The Secrets of the Great City / A Work Descriptive of the Virtues and the Vices, the Mysteries, Miseries and Crimes of New York City
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A Work Descriptive of the Virtues and the Vices, the Mysteries, Miseries and Crimes of New York City
The City of New York is the largest and most important in America. Its corporate limits embrace the whole of Manhattan Island, on which it is situated, and which is bounded by the Hudson, the East and Harlem rivers, and by Spuyten Duyvil creek, which last connects the Harlem with the Hudson. Being almost entirely surrounded by deep water, and lying within sight of the ocean, and only sixteen miles from it, the city is naturally the greatest commercial centre of the country. The extreme length of the island is fifteen miles, and its average breadth a mile and a half. The city lies at the head of New York Bay, which stretches away for miles until the Narrows, the main entrance to the harbor, are reached, presenting a panorama unsurpassed for natural and artificial beauty. The people of New York are very proud of their bay, and justly regard it as one of the most magnificent in the world.
The city was originally settled by the Dutch, toward the close of the year 1614, and called by them New Amsterdam. In 1664, it passed into the hands of the English, and was named New York, which name was also given to the whole province. The first settlement was made at the extreme lower part of the island, on the spot now known as the Battery. A fort was erected, and the little hamlet surrounded by a strong stockade as a protection against the savages. The first settlers were eminently just in their dealings with the red men, and purchased the island from them, giving them what was considered by all parties a fair price for it. They felt sure that their new home was destined to become a place of importance in the course of time. Its commercial advantages were evident at a glance; the climate was delightful, being neither so rigorous as that of the Eastern colonies, nor so enervating as that of the Southern. The hopes of the founders of New York are more than realized in the metropolis of to-day.
James Dabney McCabe
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THE SECRETS OF THE GREAT CITY
CHAPTER I.
THE CITY OF NEW YORK.
THE POPULATION.
CHAPTER II.
THE STREETS OF NEW YORK.
BROADWAY.
THE BOWERY.
THE AVENUES.
CHAPTER III.
THE CITY GOVERNMENT.
POLITICAL BLACK MAIL.
THE RESULT.
CHAPTER IV.
THE METROPOLITAN POLICE.
THE NEW SYSTEM.
"KING KENNEDY."
THE FORCE.
ON DUTY.
HEADQUARTERS.
THE TRIAL ROOM.
MISCELLANEOUS.
CHAPTER V.
SOCIETY.
WHO ARE THE FASHIONABLES.
A DEFEAT AND A TRIUMPH.
WHAT THEY TALK ABOUT.
FASHIONABLE DISSIPATION.
EXTRAVAGANCE.
A LADY'S GLOVE.
MARRIAGES.
FASHIONABLE DEATH.
A ROMANCE OF FIFTH AVENUE.
ETIQUETTE OF CARDS.
AN ECONOMICAL WEDDING.
THE BEST SOCIETY.
CHAPTER VI.
THE TOMBS.
THE BUMMER'S CELL.
THE TOMBS POLICE COURT.
A SAD CASE.
SAVED IN TIME.
RELIGIOUS SERVICES.
CHAPTER VII.
REFORMATORY ESTABLISHMENTS.
THE PENITENTIARY.
THE HOUSE OF REFUGE.
CHAPTER VIII.
LINES OF TRAVEL.
THE STREET CARS.
THE STAGES.
THE FERRIES.
CHAPTER IX.
STREET MUSICIANS.
THE ORGAN GRINDERS.
THE WANDERING MINSTRELS.
CHILD MINSTRELS.
AN INCIDENT.
A SAD STORY.
WHAT BECOMES OF THESE CHILDREN.
CHAPTER X.
THE PRESS.
THE MORNING PAPERS.
THE HERALD
THE OTHER JOURNALS.
THE EVENING PAPERS.
THE WEEKLIES.
THE RELIGIOUS PAPERS.
PRINTING HOUSE SQUARE.
A PRESS CURIOSITY.
CHAPTER XI.
WALL STREET.
ITS HISTORY.
THE SUB-TREASURY.
THE CUSTOM HOUSE.
BANKING HOUSES.
THE STOCK EXCHANGE.
THE OPEN BOARD.
THE GOLD ROOM.
CURBSTONE BROKERS.
STOCK GAMBLING.
A KEEN GAME.
A "DEAR" SALE.
HOW FORTUNES ARE MADE AND LOST.
BOGUS STOCK COMPANIES.
A PETROLEUM PRINCE.
CHAPTER XII.
BUSINESS IN NEW YORK.
EXAMPLES.
REAL ESTATE OPERATIONS.
CHAPTER XIII.
FASHIONABLE SHOPPING.
STEWART'S.
INTERIOR OF A FIRST-CLASS STORE.
CHAPTER XIV.
