Danger! A True History of a Great City's Wiles and Temptations
The Veil Lifted, and Light Thrown on Crime and its Causes, and Criminals and their Haunts. Facts and Disclosures.
"Danger! A True History of a Great City's Wiles and Temptations" by Howe & Hummel is a historical account written in the late 19th century. The book examines the pervasive crime and vice in New York City, uncovering the hidden dangers and destructive temptations that threaten its inhabitants, particularly the youth. The authors present a cautionary exploration of the city’s criminal underbelly, detailing the lives of various societal outcasts and the moral decay that ensnares the unwary. The opening of the work sets a bleak tone, with the authors emphasizing the alarming omnipresence of crime and the challenges of reform. In the preface, they argue that while efforts have been made to combat vice, the city remains a dangerous place, especially for innocents drawn by promises of prosperity. They outline the book's objective to serve as a warning to young men and women about the perils they face in urban life. The narrative then shifts to a historical account of New York's prisons, detailing how crime and its various manifestations have evolved over time, alongside the city’s growth. It presents a grim view of social conditions that foster crime, including poverty, hopelessness, and the seductive lure of urban temptation.