The Hidden Alleys of Pacific Street

In the heart of the Chinese quarter, there exists an alley hidden away from the main streets which men traverse daily in their search for pleasure. While the alley is in fact one where reputable people rarely pass, the first wicket here is the home of a secluded Chinese woman, and others are situated on the same side. The women live behind their wickets, and in their open doors, they endeavor to attract men and boys who are strolling by. The sidewalk is frequented by men and boys who are constantly looking at the women, and a passerby cannot pass the windows without having attention drawn to the women and their bold manners. It has been called to the attention of the public that boys of tender years were often seen about the doors of these women, and that the women had used them to go into their dens. It is a repulsive and disgraceful sight. Two boys, about 15 years old, were found joking with a girl at one of the doors, and enjoying her efforts to win them to the inside. Within twenty minutes, three more boys, about the same age, stopped in their journey down Pacific street to enjoy the hailings of the women and a few minutes of chatting with them. Two little boys, barely 10 years old and a pretty little girl of the same age came skipping down the street with school-books under their arms, and all stopped for two or three minutes at one of the windows to curiously look in and to discuss it together. This is a sample of what can be seen at this place at all hours of the day. One wonders why, if such things must be permitted, the women cannot be moved to more secluded places, where those who seek may find, but where the eyes of decent people may not be offended and insulted by such scenes of vice and of public depravity and where boys are so readily made familiar with Chinese vice and corruption.