IMPOSTORS.
A FOREIGN SWINDLER.
CHARITABLE IMPOSTORS
OTHER IMPOSTORS.
A FASHIONABLE IMPOSTOR.
CHAPTER XV.
SUNDAY IN NEW YORK.
CHURCH GOING.
SUNDAY AFTERNOON.
THE EXCISE TRIALS.
CHAPTER XVI.
THE DETECTIVES.
BUSINESS OF THE FORCE.
A COSTLY CASE.
TRACKING A MURDERER.
CHAPTER XVII.
FIVE POINTS.
THE POPULATION.
THE LITTLE THIEF.
THE HOME MISSION.
OTHER MISSIONS.
THE HOME FOR LITTLE WANDERERS.
CHAPTER XVIII.
HOTEL LIFE.
THE GUESTS.
HOTEL SWINDLERS.
HOTEL THIEVES.
AN AGILE THIEF.
CHAPTER XIX.
RESTAURANTS.
THE BITER BITTEN.
CHAPTER XX.
BOARDING HOUSES.
FINDING A BOARDING HOUSE.
EXPERIENCE.
BOARDING-HOUSE CHARACTERS.
A FASHIONABLE SWINDLER.
A SHARP GAME.
A TRIO OF FEMALE SWINDLERS.
CHAPTER XXI.
TRINITY PARISH.
TRINITY CHURCH.
THE CHURCHYARD.
CHAPTER XXII.
THE HOLIDAYS IN THE CITY.
NEW YEAR'S DAY.
GETTING READY.
NEW YEAR'S CALLS.
THE NEXT DAY.
INDEPENDENCE DAY.
EVACUATION DAY.
THANKSGIVING DAY.
CHRISTMAS DAY.
CHAPTER XXIII.
THE CENTRAL PARK.
A WONDERFUL WORK.
THE LAKE.
PLEASURE SEEKERS.
THE ARSENAL.
THE CROTON RESERVOIRS.
TRANSVERSE ROADS.
THE ZOOLOGICAL GARDEN.
INTERNAL ADMINISTRATION.
CHAPTER XXIV.
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
CHAPTER XXV.
THE POOR OF NEW YORK.
THE LOWEST DEPTHS.
TENEMENT HOUSES.
FALLEN FORTUNES.
A ROMANCE OF A CHIGNON.
CHAPTER XXVI.
POOR GIRLS.
THE SEWING GIRLS.
A LIFE-STRUGGLE.
THE WORKSHOPS OF THE POOR GIRLS.
TEMPTATIONS.
CHAPTER XXVII.
THE STREET BOYS.
THE NEWSBOYS.
NEWSBOYS' LODGING HOUSE.
THE BOOTBLACKS.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
BEGGARS.
CHAPTER XXIX.
EMIGRANTS.
THE BATTERY.
CASTLE GARDEN.
EMIGRANT REFUGE AND HOSPITAL.
PERILS OF EMIGRANTS.
CHAPTER XXX.
THE BUMMERS.
CHAPTER XXXI.
THE SOCIAL EVIL.
FIRST-CLASS HOUSES.
SECOND-CLASS HOUSES.
WHERE THE UNFORTUNATES COME FROM.
A CASE IN POINT.
RECRUITS FROM NEW ENGLAND.
SAVED IN TIME.
THE SISTERS' ROW.
THE ALBUM BUSINESS.
EFFORTS TO BREAK UP THESE HOUSES.
A NEW RUSE ADOPTED.
A SOILED DOVE.
THE MIDNIGHT MISSION.
CHAPTER XXXII.
ASSIGNATION HOUSES.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
STREET-WALKERS.
BED-HOUSES
TRAVELLING STREET-WALKERS.
PANEL THIEVING.
THE "HUSBAND GAME."
CHAPTER XXXIV.
CONCERT SALOONS.
THE WAITER GIRLS.
CHAPTER XXXV.
DANCE-HOUSES.
HOW THE LAW AIDS VICE.
WHERE THE WOMEN COME FROM.
CHAPTER XXXVI.
THE WICKEDEST MAN IN NEW YORK
THE WATER STREET REVIVAL.
THIS DANCE-HOUSE IS CLOSED.
THE OTHER SIDE.
THE LAST OF THE WICKEDEST MAN.
THE RESULT.
CHAPTER XXXVII.
CHEAP LODGING HOUSES.
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
BLACK-MAILING.
A MINISTER BLACK-MAILED.
A BRIDE IN THE TOILS.
DESPERATE CHARACTERS.
CHAPTER XXXIX.
CHATHAM STREET.
FORCED SALES.
CHAPTER XL.
THIEVES.
THE THIEF LANGUAGE.
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES.
HOW FINE HOUSES ARE ROBBED.
