The Placer herald. [volume] (Auburn, Placer County, Calif.) 1855-1991, 1863-02-07

were so destroyed by the process of time
and decay-so dstiyured and black with the
smoke that ascended and circulated from a
shattered furnace, placed directly in the cen
tre of the floor, as to appear like the interI
OF of a burnt rookery. The atmosphere was
almost sitting, as all the holes and windows
were completely stopped with old stufs, straw
etc, and to the intorrogatory of the officer
who inquired Of one of the women as to how
they lived there, the reply was. The best
we can, sure, and the divi a bether will we
be likely to if yees have no charity for u.s."
A few pennies put all in the best of humor,
and ELECTED enough praise in our behalf to
weary Jupiter himself with care for U.S.
Having supplied all with little change, ex.
cept the before mentioned blind man, whom
we overlooked, md hearing a noise in the
adjacent apartment, we were preparing TO
proceed there, when he bade US good day.
and saluted all with wish that we might
occupy the hottest place in the kingdom be
low before another Christmas, for negleclng
him We accordingly gave him something,
not wishing to carry the curses of such an
evil disposition about us so Iong. and he con-
signed us to better quarters. We now pro.
ceeded to seek admillance into the apart.
ment referred to, and after rapping violently,
and at the same time holding parley with
those within, they concluded to admit us -
This p ace presented much the appearance of
a cave, about ten feet by twelve, 1t should
be remembered that these buildings are very
DID, and can only stand by leaning against
each other. The floor here bad settled
over head, and raters or stakes had been inl
troduced to keep the whole concern at the
top from falling through. A furnace as
usual, was burning, and the whole place
above was completely decorated with thick
dust, cobwebs and SCOT hanging 10 clusters
three of four inches in depth. Here eight
or ten were huhdled surrounding the furnace.
The cooking utensils, with miscellaneous
assortment of other articles, were all piled
up in one corner while an indiscIlminate
bed was spread all over the hoor-one rot,
ten mass Of old dnds of every conceivable
material. There was scarcely room to move,
the whole place conveying the idea Of pen
between decks on a SLAYER. On pushing
aside the remains of a quilt nailed to the
wall, we discovered hole dug through a
pile of mortar in the ruins of an adj AGENT
IA heap Of straw. Opposite this was another
entrance, broken through a partition, dis
closing an unlenanted room. "ilow many
are there Of you here?" asked one of our par
ty of a man who seemed to have control of
matters. "Al there is of the family, sir"
was the quick reply. Questioner, again
pointing to the hole in the wall. as that
your child?" $50 the mother says, sir"
"llow do YOU maintain yourselves?' "WeIl,
as for the matter Of that, the best we can
sure, and a bit OF assistance from yese would
not be lost npon us" Hereupon all raised
their hands for pennies, and sent up snch IA
howl as would have done no discrelit to a
pack Of Camanches. One large, bloated
creature shrieked out to us that she was
starving, and that she must have something
to eat ".hs very mnnet." Another begged
us for Gods sake to give nothing to her, as
she wouli 90 out, get Gin with it, and come
back to beat them all. "Don't be after
mnding aither of lhm." said the man, ''but
ify yese have IL shiin' to bestow, Just lave it
with me an I'll keep them aisey" At this
stage Of the proceedings we left them debat
ing together, and reganed the street. We
will not stop here to moralize on this
subject but to those of the Christian commu-
nifty who draw their purses readily in behalf
Of the fat savages of the Feeees Of Tlmbuc,
too, and to those whose consciences contiuI
ally mourn for the condiliol of the negro of
this civil war now raging in our land, we de
sire to present one nights experience among
the Miserabes Of New York.