The History of Prostitution Part 22

"1. That the corruption of manners in Berlin, and in the parts of Berlin complained of, was not more extreme than in other great cities of Germany, and in like places.

"2. That in the limitation of the ineradicable vice of prost.i.tution by her police regulations, Berlin had greatly the advantage of Vienna; for in 1840, Berlin (including the garrison) had a population of 350,000 souls, among whom there was, of course, a very large number of unmarried men. That the syphilitic cases in the Charite had been in

1838, men 569 Women 634 Total 1209 1839, " 695 " 738 " 1433 1840, " 704 " 757 " 1461

a.s.suming that one third of the venereal cases in Berlin were treated privately, this gives an average of 1 in 450, or in every four hundred and fifty men there is one syphilitic subject, whereas M.

Parent-Duchatelet's calculation for Vienna is 1 in every 250."[266]

The same report continues:

"Every official will bear out my a.s.sertion that the number of brothels is in inverse proportion to illicit prost.i.tution; that is, the fewer of the former, the more of the latter, and the greater the difficulty of dealing with them, and preventing syphilis."

In 1841 another memorial was presented, with further complaints against the same houses in the Konigsmauer. This was referred to the police authorities with the brief injunction, "Make an end of the nuisances about which there are so many complaints."

The _Schulkollegium_ of the province of Brandenburg now joined their influence to swell the public outcry that the few houses of prost.i.tution on the Konigsmauer were hurtful to public morals, and a bad example to youth, and, on the ground of interest in their students and pupils, demanded that they be closed. The police, who had previously taken every precaution against a violation of public decency, now deputed a special inspector to give his personal attention to the locality. He reported there was no valid ground of complaint as to the outward conduct of the inhabitants, or the internal management of the houses. Thus satisfied as to the nature of the opposition, the police treated the college officials somewhat cavalierly, and recommended them to prohibit their students visiting such an out-of-the-way place: a very sensible piece of advice, and the best that could have been given under the circ.u.mstances.

According to Dr. Behrend (who has written on Prost.i.tution in Berlin), the leading spirits of this agitation were a clergyman, and a distiller who had a brewery and spirit-store in the vicinity of the Konigsmauer. The clergyman proceeded upon moral and religious grounds, and led the crusade against brothels as a public disgrace, unworthy a Christian nation. We do not learn what line of argument the distiller adopted, or whether the prohibition of liquor in houses of prost.i.tution influenced his zeal. These agitators applied to the police with a succession of general complaints as to the luxury of the houses, the gains of the women, the bad example to the young, and other topics of a similar nature. They met with but scant favor; however, they were a.s.sured that every possible means should be used to keep the offenders within the bounds of existing rules.

The memorialists then carried their grievances to various influential people, and at length to Count Arnim, the Minister of the Interior, to whom a pet.i.tion was presented, praying the entire suppression of all tolerated brothels. This pet.i.tion contained all the allegations and arguments which could possibly be advanced against the places in question, augmented by much rhetorical flourish about the degradation of royal officers; the desecration of the baptismal register produced by prost.i.tutes at the time of inscription; the insult to majesty in allowing brothels to exist in a street called Konigsmauer, and many similarly weighty points. The practical knowledge of the police as to the effect of registration in checking more baneful excesses was theoretically disputed; the propositions on which the toleration system was based were denied; the defense of the plan by those cognizant of its working was entirely ruled out; so that, to a person unacquainted with both sides of the question, a sufficient _ex parte_ case was presented.

The ministerial reply was favorable, but not conclusive; it was to the effect that,

"1. The number of brothels is to be reduced one half, which are to be removed beyond the city walls to the most retired position possible, where annoyance to the neighbors is not to be feared.

"2. For the control of those remaining, patrols of gens d'armes are to be kept afoot, and relieved six times a day.

"3. Every third breach of the regulations, whether in small or great matters, will be followed by the closing of the house.

"Should these orders not be sufficient, the police are empowered to close all the houses, for it must be understood that brothels are not licensed, but only tolerated as necessity requires, and care for public decency permits."

The police authorities foresaw difficulties in the details of these proceedings, and asked for more explicit instructions, which were supplied. In the second communication was this remarkable pa.s.sage:

"Should a diminution in the number of brothels take place, and thereby the number of common prost.i.tutes be affected, we shall then learn by experience whether consequences injurious to public morality and order ensue, and the decision of the main question can then be made with certainty, whether we can not advance to the entire abolition of brothels."

