DREADFUL DEGRADATION.

NZ Truth, Issue 70, 20 October 1906, Page 8

DREADFUL DEGRADATION.

Frame's Fearful Foulness.

There was just the faintest trace of debauchery m her face, but only the faintest trace, as she stepped into the dock at the Ohristchurch Magistrate's Court and murmured a faint affirmative to a charge of drunkenness But there was something beyond that ; it v/as her third offence within six months, consequently she was deemed to be an habitual swankev guzzler. But the woman looked a class above that sort of person ; she was younjr. good-lookintr. carried herself like a duchess, wore capital clothes including an outer cloak with ermine sleeve-lining. In short, the woman, whose name was Louie Frame, looked "all right." Magistrate Day was thinking of giving her a spell on the hill,, when the daintily veiled bibber asked m a plaintive voice if. there wasn't any fine provided for, and she was told "No." She demurred to going to one of the

Homes, but was told that she must either sojourn there or at breezy Lytteltou. However, she was remanded for a day m order io < make enquiries about Charitable accommodation. Turned out that there was one bed only at the Samaritan Home, and Louie could doss in 'it but Lay Evangelist Smail made .a few inaudible remarks to the Bench, and Mr Day thereupon said that he didn't think it right that the court must enter up a conviction before they would take any woman m, the conviction having the force of enabling them to make her stay m. The ratepayers contributed towards the upkaep of the institution and should have some say m the matter. He entirely -dissented from the position taken up by the matron. However, he didn't think the accused was a fit person to send to any of these Homes. Perusal of her record showed that it was bad. She had been leading a life of immorality, and had been -before the court time after time for drunkenness. He wouldn't be doing .his duty if he didn't send her up for three months. ! It appears that Louie Frame, although a young and somewhat stylish woman, has descended to the lowest depth to which one of her sex can descend. She has lately been living with some Chinese market gardeners out Papanui way ; m short she is a Chinese harlot, and a Chinese harlot is the most despicable person on the face of God's fair earth. How a woman of her sort could cohabit with dirty, low, degraded heathens oi the lowest grade that even their dreadful country possesses, prostituting her body m exchange for a home (of a most . detestable sort) , and plenty of pocket money, is a thing that passes comprehension. Yet there are others of her sex m Christchurch who lead a similar life, but they are debased beiners who have arrived at their present state stage by> stage, and who appear m the streets dirty, bedraggled and dishevelled, victims of the aibominable, brain-poisoning opium habit ; devoid of intellectual capacity, and incapable of making an effort to even appear decent. The Chinese curse is the vilest, rottenest curse that bans this fair land. However a couple of undersized pigtails, who had heard of the trouble which had befallen their beloved consort, who was their joint and several pronerty m adulterous alliance, turned up at court to see her "turned off." A humorous policeman told them that the lady had been given a couple of years hard, and they were shocked at the severity of the Magistrate. However, they were soon disabused as to the length of term, and grinned, like a pair of kids at the antics - of a circus clown. The couple lined up outside when Louie was being conducted to the Black Maria, and bade her "good-bye" m front of a small knot of surprised, disgusted people. She didn't seem to like their -attentions, and got m quickly ; probably the unfortunate realised to what a degraded condition she had arrived when she saw them. Certainly she doesn't look the sort to walk down the street with a Chow, or to be seen speaking to one anywhere, and no doubt she wished that precious pair of pestiferous pagans m Hell at that particular moment. It is to be hoped that three months' reflection will brin"- her to her senses.