The Trinity journal., 1856-03-22

greenroom fire very quickly, and that the
actress was nncommonly taciturn during the
evening.
-----------~aa ~ -
ONE HALF OF THE WORLD KNOWS NOT WHAT
THE OTHER HALF sUFFER.--A few days since
| accompanied a friend on her round of
charity. One of the scenes | witnessed |
will describe to you. In an attic uuplaS-
tered with one window half hid by an old
skirt, no furniture but the bed, one chair, |
and an old fashioned trunk, we saw two
young girls actually dying of starvation and
cold, they having no fire or even place to
make one. They had been in this state of
deStitution nearly two weeks when their con
dition was happily made known to those
who made it their business to seek out the
distressed Both were young, and the old
est one, in spite of the pinching that cold
and hunger had given her features, had the
sweetest and most innocent face that it has
ever been my lot TO look upon. They were
much emaciated, not suffering from any kind
of disease but hunger Think of it, my
young friends, two young girls within the
hustle of a rich and populous city, actually
dying of hunger
Their story is this; Early berert Of kind
mother, their father, q cold, harsh man, ever
looked upon them as membranes, and
moths that would eat up his fortune for he
was rich. They lived in St Martins lane
London, where he owned one of the largest
and best picture galleries in that great city.
He also painted landscapes, which talcntwas
inherited by his eldest son. Marrying short
ly after his wiGes death, the step-mother
treated the children with a great deal of Sc
verify and turned their father more against
them than ever, Knowing that by the laws
of England, the eldest son could claim all
the estate she persuaded her husband to
come to America, landing on its shores with
some thousands Of pounds This, by artful
Vaccinations, the wife had made over to her.
No sooner did She get possession of the
deeds than She commenced to tyranze over
both father and children until at last the
repentant man sunk under accumulated woes
leaving his children pcnnilcss among stran-
gers. The eldest boy cndcayored to make
living by painting, but not being very pro
licient in his art, he found difficulty in dis
posing Of his productions The eldest girl
being an accomplished musician, endcayored
to obtain scholars; but being very reserved
and retiring in disposition, she reHuouished
the idea, after she had met with one or two
failures. Thus, nearly blind brother and
two sisters were dependent entirely for sup
port upon the poor landscape painter
They could not pay full board, so thought
it best to rent room, and cook for them
selves. This they tried, but found that Of
tentimes they had not money to pay the rent,
which the landlord eXacted much less any
thing to eat. From one stage to another
they went, until at last they were glad to
find shelter from driving storms, in the
miserable attic where we found them, having
taken it with the proviso that they were to
sit by the Irish woman's fire. Not having
anything to eat they soon became too weak
to 50 up and down stairs They went to
bed, praying that they might die, rather
than live such miserable life.
We Immediately supplied their present
wants, and obtained nurse to attend them
until sufficiently able to be removed. For
several DAYS we had them attended to, du-
ring which the other ladies had called to see
them, one Of which was SO much pleased
with the oldest girl that she offered to take
her into her own house and provide her a
home if she would give her children musical
instruction. This the poor girl gladly ac-
cepted provided something could be done for
her sister, who was subject to partial de-
rangement. A permit was granted, and lhe
youngest found home in Bellevue hospital
until she was entirely recovered. The bhld
brother gained admittance in the blud asli
tute, whilst tile oldest one strives to earn
livelihood by his beautiful art.
Within one mile of these scenes Of suffer
ing, the woman that has been the cause of
all, rolls in luxury bought 10y the llgoten
wealth that has made the helpless orphans
feel the singing cold and cravings of hun
ger. May her eyes be opened to the full
extent Of the gross injustice she has prac-