In following the prescribed course, and overthrowing an established system in order to furnish ministerial "experience" of the trouble it would cause, the police inst.i.tuted a series of inquiries, and embodied the result in a report to the Minister of the Interior, dated July, 1844, which shows that there were

26 brothels, containing women 287 Registered private prost.i.tutes 18 --- Total 305

The amount received and disbursed on account of the healing fund was also reported in thalers, thus:

1841. Received 3384 Disbursed 1027 1842. " 3393 " 861 1843. " 3365 " 689

It concludes with the opinion entertained by the police:

"As for the influence which the extinction of brothels may have upon the morals, safety, and health of society, the police authorities think themselves obliged, as before, to declare against the expediency of the proceeding. What should be done in case this course should be adopted is a question that requires much consideration. Meanwhile, the police are of opinion it would be highly objectionable to close the brothels before other measures are prepared in reference to prost.i.tution."

No such measures were prepared. The king would hear no farther argument upon the matter; and, by positive "royal command," the brothels were closed and registered prost.i.tution stopped, December 31, 1845. Berlin became (nominally) as virtuous as an edict from the throne could make it.

The majority of the prost.i.tutes were either sent to their former homes or supplied with pa.s.sports for places out of the kingdom. A few were left houseless, friendless, and dest.i.tute. History does not say whether the friends of enforced continence provided for these sufferers.

This summary edict seriously embarra.s.sed the police, especially as the state laws tolerating prost.i.tution were unrepealed. They applied to the authorities of Halle and Cologne, where a similar measure had been enforced, and the substance of the replies received was as follows.

From Halle:

"Since the French occupation, the brothels had been put down. There had been a few persons charged with prost.i.tution, whom the police caught _now and then_, and sent to jail, where they were cured. There were, however, very few vicious persons in Halle, and there had been no need of special provision. It was not difficult to find honest livelihood for the common women. As to syphilis, there had been no increase of cases since the last of the brothels."

The authorities of Cologne had no such pleasing tale to tell. They say,

"At the end of the French occupation, the authorities had put down all the licensed brothels, and, at the same time, made vigilant search for private prost.i.tutes. Legal difficulties had for many years been in the way, as the laws made no provision against private prost.i.tution, when not carried on as a trade for gain, and the technical proof was difficult. Against procurers and procuresses the law was ineffective, except in cases where the seduced female was under age. When the amendments in the law had taken place, the police had worked vigorously, and in the years 1843 and 1844, a time when illicit prost.i.tution had enormously increased, they had presented three hundred cases of that offense.

"_As regarded syphilis, the city physician was of opinion that, in late years, the disease had increased among all cla.s.ses, and had appeared in a much worse type._

"In consequence, however, of the increased energy of the police, affairs had become under better control, and the number of private brothels had materially diminished, so that there are now but about fifteen in the city. The secret prost.i.tution was not, however, under any control. The police found it impracticable to keep vicious persons in check, who (in default of other accommodation) committed the most depraved acts in stray vehicles or any suitable hiding-place."

The writer of this official communication added his private opinion, based upon the experience of some years, that "no effective steps could be devised to suppress prost.i.tution: all that could be done would be to palliate it, and keep it under _surveillance_."

These statements were not calculated to relieve the anxiety of the Berlin officials, who were pressed by the ministers to devise plans for executing the royal orders. They accordingly met, in much embarra.s.sment, and prepared a scheme which was not acceptable to the superior powers. It was ordered, eventually, "that the women suspected of prost.i.tution, being about 1000 or 1200 in Berlin, should be warned by the police to discontinue their practices. If found out, they were to be punished, and, after punishment, to be continued under _surveillance_ until good behavior. During such period they were to be periodically examined for disease, at the police office, by medical men; the punishment to be made more severe on the repet.i.tion of the offense."

These orders, following immediately the suppression mandate, will strike every one as reaffirming the principles of the toleration system in the most important particular--the regard for public health. The police used all their energy to enforce them, but at the same time represented their fears of the consequences, namely, the spread of prost.i.tution, the increase of disease, and a general licentiousness of habits.

It now remains to trace the effects of the suppression of registered brothels, and local authorities afford abundant and satisfactory proof that the fears of the police were realized.

The _Vossicher Zeitung_ (July, 1847), says:

"Well meant but altogether erroneous is the proposition that brothels can be dispensed with in times of general intelligence and education, and that now this relic of barbarism can be done away with. Already, only two years after the closing of the brothels, this deception has been exploded, and we have bought experience at the public cost. The illicit prost.i.tutes, who well know how to escape the hands of the police, have spread their nets of demoralization over the whole city; and against them, the old prost.i.tution houses, which were under a purifying police control in sanitary and general matters, afforded safety and protection."

In another local paper we find:

"Prost.i.tution, which had previously kept out of sight in dark and retired corners, now came forward boldly and openly; for it found protection and countenance in the large number of its supporters, and no police care could restrain it. The prost.i.tutes did not merely traverse the streets and frequent the public thoroughfares to hunt their prey, thereby insulting virtuous women and putting them to the blush, they crowded the fas.h.i.+onable promenades, the concerts, the theatres, and other places of amus.e.m.e.nt, where they claimed the foremost places, and set the fas.h.i.+on of the hour. They were conspicuous for their brilliant toilettes, and their example was pre-eminently captivating and pernicious to the youth of both s.e.xes."

