Part 3 (1/2)
Our investigation was thus restricted because of the peculiar difficulties involved in ascertaining the real character of many of these establishments. Some are transparent enough: others can be uncovered only by a customer. Our workers were instructed that it was not desired to attempt an extended investigation of every place. They were told to learn the nature of the ma.s.sage given, the equipment, prices, the bearing, attire, and general behavior of the operatives. On the basis of these data they were to form an estimate as to whether or not conditions were suspicious. From earlier investigations and reports it was already believed that in nine cases out of ten the practices in these places are immoral and degrading to the last degree.
A large number of ma.s.sage parlors are located on the upper floors of buildings on Sixth and Columbus Avenues and on the side streets from West 23rd Street to West 80th Street. They are indicated by means of large signs displayed in the windows or tacked on the doors. These places also advertise in a weekly paper published on Sat.u.r.days and offered for sale at five cents per copy on news-stands in hotels and other public places.
The rooms are usually equipped with high couches, bureaus displaying comb, brush, alcohol, and powder, and with wash stands. A manicure table is often placed by the window,--on it a set of instruments used in caring for the nails. In these places the operators insist that they give straight ma.s.sage and that they do not conduct an immoral business. In other parlors, the sign on the window or door is the only evidence that such treatment is given. These are openly disorderly, no apparent effort being made to conceal the fact. The prices charged range from two dollars to five dollars, according to the service demanded.
Not a few former madames of houses of prost.i.tution have established vice resorts under the guise of ma.s.sage parlors for the purpose of continuing in business after their houses were closed by action of the law. Into these resorts they bring their former inmates, who now pose as experts in the art of scientific ma.s.sage. In the matter of securing new girls, the keeper of a ma.s.sage parlor has a great advantage; for she openly advertises in the daily papers for girls to learn the ”business of ma.s.sage,” or for those who have had experience in this or that method of ma.s.sage as practiced in foreign lands. The advertis.e.m.e.nts state the age of the girl wanted and the weekly salary. As a result, many unsuspecting girls, answering advertis.e.m.e.nts, come into personal contact with well-dressed and apparently respectable proprietors. If the girl appears to be weak and easily led, the keeper begins by asking her how much money she has been in the habit of making each week; then remarks smilingly that some of her former operatives have made four or five times as much by not ”being too particular.” She describes in a general way what she means by ”too particular.” ”Her customers,” she says, ”are often very rich and generous; if a girl is attentive and jolly, these men will give her generous prices and tips, and thus she can 'coin' money.”
It is only just to say that not all ma.s.sage parlors are of the type described above. Some are legitimate and render scientific service to men and women who are actually ill. If the proprietors of such places would escape the general condemnation of their business, they should voluntarily seek the endors.e.m.e.nt of respectable physicians and engage operatives who have _bona fide_ certificates showing that they have spent a certain period of time in recognized inst.i.tutions in preparation for their calling.
A few examples only need be given:
Margaret,[58] proprietress of a ma.s.sage parlor on Sixth Avenue,[59] spent the evening of May 10, 1912, at a cafe in West 45th Street.[60] She admitted that business had latterly not been brisk: it had become difficult to get suitable operatives. The men who were procuring girls for her were becoming afraid to go after ”young girls” and she did not want any ”old ones.” ”Some fools,” she said, ”are writing stories about young girls being sold into slavery and even country girls are getting wise and think the men are going to put them into prison instead of giving them a chance to make a little money for themselves. That sort of thing only happens in the lower cla.s.s of places. I have a nice business and nice men and I give the girl one dollar out of every two and three, and two dollars out of five, and half of anything over that. I had two girls; but one left me the other night because I would not let her take 'dope.' There comes a time with these 'dope fiends' when it interferes with business and they have to cut it out.”
By way of inducement, Margaret invited the investigator, who was a woman, to work in her ma.s.sage parlor the following Sat.u.r.day and Sunday, offering to allow her to keep all she made: she ”had to have an operative to help take care of her regular Sat.u.r.day and Sunday customers”; by the following week she felt sure that her procurer would have a girl for her. The investigator called at the parlor early the following week to ascertain what had happened. She found that the house had been sold and that the new landlord had raised the rent for the ”parlor” occupied by Margaret from $60 to $75 per month. Thereupon Margaret had moved out, going to the beach to open a temporary house for the summer.
