Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1852-04-24
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"HOME OF THE ORGAN GRINDERS
AND THEIR MONKEYS"

A correspondent of the Home Journal
is writing series of sketches of visits to
remarkable places in and about New York.
The last number describes "Ihe Home Of
the Organ Grinders and their Monkeys"
species of travelling musicians who issue
from the Empire city, and travel over the
whole extent of our country:
From the time, MeSsrs. Editors, when I
used daily TO form one of the gaping crowd
of youngsters round perambulating pur-
veyor of music for the million, have had
a desire to know where and how those
useful persons and their monkey allies live.
On the Sunday before last, in the after
noon, between two of the heavy showers
which washed-not cleanSed-our streets
on that day, my desire was gratifeid. |
visited the home of the monkeys and their
masters, and l will tell you what | saw
and heard there. 1t was best, thought,
in exploring the localities where they re-
side, to hunt in couples, and, accordingly,
| invited our mutual friend the editor of
the -, to accompany me.
The neighborhood of the Five Points
for alas! it is there that our artists are
alone to be found-is not in any circum-
stance a pleasant neighborhood and as
sure you heavy rain does not improve it.
There was mud, ankle deep, in the
streets; mud, slippery mud, upon the pave
mens; mud upon the steps that led into
the houses; mud on those that led down
into the reekiag cellars-mud every where
and on everything. Yet what a swarm of
people Every window presented an array
of heads, every stoop was crowded, and
throngs Of children; ragged and dirty,
plump and ruddy, were playing about our
feet, at every step. | could not but think,
that if all the roofs were taken off the din
gy houses, and it were TO rain forty days
and forty nights, till every atom of impur-
ity were swept away with the resiStles;
food, what a blessing it would be. As we
passed along, observed huge policeman
taking to the police office delicate moth
erly-looking woman, my hardened editorial
friend observing, "He is showing her the
way home."
Another wretched creature was hurry
ing along with piece of disgusting look
f ing meat under her apron. Another, witt
t child in her arms, was buying a stick o
. candy for it, at dirty applestand, planted
: in the universal mud. The people gener
ally seemed to be cheerfuly enjoying the
Sunday afternoon, and saw no drunken
person in the neighborhood.
: The house we were in search of, prove,
: to be brick four story structure, and, lk
c all its neighborS, seemed swarming an
o bursting with human life. Half doze
!. steps led to the open front door, were GOV
n cred with dirty people-men, women an
e chiIdren-all foreigners, and jabbering i
'f unknown tongues. The ascent was not il
s viiing. We crowded through, howeve
: : and gained the passage, which was lonI
> dark, dismal, damp, dirty, and utterly d.
void of any article of furniture. Addres
ing an Italian, who was leaning against II
- wall, in contemplative attitude, my con
y panion went at once to the heart OF Il
nc matter, and said, sis this the house whe
,ct the monkeys are keptw Instead of repl
%. ing, he turned to two boys who were scu
fling at the further end of the passage, al
shouted, "Giac." The boys finished the
NJ scu!fle at leisure, and then Giac, himself
" little black haired, impudent-looking mon
ley, approached. Our contemplative ire