Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1841-07-09
Correspondence Of the Free Press.
New YoRK. June DC. 1874

New YORK, June 26, 1871.
The past week, like its more iIlustrious
predecessor, in the city, has been one of UNI
enlivened tedium and dulness. Beneath the
sweltering heat of a violent sun our citizens,
as well as their business, seems to droop, and
lose all activity. In certain portions of the
city however it is quite different. The same
sun that debiliates the ono class. warm, into
lie another: and you may see in our most
filthy thoroughiares, hundreds of miserable
wretches of all ages, sexes and compilations.
crawling up from the cellars in which they
have been immurcd to bask like reptiles in
the summer sun. | can never look into
these dens of wretchedness and guilt with
out shuddering at the deprivation to which
human beings may be reduced Many, and
indeed the most of these miserable creatures
have been plunged into their present condi-
ton in consequence of their own imprudence
and abandonment Of uprightness some of
them are persons, who seem to have been
cast down from plenty and comfort by the
power OF circumstances, over which they
could have but little control. At any rate all
OF them are now in the very depths of pow
erty and suffering: and it can hardly be ne
cessary or excusablc to inquire the causes
that brought them there before stretching
forth the hand of relief. 1t strikes stran-
ger who comes into our city for the first time
and looks upon this wide and terrible wretch
edness, as singular that the city authorities
do not take some measures for their relief
and for the good of the city. Many of them
unable in their degraded condition, to pro.
cure an honest livelihood, give themselves up
to theft and all manner Of wickedness.-
Families of children are regularly trained by
their wretched parents to beg and steal--and
are sent all over the city every day to pick
up as they best can sustenancc for the day
that is to follow. Drunkenness in It's mos,
beastly shape--vice in its thousand forms
grow up with fearful rapidly in these re.
treats Of wretchedness. There are of thi,
class of people among our citizens more thai
twenty ACKNOWLEDGMENT to curse our city
with destructive crime and to overflow tn,
whole land with pestilental wickedness.
have heard plan mentioned, which
think may be ultimately adopted, for reno
these persons from our midst, and placin,
them where they may have some hope of re
gaining competence and becoming at leas
comfortable and respected. 1t is, to purchas
at the expense of the city large farm o.
the Island or wherever else may be though
expedient--to place it under the control @
suitable persons and to furnish all in the cit
t who wish for it, with employment, and tn
y substantial comforts of home. By suila
: bic eXer!ions, thousands who now live in idle
# ness, might beinduced to labor on such a iarr
. and receive enough to support themseve
respectfully, and to provide for the educalio
e of their children. With good economy an
e skill in the supervision, such an establish
If mcnt could easily be made to support itsel
a and those connected with it, as they becam
l. sober and qualified to do so, could easily g
g out and give place to others. One great an
re most desirable end would be thus secured
D. namely the care and education of the poe
,e children of the city. We have about thirt