Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1850-07-10
CELLAss IN NEW YORK.
The New York Tribune gives the following ac-
count of the lodging and boarding cellars IN that

4 II
count of the lodging and boarding cellars IN ina
city,
In several of these there are three classes OF boar
ders aiken the first class pay 81 l2 cents per week
for board and lodging having straw GOOSE Oh tne
foor) 10 sleep upon, and being enii'led 10 'he hrs
table the second class pay 10 3-4 GEMS per "eeA
sleep on the bare floor and eat at 'he SECOND Tue
third class pay nine cents per week, are 'ufeu ou
when there is lack of lodging room, ad eat al tue
third and last table These cellars are generay pare
of furniture, except or two oenches anu large
table. The marketing is done by the children VINO
are sent out TO beg cold vituais cxcep IN some III
stances, where there are too many o0aIceis ~ ii'A
smcb baz,rJons source of suppl and then the keep
er Of the cellar makes special contract with three or
rour nrofessional beggar women,who sell the product
of their appeals in behalf Of starving children and
sicL husbands for mere Tone All the baskets are
got in at n certain hour, when the boarders assem-
Bile. at the time Of feeding, the whole mass Is empu-
ed mon the table "The first class,' or three sh-
linc-a. week boarders have the first pcking and IN
n rice the fingers of the first table gourmands are
knuckle deep in the least of fat things; and for a
quarter of an hour they poke over the pile selecting
the choice bs-the scraps OF chicken, chop, nam,
mullins. clean bread, &c., seasoning the variety with
nickle salad, and such condiments as fancy and
delicate appetite may select Having satisfied their
tastes thew depart with contcmptuous glances at the
eighteen penny table, or look of pity upon the ex-
necant niue-pence folks The second class 60 O.
yer the table in less dainty manner, and by The
time their omnverous appetiies are appeased, 'here
is little left but stale pieces and bare bones ior he
last feeders. The nine-penny wrelches iall ike
wolves upon their lean portion, and not unlreqaeh'
" general fight ensues, in which the house Ina'
IL, ohrun
few hours before graced arIs!ocralc china ABOVE
BECKER are whirled about the cellar IN most au,
mired disorder, TO the great damages oil Inc heaus o
the oboarders." II will be at once sLrmlsed llat inc
beings who board in those places are the lo"es1
classes of society-proesscd thieves oil all KlndS'
vounr burglars, broken down gamblers, homeless
ioafers and beggars. The simple innocence oil Inc
beggar girl, who, when questioned as TO wha' sue
Jid with such quantities of cold yictuals, replied,
smother takes boarders," has been r!dculed aS lnefe
fiction. vet, it is literally true.
The lodging system in these places, is to spread
olonp one side of the room layer OF straw on when
tho FIRST class boarders stretch themselves. lying gen.
orally very close together the next tier, on the bare
Aonr are the second Glass; and if the patronage be
extensive the whole floor outside the straw VIII oe
hacked with these persons as closely as II Is posi-
blc 10 make human beings lie. Should this class I'LL
the room the nine-penny vagabonds are uhcereioh'-
ousy thrus, into the street. regardless OF ram of
snow. to crawl into alleys and under door Steps ior
the night Thus packed, the room becomes IN anew g.
;r"tes Glled with nitrogen and carbonic gas sufi-
c;ent TO noson regiment. The door being barred
and the windows closed, there is moi the slightest
chance for fresh air to get in, and the appearance oil
the wretches as they issue forth nthe mornings shows
mainly The effects of their dreadful confinement
There are cellars devoted entirely TO Lodgings,
where straw at two cents, and bare-foor at one cen!
night, can be had. The plng and packing here
does not differ from that of the boarding cellars. IN
some of the dens, males and females are promiscu-
ously lodged together and scenes Of dcpravity the
most horrible are ofconslant occurrence Black ana
white men women, and children are mixed in one
dir,v mass. But we need not dwell upon this place
of subenaneous inlamy.