THE SOCIAL EVIL.

Press, Volume XII, Issue 11575, 23 November 1867, Page 2

THE SOCIAL EVIL.

TO TUB EDITOK O* THE PIIESS. Sia,—From my occupation in life, hating had frequent opportunities of seeing the eiato of affairs with the unfortunates who at present form such a numerous class parading ourstretts, and wishijg to help those who have taken the matter up, I beg to suggest a few remedies, and will commence with the cause. Firstly, by what means are these unfortunates driven to their present life; whether by really vicious inclination, poverty, or being friendless upon their arrival in the colony ? It is yot fresh in the memory of a great many of your readers where the bed was taken from under the dead body of the father of a family, thereby leaving the widow in the midst of her great distress with a family having neither bread nor bed for herself and those dependent upon her. Another case is that of a female lying ill in bed, and the husband asking for the bed to be left a few days. Well, mark tho reply— "It is nothing to us if the lot starve.'* Well, Mr Editor, had not name charitable friend interfered what must have been the oonsequenee ? I will reply— death or degradation. Anotbar cause —a general want of sympathy; lees of these clique arrangements that make tha place unbearable to the really useful portion of the population. Well, sir, let us see the reault generally caused by the foregoing acts. The parties thus cut and scouted are persons of good moral character and fair education. The question this class naturally ask itself is, " What have we done to bo treatedas outcasts from society that we are considered unfit to associate with our fellow beings, even in a public assembly ?"

How, sir, there is yet another flagrant can» which is more difficult to contend with than the aforementioned, viz, that of-mistaken philanthropy—as an illustration of which I will give you an iustance of what came under xaf notico some time back when the effort was first made. Ono of our citizens (really a worthy man) could liot resist the temp'atioa of publishing in the Melbourne papers that ha had in conjunction with others reclaimed all these unfortunates except two. WeUTssr, mark the result, this statement came under tin* notice of this class of. bur community, who immediately migrated to CUriatehurch, and now witness the consequence by taking a w *. along our public thoroughfares after dusk W tho evening. I have now given a few of the causes whioh have practically come under my own observa* lion, whioh I have endeavoured to do without reflecting' upon any person or personal but with a view of ventilating the matter in stw»

**^ fl that tlfifle who Ka*¥*iriderralcen this * fckfnl office may endeat:oux.to remove as ■nothans . • oo{ . Q £ tue disease, ami far iv. the best course to ; 3 to tnrtke great social distinction Ps ,rsue mor -il and imm'irul characters. For H f * een .j'f a f e m:ile is determined to lead an j n «tan , pi„,. e her under police, medical, surreillnnce, so that her sins miy tbe visited "P on posterity more than i-. 'ffel'aware that it is quite ns painful ur readers to bring their minds to regard \' in the light "I have endeavoured to K'b't it as i [ " * of mc to w " le 5 neverthe la facts are stubborn things. T remain, sir, yours respectfully, 1 A. B. C. Jfowmfcer 81.1867.