Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-07-21
pos to purchase some new attire that the
change Of season rendered desirable.

Many of us now alive can remember
the beginning of what is eallen the sani- !
tary movement, previous to which era, as
nothing was said about the wretched dwell.
lings of the poor, nobody thought ofthem,
nor were i'll consequences Of their dirty,
crowded rooms, and bad ventilation, at all
appreciated. AT length the idea struck
somebody, who wrote a pamphlet about
it, which the public did not read but as
the author sentit to the newspaper edi-
tors, they borrowed the hint, and took up
the subject, the Importance of which, by
slow degrees, penetrated the London
mind. Now, among the sources of wealth
possessed by Mr., Benjamin were great
many houses, which, by having money at
his command, he had bought cheap from
those who could not afford to wait; and
many of these were situated in squalid
neighborhoods, and were inhabited by
miserably poor people but as these peo-
pie did not fall under his eye, he had
never thought of them-he had only
thought of their rents, which he received
with more or less regularity through the
hands of his agent. The sums due, how.
ever, were often deficient, for sometimes
the tenants were unable to pay them, be-
cause they were so sick they could not
work aud sometimes they died, leaving
nothing behind them to seize for their
debts. Mr.. Benjamin had looked upon
this evil as irremediable but when he
heard of the sanitary movement, it occur
red to him, that if he did something to-
ward rendering his property more eligible
and wholesome, he might let his rooms to
better class of tenants, and that greater
certainty orpayment, together with lit
tie higher rent, would remunerate him
for the expense of the cleaning and re.
pairs. The idea being agreeable both TO
his love Of gain and his benevolence, he
summoned his builder, and proposed that
he should accompany him over these ten
ements, in order that they might agree as
to what should be done, and calculate the
outlay and the house inhabited by Glegg
and his daughter happening TO be one Of
them, the old gentleman, in the natural
course of events, found himself paying All
unexpected visit to the unconscious sub
ject Of his last experiment; for the last il
was, and SO it was likely to remain,
though three months had elapsed since
he made it; but its i'll success had dis
couraged him. There was something
about Mary that evidently distinguished
her from his usual customers she looked
SO innocent, so modest, and withal so
pretty, that he thought if he failed with
her, he was not likely to succeed with any
body else.
"Who lives in the attics ?" he enquir
ed of Mr.. Harker, tho builder, as they
were ascending the stairs.
+" There's widow, and her daughter
and son-in-law, with three children, in thC
back rooms" answered Mr.. Harker. az
believe the woman goes out charring, anC
the mans a bricklayer In the front
there's man called Glegg and his daugh
ter. fancy they're people that have
been bctter off at some time Of their lives
He has been tradesman-a cooper, h'
tells me and since he came here, his wifi
died of the fever, ard he's been so weakl,
ever since he had it, that he can ear
nothing. His daughter lives by the ncc
die"
Mary was out she had gone TO tax
home some work, in hopes Of getting i'm
mediate payment for it. A couple G
shillings would purchase them coal an
food, and they were much in need ofboth
John was sitting by the scRnty fire. wit
his daughters shawl over his shoulders
looking wan, wasted, and desponding.
Mr.. Benjamin, the landlord, Nj
Glegg,' said Harker.
John knew they owed little rent, an,
was afraid they had come TO demand
it.
"I'm sorry my daughter is out, gen
tlemen," said he. "Will you be pleased
to take chair"
Mr.. Benjamin is going round hi
property" said Harker "lIe is propo
sing to make few repairs, and do lit
tie painting and whitewashing. TO max
the rooms more airy and comfortable"
That will be good thing, sir" an
swered Glegg; ga very good thing 70
believe it is the closeness of the plac
that makes US country folks III when W
come to London. I'm sure I've never har
n days health since I've lived here"
You've been very uulucky, indeed
Mr.. Glegg," said Harkcr. But yO
know, if we lay out money, VIC shall loo
for return. We must raise your rent
Ah, sir, suppose So" answered.
John, with a sigh =" and how we're Il
pay it, don't know. II could only &c
well, shouldn't mind; for I'd rathc
break stones on the road, or sweep eros
sing. than see my poor girl shaving from
morning TO night for such pittance." ."
elf we were TO throw down this par
tition, and open another window here,
said Harker 70 Mr. Benjamin, 1T woulr
make comfortable apartment oft. Their
would be room, then, for bed in the re
I cess
Mr.. Benjamin, however, vas at tina
moment engaged in the contemplation o
an ill-painted portrait Of girl, that wa
attached by pin over the chimney piece