s of civilization or of Christianity?
Why should he be anything but a garroter and thief?"

* * * * * * * *

"Is not this crop of thieves and burglars, of shoulder-hitters and
short-boys, of prostitutes and vagrants, of garroters and murderers, the
very fruit to be expected from this seed, so long being sown? What else
was to be looked for? Society hurried on selfishly for its wealth, and
left this vast class in its misery and temptation. Now these children
arise and wrest back, with bloody and criminal hands, what the world
were too careless or too selfish to give. The worldliness of the rich,
the indifference of all classes to the poor, will always be avenged.
Society must act on the highest principles, or its punishment
incessantly comes within itself. The neglect of the poor, and tempted,
and criminal, is fearfully repaid." (Pp. 5, 6.)

But the words fell on inattentive ears.

We found ourselves unable to continue our reforming agencies in the
Sixteenth Ward; no means were supplied; our Visitor was dismissed, the
meeting closed; Mr. Slater moved away, heavily out of pocket with his
humane efforts, and much discouraged with the indifference of the
Christian community to these tremendous evils; and the
"Nineteenth-street Gang" grew up undisturbed in its evil courses, taking
new lessons in villainy and crime, and graduating in the manner the
community has felt the past few years. Both the police and the public
have noted the extraordinary recklessness and ferocity of their crimes.
One, a mere lad, named Rogers, committed a murder, a few years ago, on a
respectable gentleman, Mr. Swanton, accompanied by his wife, in the open
street, on the west side of the city. He was subsequently executed. Some
have been notorious thieves and burglars.

Another murdered an unoffending old man, Mr. Rogers, in open day, before
his own door, and near the main thoroughfare of the city. The whole
community was deeply thrilled by this horrible murder, and, though three
of the "Gang" were arrested, the offender was never discovered.
Subsequently, one of the suspected young men was murdered by one of his
own "pals."

The amount of property they have destroyed would have paid the expense
of an Industrial School, Reading-room, Lodging-house and our other
agencies for them, ten times over.

Now and then we have rescued two or three brothers of them, and have
seen them become honest and industr