Panders and Their White Slaves (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1910. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... X-m. panders. The question is naturally asked, How many voluntarily go into such houses? The answer to this question gives the very reason why a traffic in girls exists. The proportion of those who lead lives of shame voluntarily, differs in various communities, but it is safe to say that in no American city are all the inmates in houses of vice there of their own volition. Figures and estimates regarding this phase of the vice question are as a rule illusive and conjectural. The supply for immoral houses, of girls who enter such places of their own free will, by no means equals the demand. But for this difference pandering, procuring white slaves, would never have existed. The fact that the average life of fallen women is exceedingly short is a great element in the demand for girls. It is not the purpose here, however, to detail the horrors and the dread diseases which make their lives short. They go as they come, secretly and without notice. Very seldom the public hears of the deaths of women of the underworld, but they are dying by the scores in the hospitals and county wards every day. The places of those who are gone must be filled. New girls are wanted; and the resort owners send out their procurers to exploit and recruit girls to meet the demand. The demand is steadily increasing, and the cause is economic as well as social. The deferring of marriage, brought about by the increased cost of living and low salaries paid, has made the demand much greater. These economic and social causes operate as well to aid the panders in obtaining the new supply. The desire for finer clothes and better living, and the great increase in the number of girls earning a livelihood make many girls easy prey for the panders. Girls are recruited for this supply from factories, s...