The House of Bondage
Published August, 1910
Second Printing, November, 1910
Third Printing, December, 1910
Fourth Printing, January, 1911
Fifth Printing, February, 1911
Sixth Printing, February, 1911
Seventh Printing, March, 1911
Eighth Printing, March, 1911
Ninth Printing, April, 1911
Tenth Printing, April, 1911
Eleventh Printing, June, 1911
Twelfth Printing, July, 1911
Thirteenth Printing, August, 1911
Fourteenth Printing, October, 1911
Fifteenth Printing, February, 1912
Sixteenth Printing, April, 1912
TO
ANDREW JOHN KAUFFMAN
(1840-1899)
“O strong soul, by what shore
Tarriest thou now? For that force,
Surely, has not been left vain!
Somewhere, surely, afar,
In the sounding labor-house vast
Of being, is practiced that strength,
Zealous, beneficent, firm!”
CAVEAT EMPTOR
This story is intended for three classes of readers, and no more. It is intended for those who have to bring up children, for those who have to bring up themselves, and for those who, in order that they may think of bettering the weaker, are, on their own part, strong enough to begin that task by bearing a knowledge of the truth.
For it is the truth only that I have told. Throughout this narrative there is no incident that is not a daily commonplace in the life of the underworld of every large city. If proof were needed, the newspapers have, during the last twelvemonth, proved as much. I have written only what I have myself seen and myself heard, and I set it down for none but those who may profit by it.
REGINALD WRIGHT KAUFFMAN.
NEW YORK CITY,
16th June, 1910
THE HOUSE OF BONDAGE