The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-07-05

, what they are talking about, and that tn
Board Of Health is quite mistaken in prose
, cutting owners ofrceking dustbins. ItshoulC
however, be borne in mind that, during tn,
operation Of sitting, the dust is exposed to al
open space. Despite the well-kown power
of ashes to absorb every sort of noxious EN-
anation, If the hll-women pursued their la
bors in covered building the results woult
doubtless be very different.
To return. however, to the dustyard.
observed that every sitter had near at hant
two or three old baskets, and that at each
time she called out 'sarve,' and youth, by
tipping into her ready sieve shovclful from
raw head 'sarved' her, she gave tho fresh
supply a handy twist. so as to sprsad the
material over the entire surface of the sieve
but proceeded to DIAL with 1t in way that
could not readily understand. Resting the
outer edge Of the great sieve against the heap
before her, and its other extreme on her knees,
she dived into it with both her hands, and
went through series Of evolutons that, for
rapidity, were unmatched by any conjuror
ever yet saw. Whatever it was she pluckcd
from the seive was tossed over her left
shoulder, over her right shoulder, and under
either arm. and never failed to find u lodg-
ment in one or other of the baskets.
what is she picking outT inquired ! Of
my guide.
She's picking out everything, replied he.
She's picking 'hard-core,' and 'fne-core,
and rags and bread, and bones, and bits Of
metal, and cabbage.stumps, and that sort of
awful (ofal } and bits of iron, and old tin
pots, and old boots and shoes, and paper, and
wood, likewise broken glass. After that's
done she can get along with the breeze and
ashes straightforward
She retains the scraps you have enumcrat-
ed as pcrquisites, presume?' observed.
'Oh, no, she don't!' replied Mr.. Scorch,
shaking his head vigorously. 'Sho retains
only what's give to her, and that's the wood.
She don't retain nothing else-lcastways, mot
il know it,
oh, indeed? all claimed by Mr.. Dodd,
ehg
'Wrong again, sir; it's all claimed by me,
and I'll tell you how it is worked. Mr..
Dodd employs 80 many 'collectors'-dust-
men, as you call them. They go about the
parts the governor contracts for, getting los.
week, besides what they have give them.
and being Obliged to bring in SO many loads
a day. For certain sum undertake to
slit every load and get out of it, for the gov
ernor, the breeze, the ashes, the manure and
the core (broken crockery, oyster-shells,
broken bottles, &C., used for the foundation
of new roads.) All the other stuff my wo-
men find in the dust belongs to me-
And you find the rubbish worth saving,
eh?'
Rubbish! worth saving" CALCULATED the
foreman. We'll, should rather say | did.
You see that building over there, (pointing
out an extensive brick edifce crowned with
tall chimney well, the rubbish you call
it, is SO well worth saving that our master
went to precious many hundred pounds
expense that it might be made the most Of.
It's my warehouse, that building Is, where
my rag-sorters, and rag.washers, and rag
driers work, and where store everything
that is found out here that may be turned in-
to money. Come and look ut it,
He led the way through the great yard,
and close to the edge Of the canal l found the
building with the tall shaft he had pointed
out in the distance and, ascending some
steps and pushing open door, We entered.
With crcak the door banged to, and sud-
denly found myself in the most curious Of
all the curious places 1t was ever my fortune
good or bad-to set foot. There was no
need for tedious exploration in discovering
the wonders. As soon as your foot crossed
the threshold Of the building there you were
in the midst Of them.
mind the hole!' sharply calculated my
guide, and not without reason; for there,
dimly revealed in the twilight that filed the
place, and within pace Of the door, was n
black gulf, broad. wide, and Of unknown
depth, filled within few feet Of the floors
surface with old shoes and boots !-thou.
sand Of them; all sorts. oil sizes; baby's first
little strapped shoe, hustled into and pceping
out at the gaping toe Of the dilapidatcd,
wellington the huge 'anklejack,' the
tramp's boot with the iron.plated heel worn
all aslant, the heavy uppcrs botchcd with
twine-sown patches "a wayside job. evident
Ily) and mutilatcd tongues now lolling at
rest above the leather thongs, but plainly
revealing the derivation Of the patch.pieces;
the dainty satin dancing-shoc cuddled into
the russet, lime-burned foot-casing Of the
burly brickmakcr; the still substantial equity
shoe, longer lived than its master; the mar
row.waisted, fashionable abomination, cursed
through its life, and at last joyfally kicked
OF because Of its corn.inducing propensities;
here they were, some blue with mildew, some
still bearing traces Of polish, and some hall
eaten by rats; here they were, as many shoes
and boots at the very least Us there arclegs at
a gal!ows show.
'Of what use are they !? inquired Of Mr..
Scorch. who evidently regarded me as curious
ly Us regarded his old boots.
Jews responded Mr.. Scorch with mys-
terious wink, they knows what to do with