From a work called "Berlin," by Sa.s.s, we obtain the annexed view of

PUBLIC LIFE IN BERLIN.

"No city in Germany can boast of the splendid ball-rooms of Berlin.

One in particular, near the Brandenburg gate and the Parade-ground, is remarkable for its size, and presents a magnificent exterior, especially in the evening, when hundreds of lamps stream through the windows and light up the park in front. The interior is of corresponding splendor, and when the vast hall resounds with the music of the grand orchestra, and is filled with a gay crowd rustling in silks or satins, or lounging in the hall, or whirling in the giddy waltz, it is certainly a scene to intoxicate the youth who frequent it in search of adventure, or to drink in the poison of seductive and deceiving, although bright and fascinating eyes. Should the foreigner visit this scene on one of its gay nights, he may get a glimpse of the depths of Berlin life. Many a veil is lifted here. This splendid scene has its dark side. This is not respectable Berlin. This whirling, laughing crowd is frivolous Berlin, whether of wealth, extravagance, and folly, or of poverty, vice, and necessity. The prost.i.tute and the swindler are on every side. Formerly the female visitors were of good repute, but gradually courtesans and women of light character slipped in, until at length no lady could be seen there. And the aforesaid foreigner, who lounges through the rooms, admiring the elegant and lovely women who surround him in charge of some highly respectable elderly person, an 'aunt,' or a '_chaperone_,' or possibly in company with her 'newly-married husband,' seeks to know the names and position of such evident celebrity and fas.h.i.+on. 'Do not you know her? Any police officer can tell you her history,' are the replies he receives.

There is a cla.s.s of men at this place who perform a function singular to the uninitiated. These worthies are the 'husbands' of the before-mentioned ladies. They play the careless or the strict cavalier; are Blue-beards on occasion; appear or keep out of sight, according to the proprieties of the moment."

From the same writer we extract the following sketch of a

DANCING SALOON.

"The price of admission is ten groschen (about twenty cents), which insures a company who can pay. The male public are of all conditions, and include students, clerks, and artists, with, of course, a fair share of rogues and pickpockets. The majority of the women are prost.i.tutes: there may be found girls of rare beauty, steeped to the lips in all the arts of iniquity. The philosopher may see life essentially in the same grade as in the last description, but in a somewhat less artificial condition. Scenes of bacchant excitement and of wildest abandonment may be witnessed here. The outward show is all mirth and happiness; pleasure unrestrained seems the business of the place. Turn the picture. The most showy of the costumes are hired; the gayety is for a living; the liberty is licentiousness. These creatures, who, all blithesome as they seem, the victims of others who fleece them of every thing they can earn, are now engaged in securing victims from whom they may wring the gains which are to pay the hire of their elegant dresses, or furnish means for further excesses, or perhaps to pay for their supper that evening. It is the fas.h.i.+on of the place for each _gentleman_ to invite a _lady_ to supper, where the quant.i.ty of wine drunk is incredible. How many a young man has to trace not merely loss of cash and health to such a place, but also loss of honor! The _ladies_ who have no such agreeable partners sit apart, sullen and discontented; oftentimes they have no money to pay for their own refreshments. Pair by pair the crowd diminishes, until toward three or four o'clock, when the place is closed."

The lowest dancing-houses are the _Tanz wirthschaften_, inferior to the saloons, where (again quoting)

"The dance is carried to its wildest excess, to ear-splitting music in a pestilential atmosphere. The poor are extravagant; drunkenness and profligacy abound. Servants of both s.e.xes, soldiers and journeymen, workwomen and prost.i.tutes, make up the public. Here, on the most frivolous pretenses, concubinage and marriage are arranged, and from this scene of folly and vice the family is ushered to the world. The wet-nurse is met here, "the type of country simplicity," who, after a night of tumult and uproar with her lover, will go in the morning to nurse the child whose mother neglects her parental duties at the dictates of fas.h.i.+on. The working cla.s.ses have their representatives, who drown their cares in drink, while boys and girls make up the motley party. In these a.s.semblies there is a difference. Some are attended by citizens of the humbler cla.s.ses, by working men and women; others by criminals and their paramours. In these latter resorts the excesses are of a more frightful character than in those where a show of decency restrains the grosser exhibitions; youth of both s.e.xes are among the well-known criminals, who are habituated to smoking, drinking, and the wildest orgies, long before their frames have attained a proper development. Physiognomies which might have sprung from the most hideous fancy of poet or painter may be met with."

In an anonymous pamphlet, ent.i.tled "Prost.i.tution in Berlin," is another hideous picture: