VIII. PERSONALS.
The first column of one of the most prominent daily newspapers, which is taken in many respectable families of the city,
and which claims to be at the head of American journalism, bears the above heading, and there is also a personal column in a prominent Sunday paper, which is also read by many respectable people. Very many persons are inclined to smile at these communications, and are far from supposing that these journals are making themselves the mediums through which assignations and burglaries, and almost every disreputable enterprise are arranged and carried on. Yet, such is the fact. Many of these advertisements are inserted by notorious roués, and others are from women of the town. Women wishing to meet their lovers, or men their mistresses, use these personal columns.
Respectable women have much to annoy them in the street conveyances, and at the places of amusement. If a lady allows her face to wear a pleasant expression while glancing by the merest chance at a man, she is very apt to find some such personal as the following addressed to her in the next morning’s issue of the paper referred to:
THIRD AVENUE CAR, DOWN TOWN YESTERDAY morning; young lady in black, who noticed gent opposite, who endeavored to draw her attention to Personal column of --- in his hand, will oblige admirer by sending address to B., Box 102, --- office.
If she is a vile woman, undoubtedly she will do so, and that establishment will deliver her letter, and do its part in helping on the assignation.
A gentleman will bow to a lady, and she, thinking it may be a friend, returns the bow. The next day appears the following:
TALL LADY DRESSED IN BLACK, WHO acknowledged gentleman’s salute, Broadway and Tenth street, please address D., box 119, --- office, if she wishes to form his acquaintance.
Sometimes a man will whisper the word “personal” to the lady whom he dares not insult further, and the next day the following appears:
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 4 P.M.—“CAN YOU answer a personal?” Fifth avenue stage from Grand to Twenty-third street. Please address BEN. VAN DYKE, --- office, appointing interview. To prevent mistake, mention some particulars.
Others more modest:
WILL THE LADY THAT WAS LEFT WAITING by her companion on Monday evening, near the door of an up-town theatre, grant an interview to the gentleman that would have spoken if he had thought the place appropriate? Address ROMANO, --- office.
It is really dangerous to notice a patron of the paper mentioned, for he immediately considers it ground for a personal, such as the following:
LADY IN GRAND STREET CAR, SATURDAY evening 7.30.—Had on plaid shawl, black silk dress; noticed gentleman in front; both got out at Bowery; will oblige by sending her address to C. L., box 199, --- office.
Young ladies with attendants are not more free from this public insult, as shown by the following:
WILL THE YOUNG LADY THAT GOT OUT OF a Fifth avenue stage, with a gentleman with a cap on at 10 yesterday, at Forty-sixth street, address E. ROBERTS, New York Post-office.
This public notice must be pleasing to the young lady and to “the gentleman with the cap on.” It is a notice that the gentleman believes the lady to be willing to have an intrigue with him. If it goes as far as that, this newspaper will lend its columns to the assignation as follows:
LOUISE K.—DEAR, I HAVE RECEIVED YOUR letter, last Saturday, but not in time to meet you. Next Tuesday, Dec. 7, I will meet you at the same time and place. East. Write to me again, and give your address. Your old acquaintance.
Or as follows:
L. HATTIE B.—FRIDAY, AT 2.30 P.M.
The personal column is also used to publicly advertise the residences of women of the town. The following are specimens:
MISS GERTIE DAVIS, FORMERLY OF LEXINGTON avenue, will be pleased to see her friends at 106 Clinton place.
ERASTUS—CALL ON JENNIE HOWARD at 123 West Twenty-seventh street. I have left Heath’s. 132. ALBANY.
The World very justly remarks: “The cards of courtesans and the advertisements of houses of ill-fame might as well be put up in the panels of the street cars. If the public permits a newspaper to do it for the consideration of a few dollars, why make the pretence that there is anything wrong in the thing itself? If the advertisement is legitimate, then the business must be.”