(Photograph: Prostitutes’ Caves Seen from the National School)
Automobile Boom
According to recent newspaper reports from Japan, Japan has also seen an automobile boom lately, although the total number only amounts to 220 in Tōkyō, 30 in Ōsaka and 10 to 23 in Kōbe, Kyōto, Nagoya, and Yokohama. There are still many folks who have never seen an automobile in small towns of the countryside. In contrast, Vancouver only has a population of 150,000 but of course, it is Canada—though it does not deserve special admiration, there is a disproportionate number of automobiles in this small city, which proves that its economy is good and we agree on that. What we do not appreciate are speeding cars on Powell Street and Alexander Street at one or two o’clock in the morning, driven by happy and wasted humming whites, whose bodies are in the cars but their spirits are flying up to heaven—these are empty bodies that are singing and driving cars. It is getting too eccentric; although they may have the freedom to do whatever they want to do, people living in the neighbourhood are troubled with the nuisances that disturb their sleep every night. In addition, there are also carriages doing the same, adding to the proliferation of traffic. However, despite such vibrancy, most of them are cabs who, out of their business-minds, are waiting to take customers going home. Only a few send customers there and none take customers and women out for excursions.
Police launched prostitute caves on Alexander Street but they tightened up the regulation more than before when there were caves on Dupont Street in Chinatown, currently East Pender Street, Shanghai Alley, and Canton Alley. Whereas in earlier days prostitutes in impetuous costumes were able to freely visit their prostitute friends during the night, have drinks together and do other things, today police strictly forbid them from going out at night. An officer whom you know is engaged in security, regulation, or guarding behind the trees on one side of the 500 Block. That is hardworking of him indeed, if we think about it.