make their escape. Pleasure parties of this kind are
usually unprovided with the means of resistance, while their assailants
are well armed. It sometimes happens, however, that the pleasure seekers
are more than a match for the Roughs, who, in such cases, are driven out
after very severe handling.

The Rough does not hesitate to commit murder, or to outrage a woman. He
is capable of any crime. He is a sort of human hyena who lives only to
prey upon the better portions of the community. Sometimes he degenerates
into a burglar or common thief, sometimes he becomes the proprietor of a
panel house or a policy office. Crime-stained and worthy of punishment
as he is, he walks the streets with a sense of security equal to that of
the most innocent man.

This feeling of security is caused by the conviction on his part that he
will not be punished for his misdeeds. The reason is simple: He is a
voter, and he has influence with others of his class. He is necessary to
the performance of the dirty work of the city politicians, and as soon as
he gets into trouble, the politicians exert themselves to secure his
discharge. They are usually successful, and consequently but few Roughs
are ever punished in New York, no matter how revolting their crime. This
is not all, however. There are well authenticated instances in which men
of this class have been carried by their fellows, oftentimes by
ballot-box stuffing and fraudulent voting, into high and responsible
offices under the city. The recent state of affairs under the Ring
illustrates the results of this system.

In the year 1871, 179 persons were "found drowned" in the waters of the
city. Of these, many are supposed, with good reason, to have been the
victims of foul play at the hands of the Roughs. In the same year, 42
persons were murdered in New York, and one man was hanged by the officers
of the law.

XLIV. THE PAWNBROKERS.

The sign of the Lombards is very common in the great city. In the
Bowery, East Broadway, Chatham, Catharine, Division, Oliver, Canal, and
Grand streets, the three gilt balls are thickest, but they may also be
seen in every portion of the city in which there is poverty and
suffering. The law recognizes the fact that in all large communities
these dealers are a necessary evil, and, while tolerating them as such,
endeavors to interpose a safeguard in behalf of the community, by
requiring that none but persons of good character and in