The New York herald., 1869-04-30
MAYDAY MIsErES.

ciearing-Histsry or a Family Changing
Ho~es-The Tenement Population-The
Bitter Bitten.
What elsewhere source of infinite delight Is here
in New York, by custom and statute made the cause
of inflnite trouble and vexation. The first day OF
May The first day OF the month when nature at
last assumes the verdure OF her blooming season;
when the bright rays OF mild sun evoke delicious
fragrance from budding flowers; when the birds of
the and the beasts Of the forests seek their mates
and when even the oysters are or at least should be-
left undisturbed In their briny bedsthis month and
the opening day Of it we New Workers are purposely
making miserable unto rs; for this day we have
selected out Of the so6 Of the year as the general
moving day for our population. Why this has been
So excep' that 1t is custom as old as the settle
ment OF New Amsterdam, it is difncult to say.
May be it is that because the good danes in Holland
were always accustomed to q thorough cleaning
OF the house the Of every spring. On their
settlement here they may have thought that 1t would
of the house aitcgether And those that came after
them as settlers and Inhabitants OF the American
metropolis, finding the custom already prevailing
may have concluded that one day was as good as an
other for the unpleasant, tedious, provoking and
Oitentlmes highly ruinOus occupation Of moving
ones family, household goods and lares ct pe,adtes
from one dwelling to another and retained the GUS
tom; and annually this CITY presents the spectacle
of moving camp on wheels on the first day OF May
grown with it; the more people VIC have here the
larger Is the number OF those moving ana the
sorrer and to some the more interesting the spec
There would unquestionably be less Of 1t were the
landlords and their agents not SO exacting ana
nard-hearted in their demands. BY law ali ten
anees the term of which IS not fixed by written
lease expire on the first day OF May 1t IS on this
day. or to begin with it, that'the scale of rents is
fixed for the year ending with the next lst OF May.
Every year for the last twenty, we may say land
lords have insisted upon an increased rental for
option remain and pay the increased rent move
ION the first OF May" This is often great hard
ship. The tenant has. perhaps, just made himself
comfortable IN the dwelling; he began to feel like
being ut home; he has made acquaintances or even
contracted friendships among the neighbours he has
venience, when all OF once the election is left HIM
either to pay or to go. Pay more he perhaps can
not, perhaps viii not, and to move breaks up
away into neighbOrhOod OF strangers, and Injuries
him pecunariy In the damage and loss sustained in
furniture. Let US trace such case from beginning
The landlord or his agent has submitted his terms
several consultations are held with the one or the
other in order to induce him to recede. Compro-
differences and the like; but all without avail. The
owner remains imperturbabe, and no coaxng, no
Establishments can shake his determined ukaSe:
Pay or 20. Then PaJer Famas cOnfers with Mater
Faniias at breakfast at dinner tea and even az all
other hours when conference possible e raI,1 Inc M
scanned Mater Famiias rs carefully counts up. ON
her boys slate or perhaps on her fingers, how many
dollars are needed for the butcher the grocer the
baker, the milkman. The servants wages, II any
ale kept, are reck0ned to the uttermost farthing
Then little Mary wants new dress and shoes for
summer and cloak and hat for winter. Johnny
wants two new suits for the year. The other chil
dren want this and that all Of which cost money,
income of Pater Familias Is diminished by
the extent OF these items. And then Mater
Familias wants new rigging ouf;' her dresses ana
progressive that what was In fashion last year Is out
OF 1t now. Sne is sure she Is not extravagant but
one must make at least q decent appearance In the
world If goes Out for people will talk so. you
know. Another item Is therefore, set down for new
outfit for summer, and perhaps one for winter also,
for Mater Famas. Then Pater Familias chimes in;
he must have new "Sunday go-tO-meetlng' outfit
Hats and clothes cost so much nowadays, and going
respectable. Then another item IL tackled on to the
expense list. certain sum, Mater Famias sug-
gests must be reserved for doctors bills and incl
dental expenses, for pew rent In church and the
like; and when all is added up, why, you see, they
fnd that either they cannot pay the advance
IT It would i 'e' leave them nothing at the the end
Of the year to save up against a rainy
day, or 1t would cramp them too much during the
year. or they decide they would not crafty the ra-
pacty Of their landlord any way, come what would.
After notifying the latter that they are going to
Every morning the HERAID's advertising columns
are carefully read through for "Dweling Houses to
Let' or "Rooms and Apartments to Lett Pater
Famias reads them aloud. Many are left unnOtlced
after reading, for various reasons. Some are too
far out; others far up town: others, again, ev
deDtly too expensive, until list is made up OF such
as seem acceptable And while Pater Familias
drudges 1t in his daily pursuit during business
hours Mater tamas dradges tnrGngn er .ne
days OF anxiety and labor, gong through the same
routine from morning Till night every day, recount
were visited, how they looked, what rent
was asked, what conditions demanded-at last
The family is suited. and the future home
for the ensuing year Is secured. Now come the most
annoying troubles OF all. Preparations are 70 com
mence for moving. Ii our tenant popuiation were
possessed OF Aaddin's lamp there would be no diii
cuty no misery whatever; or n they had only the
ancient magician's wand and could Just wish their
furniture and household articles In whln from one
house TO the other and this wish were at once com.
piled with, many an aching head would be relieved
and many sorrows avoided.
But miracles are out OF the question IN this matter
OF fact age Hence the hands Of the family must be
at work TO prepare everything for the great event
moving day. Curtains are taken down, and IL is
lucky II In the hurry OF preparations they are not eit
in a heap in the corner, where the 'dear baby"
might mistake them for the rag bag and tear on a
piece TO make wrapper for tn tae , doll SO s tnat u
and whatever finds no room IN either IL
rolled up with the bedding, with carpets
and blankets Inc acseS COOKING swav Pisures
mirrors are taken down and carefully wrapped mp,
that they may suffer no damage; All TINS necessi-
tates irregular life for the family for several days
The bedsteads have been taken apart. and beds
are spread on the bare noor; the clocks are not
up are away aaa sns @ eSer h9" o os
Of order or the draft dsarranged; the pans and pots
are not at hand; the table cutlery Is hid IN basket
Or tub; the crocKery all slowed away. and on the
morning OF moving day the breakfast OF the family
Is but a very poor one, II they get any at all. In
most cases the children are satisfying their munger
with n slice OF bread and butter while Pater and
Mater Famias still the craving OF their stolnachs
with the prospect Of meal at their new nome.
Then comes the moving. To do THIS tnere must
no trucks and carts. The men who own and drive
them know that their harvest comes but once
wear. They are determined TO gather II as TINS
"A
load which is usually paid for with Two
or three dollars they now ask from ten 10 twenty
dollars. They know that TINS IL against law, anu
mar N NAV cost them their license II prosecution
be- commenced before the Mayors Marshal, who IL
wont TO make short work In such cases. But what
can Pater FamIlias dor His goods are packed and
In heaps ready 20 be carted away. In many cases
another family is waiting 10 move IN with their iur.
nlture. He must move and according 70 the law AZ
twelve O'clock noon, on the 1st Of Nav, ne must
vacate the premises. He submits and PAYS con-
tentinp himself with taking the number OF the truck