooded him by a dexterous movement and as he sank down with the fames of the phosphorus, I groped around hastily on the ground till I got if leavy stone, with which I struck him a dozen blows as hard as I could give them on his head, which I have no doubt killed him. This done I hurried away with quick but stealthy steps through the darkness toward! the road again, watching the lanterns flitting along among the trees. As soon as the dog stopped baying his master and companion were H a loss how to proceed and they began to call and whistle for him. I du not wait of course to see if they would find him, but getting to the roal hastened onward. Shortly after daylight I got to a farm house, and aft pealing to the farmer's wife, Mrs. Horton, she gave me shelter aoi promised me protection in case of pursuit. Through her also I obtained a ticket to my home to which I resolved to go and take the risk of ma!» ing peace with father. Both she and her family treated me very kindly, and when I went to the station the two sons drove me there in the car» riage. When I got to Peekskill, there I met Doyle close by the depot. He had, after tracing me toward Syracuse lost the trail, and shrewdl j suspecting that I would try to make my way home had come hither. "So I've caught you at last," exclaimed he, "coming up to me and speaking in a tone of rough imperiousness. "You had better go about your business," replied I, "or I will hav* you caught in a way you will not relish." "Why you're my wife and you must go back with me," resumed he. "Ah, I must ! must I? well I acknowledge I was a simpleton, a silly fool to let you trick and deceive me the way you have, but you cannot frighten me by threats, at least not here, whatever yen may have been able to do up in the vile county of your Oneida Community. Not only thai bat I am fully resolved to expose you all. Here comes a friend of 30 A THRILLING SSCAP1. mine, and I think I will get him to arrest you, and we'll see what your task amounts to." "I'll kill you before I let you escape me!" hissed Doyle, and the next moment he had slipped into the depot, and disappeared. In spite of my bold wordi I felt as I saw the evil look on his face, a strange, undefinable dread come over me, and I hare not been able fee shake it off. "Then have you seen him since that again.* 1 "Oh yes, twice he has approached me." "Well, couldn't your people afford you any protection ?* "No, sir, for mother died from the effects of a railroad accident on the Hudson River Eoad, father has moved away to the West and taken Ned aloDg with him. So I am entirely alone, and I fear that that wicked man Boyle will yet be the end ot me." "Have you seen him since you came to New York?" "Once I think, but I will not be sure. I came to New York here with the hope that I should find a place with some respectable family and than ba free from this peril." "Well, said Mr. Tarelton, we'll help you all we can, Miss Alden, tar we see you're a thoroughly respectable and worthy young woman, and we can most likely get you a good place, but you take my advice and go state your case to Mr. Talmadge or some other celebrated man; for tlufc vWe community ought to be wiped out of existence. n For nearly two weeks after this date the Tareltons kept Jenny wKk them and had the promise of a place for her on the following Monday. titn Sunday she went to church in high spirits, and that is the last that his ever been heard of her though the most diligent search has been made, there are not a few who affirm that there is not the slightest doubt that Sie body found in the river just out of Charlestown, MasaachsMtts, was that of poor Jenny Aides. And whe can say it was not i- t .>* •" >< Kr f* K>.'.«fc.iÄ&UV ^ . .... .> 'iflÄ.'«. *«*