The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 96, July 1992 - April, 1993 Page: 58
681 p. : ill. (some col.), maps, ports. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Southwestern Historical Quarterly
loons, which might have rooms upstairs or out back for their custom-
ers' convenience; and "houses of assignation" were rendezvous where
business agreements made elsewhere could be consummated, after
which everybody went their own way again.
"Streetwalking" was not a serious problem in 187os Fort Worth, al-
though it was covered by city ordinance, because the town's few streets
were either muddy ruts or dusty tracks depending on the season, and
sidewalks were practically nonexistent. Nobody, certainly not tired and
thirsty cowboys, would cruise such streets looking for thrills.
On paper, at least, the city's stand against prostitution was admirable,
and the men who passed it were most certainly moral, church-going
men, like Mayor W. P. Burts; M. B. Lloyd, the city's first banker; and
J. P. Alexander, the city's first postmaster. But the prostitution ordi-
nance was a dead letter almost as soon as it was written. By 1877, the
Democrat was complaining frequently about "the dens of vice and im-
morality ... open night after night, contrary to the law, and sworn offi-
cers wink at and permit them to go on, knowingly and willfully." A few
months later the newspaper complained that Mayor G. H. Day was not
fining "the demi monde and their pimps the maximum sum allowed by
law."8 In the next election the mayor was turned out by reform-minded
citizens who wanted to clean up their city starting at the top.
Over the years the situation did not improve much, although one
could not tell it by looking at the city ordinances on the book. At vari-
ous times ordinances were written by the city council that were perfect
models of Victorian morality, but hopelessly quaint and misdirected
when it came to dealing with the real problem of prostitution. For in-
stance, the revised City Charter of 19o9 made it illegal for "lewd
women" to "loiter or stroll upon the grounds of the city cemetery across
the river just north of town [Oakwood Cemetery]." Just why such
women would want to is a mystery that is unfathomable today. Another
ordinance decreed that no male person could ride in a hack, buggy, or
other vehicle "or walk beside any woman of ill repute . .. in any public
place between the hours of four AM and nine PM, subject to fine." Yet
another stated that no "woman of ill repute" could be employed in any
public place, "even at a restaurant or saloon." This is one reason why
for years places like the old Standard Theater at the corner of Rusk
and Twelfth allowed admittance to male customers only. "Never did a
woman appear here without stockings or tights," was its proud reputa-
tion, which meant that the only women on the premises were the per-
sFort Worth Democrat, Feb 5, 1877 (1st quotation); Ibid ,July 7, 1877 (2nd quotation).
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 96, July 1992 - April, 1993, periodical, 1993; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101215/m1/84/: accessed March 29, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.