Ma.s.sage parlors are not uncommonly found in tenements,--there is one, for instance, in such a building in West 47th Street.[61] Two operatives were employed there with a madame[62] in April, 1912. Different resorts in this tenement have been reported to the Tenement House Department several times by the police, and arrests have been made here as far back as 1909.
A former member of the Chicago Vice Commission was in New York City in April. His experience in studying conditions in the former city had made him watchful and suspicious. One day he noticed a number of working girls, young, and foreign in type, climbing the stairs of a building in West 43rd Street.[63] As the girls came down some appeared to be disappointed, as though they had not been successful in their errand, whatever it might be.
His interest was aroused. Observing a ma.s.sage sign on the second floor, he concluded that the girls had been answering an advertis.e.m.e.nt to call at this place of business. An investigation thus started resulted in securing the following facts:
On April 3, 1912, a morning newspaper contained the following advertis.e.m.e.nt under the cla.s.sification of ”Help Wanted--Female.”
”Girl for light housework, not under 18; $7 to $9 a week. Mrs.[64]
----, ---- West 43rd Street, 2 flights up.”
Later in the day a young woman investigator was sent to the address with a copy of the advertis.e.m.e.nt. She was greeted at the door by the woman, who soon disclosed the character of the place. In reply to the inquiries of the investigator, she explained the nature of the business: her customers paid from two to ten dollars, the girls receiving approximately one-half. An inmate had earned $48 in a week: but a girl's usefulness is brief, for frequent changes are necessary in order to retain the trade.
On the same date a morning paper published in the German language printed the following advertis.e.m.e.nt under the cla.s.sification, ”_Verlangt Weiblich_.”[65] ”Girl, neat, German, not under 18 years of age. One who knows how to ma.s.sage or one who is willing to learn.
Wages paid while learning. Inquire Mrs.[66] ----, ---- West 43rd Street, two flights up.” This is the ma.s.sage parlor described above.
On April 9, 1912, the same investigator received the following letter from the proprietor of the parlor:
”_Dear Mrs. ----_:
”If you have not taken any position yet, would you kindly call on me?
”Respectfully, (Signed) ”----.”
A week later the investigator called again, finding the establishment still in operation, with a new a.s.sistant, procured through the landlord. With a little prodding, the garrulous madame resumed her confidences, explaining the process of ”fixing up” girls so as to appear young, and other details of her nefarious occupation.
In the foregoing pages we have circ.u.mstantially described the more prominent forms taken by vice in New York City. It is surely no exaggeration to maintain that the evidence submitted proves that prost.i.tution in New York City is widely and openly exploited as a business enterprise.[67] The exploiters, the scenes of their operations, their methods, their a.s.sociations, and their victims are all equally notorious.
It is idle to explain away the phenomena on the ground that they are the results of the inevitable weakness of human nature: human weakness would demand far fewer and less horrible sacrifices. Most of the wreckage, and the worst of it, is due to persistent, cunning and unprincipled exploitation: to the banding together in infamous enterprises of madame, pimp, procurer, brothel-keeper, and liquor vender to deliberately carry on a cold-blooded traffic for their joint profit,--a traffic, be it added, from which the girl involved procures at the most, with few exceptions, her bare subsistence, and that, only so long as she has a trade value.
CHAPTER III
PLACES WHICH CATER TO VICE
Places which cater to vice are divided into two groups. The first group, catering directly to vice, includes saloons and their accessories, such as concert halls and cabaret shows; the second group, operating indirectly, comprises public dance halls, burlesque theaters, amus.e.m.e.nt parks, and boat excursions. The proprietors of these places usually have full knowledge of the demoralizing influence of their establishments, and deliberately encourage such conditions for the purpose of increasing their profits. ”The saloons which cater to women,” writes Professor Rauschenbusch, ”the dance halls that encourage indecent dances and supply long intermissions for the consumption of liquor; pleasure resorts and excursion steamers, theaters, music halls, and moving picture shows that use the ever ready attractiveness of s.e.x interests--are all smoothing the downward road--and they know it.”[68]