THE HOODLUM GIRLS OF SAN FRANCISCO.

Kumara Times, Issue 1063, 26 February 1880, Page 4

THE HOODLUM GIRLS OF SAN FRANCISCO.

I have spoken at length (writes “ Silver Pen,” to the Auckland Herald) on the character and calling of the boy hoodlums some time ago. A glance at the girls of the same terrible class will show the state of morals in the Golden City. Quite lately, two girls, of the ages respectively of 14 and 12, were arrested in a hoodlum lodging-house (of which there are about 60 in the city), and brought to the bar of justice for leading dissolute lives, which resulted in a story from the lips of the elder too revolting to publish in full, but, summed up it goes to tell how a gang of girls, from 10 to 16, ply the trade of naked shame on the city front—that is, in the vicinity of the shipping. Here may be seen these little children, some even under ten years old, walking about accosting the lowest kind of men, both white and black, though studiously avoiding the more decent sailors and working men there employed. Two will plant themselves at a corner as decoys, while the others disperse and pick up who they can, when they adjourn to a low tavern and indulge in debauchery of the most terrific kind—drinking, cursing, and so forth. An investigation showed that these girls received their initiation in vice at a barber’s shop. The devil, who plys his trade among the lowest class of men, has been for some time enticing young children of seven and eight years old into his service with bribes of candy and dime pieces. You may imagine, from the tender ages of these poor children, how little they know of the nature of their crime when a fivecents’ worth of candy is held out as an

inducement, and received in return for ttybii; chastity. It is dreadful to see this class of girl waylaying boys of the same -age, following them up and walking past their homes, day after day, as I have wit- ' nessed. The hoodlum is known at a glance, of whatever age. She generally walks ;if with one of the opposite sex, with his arm around her waist; her shoulders are covered with a loose shawl; her hat is old, and trimmed with tawdry finery ; brass earrings, bracelets, and finger-rings gave a glare of sin to the shabby t finery ,of her dress, which is decked out with worn and faded ribbon ; on her face an impndent leer, and often in her mouth a cigarette. Should you happen to enter a car in which a party of these hoodlum girls are, the smell of liquor pervades the air most disgustingly, and, talk about swearing, every second word is either (slang or an oath. They spit about, too, just like men do—indeed, spitting is not confined to this class by any means, for every man in the city spits about the cars and streets until you feel sick. Imagine walking along in a handsome dress and having |it spat upon over and over again. A lady must pick her way carefully to avoid the disgusting ordeal, and noticeably on the marble steps of offices you find the samelfilthy element; so much so that, unless careful, one stands a good chance of slipping ,and breaking one’s neck. But to return to our hoodlum girls, There is no redemption for them, it appears. Nathaniel Hunter, the Secretary of the Society : for (Prevention of Cruelty to Children and Animals, makes the most praiseworthy exertions on behalf of this misguided class, placing girls in good families, only to find them run away to old haunts in an hour after ; or securing them within the boundaries of the Industrial School, where, they remain for months for reformation, again to take to the streets when delivered from their prison. They are “smart,” too; it is not uncommon for a girl of fifteen to head a gang of youthful burglars or shop-lifters,.and prove perhaps a more determined commander than a boy would.