The honorable Dr. Charles Parkhurst, esteemed pastor of New York City's Madison Square Presbyterian Church, was on a mission in 1892 to clean up municipal vice and corruption. From February to May of that year, Parkhurst made headlines for his infamous "slumming" trip to the worst dens of sin and deprivation in the city. His guide, a private detective named Charles Gardner, documented their escapades in the now legendary book he called "The Doctor and the Devil, Or Midnight Adventures of Dr. Parkhurst."

In this episode of Aghast at the Past: 1892, I read all of chapter ten, and most of chapter eleven, which highlight some of the more notorious visits they made in March of that year. WARNING: I do basically read word for word from the book, and the author does use some language that is considered highly offensive by modern standards. While kept for historical context, listener discretion is still, very much advised.

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