A HAIR THIEF.
THE THIEVES' EXCHANGE.
CHAPTER XLI.
PICKPOCKETS.
CHAPTER XLII.
DRUNKENNESS.
BUCKET HOUSES.
CHAPTER XLIII.
GAMBLING HOUSES
FIRST-CLASS HOUSES.
JOHN MORRISSEY'S HOUSE.
HOW THE VICTIMS ARE PROCURED.
GAMING A NATIONAL PASSION.
THE GUESTS.
A CARD-TABLE ROMANCE.
SECOND-CLASS HOUSES.
DAY GAMBLING HOUSES
CHAPTER XLIV.
KIT BURNS'S.
THE RAT PIT.
THE DOG FIGHTS.
THE REVIVAL AT KIT BURN'S.
CHAPTER XLV.
SAILORS' BOARDING HOUSES.
CHAPTER XLVI.
THE CHURCHES AND THE CLERGY.
SAINT ALBAN'S.
THE CLERGY.
CHAPTER XLVII.
CEMETERIES.
GREENWOOD.
THE EVERGREENS.
CYPRESS HILLS.
WOODLAWN.
CHAPTER XLVIII.
THE BAR.
CHAPTER XLIX.
THE METROPOLITAN FIRE DEPARTMENT.
THE NEW SYSTEM.
THE FORCE.
AT WORK.
CHAPTER L.
HARRY HILL'S.
THE PROPRIETOR.
THE DANCE HALL.
THE DANCERS.
CHAPTER LI.
THE WICKEDEST WOMAN IN NEW YORK
A BALL AT THE WICKEDEST WOMAN'S.
HOW SHE CONDUCTS HER BUSINESS.
CHAPTER LII.
BABY FARMING.
A JUVENILE ESTABLISHMENT.
AN INCIDENT.
A FASHIONABLE "INNOCENT."
FACTS.
CHAPTER LIII.
THE FIRST DIVISION, NEW YORK NATIONAL GUARD.
CHAPTER LIV.
PLACES OF AMUSEMENT.
CHAPTER LV.
FORTUNE TELLERS AND CLAIRVOYANTS.
LOVE-CHARMS.
CHAPTER LVI.
THE HARBOR.
THE HARBOR POLICE.
THE RESCUE STATIONS.
CHAPTER LVII.
QUACK DOCTORS.
PATENT MEDICINES.
RETIRED PHYSICIANS.
CHAPTER LVIII.
THE RACES.
CHAPTER LIX.
MATRIMONIAL ADVERTISEMENTS.
A DANGEROUS PLEASURE.
MATRIMONIAL BROKERS.
CHAPTER LX.
PERSONALS.
"SERVED HIM RIGHT."
CHAPTER LXI.
SOLDIER MINSTRELS.
THE STORY OF A PATRIOT.
CHAPTER LXII.
THE ABATTOIRS.
CHAPTER LXIII.
THE MORGUE.
CHAPTER LXIV.
THE OLDEST MAN IN NEW YORK.
CHAPTER LXV.
DIVORCE LAWYERS.
CHAPTER LXVI.
PAWNBROKERS.
DIAMOND BROKERS.
CHAPTER LXVII.
THE MARKETS.
CHAPTER LXVIII.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
THE CITY HALL.
THE PARK BANK,
THE ASTOR LIBRARY,
THE COOPER INSTITUTE,
THE BIBLE HOUSE,
THE ACADEMY OF DESIGN,
CHAPTER LXIX.
THE POST-OFFICE.
CHAPTER LXX.
THE PATTERERS.
CHAPTER LXXI.
LOTTERIES.
CHAPTER LXXII.
GIFT ENTERPRISES.
THE SYSTEM.
THE BANKERS' AND BROKERS' GIFT ENTERPRISE.
A CLEVER SWINDLE.
JEWELRY ASSOCIATIONS OR UNIONS.
DOLLAR STORES.
CHAPTER LXXIII.
SITUATION AGENCIES.
CHAPTER LXXIV.
THE PATENT SAFE GAME.
POCKET-BOOK DROPPING.
THIMBLE RIGGING.
SEWING MACHINE SWINDLES.
THE POCKET TIME KEEPER.
MOCK AUCTION'S.
CHAPTER LXXV.
LOST IN THE GREAT CITY.
MISSING MEN AND WOMEN.
THEORIES ABOUT LOST PEOPLE.
WHERE AND HOW PEOPLE ARE LOST.
LOST CHILDREN.
THE DENS OF MIDNIGHT.
THE HORROR OF A BREAKING DAWN.
MISERY, SHAME, AND DEATH.
CHAPTER LXXVI.
CONCLUSION.
THE
WITH SCENES AND INCIDENTS IN THE GREAT REBELLION
AGENTS WANTED.