TO-DAY'S
LEWISTON AND AUBURN CONVERSATION.
A STUDY IN SOCIOLOGY – A Lewiston woman tells the following story of
an experience on a Lewiston city street, suggestive, yet humorous in
its climax, but worth the telling for the revelation it is, of the
conditions altogether too prevalent and in the utmost deplorable. The
woman in question, not “young and giddy,” but well settled down
in years, was passing down Park street last Sunday evening a little
before seven o'clock. She had nearly reached the church door when two
men came along. One, as she neared, spoke naturally. “Good
evening.” Thinking he was one of the church attendants, she
returned the salutation. Upon this, the other man dropped behind and
the first speaker stepped along beside her, continuing the
conversation with an inquiry if she could tell him where he could
find any good lodging for the night. This might have been
embarrasing, but the woman was quick witted and answered, “Why,
there are plenty of good lodgings to be had in the city. If you are a
stranger here come with me and I will introduce you to someone who
can assist you.” By this time she had reached the church door, and
as she stepped upon the threshold repeated her invitation, “Come
in: I know some young men here who can help you.” But the
“stranger” had disappeared.
Pertinent
to the question in point was the incident and conversation observed
and overheard scarcely three Sundays ago on Sabatis street. Two
church-going people, one elderly and therefore a slow pedestrian,
came along on their way to the morning service. Near the old cemetery
on that street they approached a group of three, two young girls,
neither of whom was out of her teens and one man, not under forty
years of age. It was evident from their conversation, which was
easily overheard, that the two girls and the man were strangers. He
was trying to persuade one of the girls to go with him to meet
another man. As the two pedestrians passed by and along, the three
moved after them. Just over the brow of the hill they met another
elderly man, leaning against a tree, loitering there with no apparent
purpose. As the group of three approached in the rear the man was
overheard to say to the girls: “Ah! Here is the man I was telling
you about. Let me give you an introduction.”
What
the outcome was with those two young, light-hearted though giddy
maidens and the two old and wily men can only be conjectured. But
that these are the genesis of Jessie Cobb tragedies and Abbie Whitney
cases cannot be disputed. “These things are a menace,” said a
Lewiston citizen in speaking emphatically upon this subject. “They
are a part of the lawlessness which seems of late to have taken
possession of the city. At least it has become more self-evident,
perhaps because the public is awakening to it, the Journal is
pointing it out.
“Evil
seems to go on unchecked. This may sound pessimistic, but these are
facts. Dr. Stuckenburg states the truth of the case, that before
anything can be accomplished for the betterment of conditions, the
latter must be faced and understood. These things are going on. Can
they be stopped? By whom? When? Dr. Stuckenburg gave the answer when
he said: 'The good people must unite against evil and for the
enforcement of law. Not till then will anything be accomplished.' Do
away with party politics in municipal affairs. Let a clean, honest,
law-abiding citizens' ticket carry the day at the March election.”
Lewiston
Evening Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Thursday, December 13, 1900
