The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-12-22

sent ABROAD. Inc contributors 10 the South Sea
Missions, however, cannot be made TO appreciate
this fact, and hence the Bedford Street Mission
lmps along, doing much good as it can with few
thousand dollars year. The Rev. John ID. Long,
the missionary in charge of its labOrs, informs as
that they are even now 30 hard pressed for money
in carrying on their ordinary work, that tbcv have
not the means for replenishng the stock OF coal,
which will be exhausted with the first OF the new
year The mere statement Of this fact should suffice
TO bring generous response, and II greater guam
ty OF fuel is received than the direct wants Of the
mission require there are hundreds Of shivering
wretches in the neighborhood on whom the surplus
can be bestowed, and the aggregate Of human suf-
fering thereby measurably relieved
But something more than mere missionary labor
is required to wipe this blot from the face of fair
city, Bedford street must be rooted up; its msera-
BILE novels and vile dens must be torn down, and
their place must be supplied by buildings that are
more fit for the habation OF human creatures than
for the wallowlng OF unclean beasts. During the
past two or three years the Board OF Health, with
the pestience staring them in the face, have done
much towards improving the condition OF the local
ity, and OF late the Building Inspectors have lent
helping hand by ordering the demolition Of some Of
the dilapidated structures, few OF which have
been succeeded by buildings which are decent with
out and comfortable within. Against their inter-
ference, however, the OF the property strug
gle desperately. The profits reaped by these extor
toniss are almost Incredible and hence they resist
any action the part of the authorities which COM
pes them to increase the amount OF capital already
invested without a corresponding return. Not long
since, through information furnished TO the lnspec-
tors by the instrpmentality OF Mr.. Long, miserable
shanty was ordered TO be demolished. The proprie
tor at once called upon the missionary, and, in
great rage, demanded to know his reasons for thus
tamperng with the personal concerns Of another.
He vented his wrath in basphemy and abuse, and
finally in excess of passion, laid his hand upon Mr..
Longs shoulder Within an hour he was confront
ing Mayor Fox, and when held to an account for MS
ndiscretion, repaired to his haunts in a very Tacta
bic mood
OF Mr. Longs fitness for the labor he has in hand,
visit to the mission and tour OF the neghborhOod
in his company by day or night will afford sufficient
evidence. He is feared well respected by all
the wretches and desperadoes into contact with
whom he is daily brought. For the most part they
listen patiently to advice and rebuke alike, and do
not moest him in his earnest labors in their behalf.
But now and then the missionary encounters cus-
toner who proves little refractory, and his task
does not always present a monotOnous freedom
from personal danger, as a case in point will show.
Catching n Tartar.
One evening recently there stroed into Bedford
street man in sailors garb. The Jolly tar was more
than haf-seas-Over In truth, he had found himself
quite Of his element and his eye meeting the
expanse of water to which it had been accustomed,
he had attempted to set himself aoat in more VIII
lainous liquid, with 1attering show OF success.
| crowd of bummers followed close in his wake. with
an eye to a wreck and the otsam and jetsam atten-
dant upon the catastrophe. When the unsteady
mariner reached the neighborhoOd Of the Mission
House, the attention of Mr.. Long attracted to
him, and effort determined upon 10 him from
| his greedy and gloating followers. Two worthy
young gentlemen who, jealous Of good works, we're
deyoting an evening to the reformation Of the To-
cality, contrved to drag him into the main room Of
the Mission; but the vile stuff which he had been
imbibing had transformed him for the time into
sluggish and almost lfeess mass of hesh and when
the threshold was passed he fell heavily TO the
1 noor The crowd OF bummers, disappointed in their
prospective punder, gathered about the entrance,
peering in with such sinister looks that it
was feared they would attempt take possession OF
their anticipated victim by force. SO IL was deemed
advisable to femove the nsensble man to the yard
in the rear, where he would be more difficult of ac-
cess. This was with much difficulty accomplished
when, to the CONSERVATION of his assistants a sud
den and fiery impulse seized upon him, and in an in
stant he was transformed from limp and unresis-
ing burden into ferOciOus brute, endowed with
superhuman strength. Like a flash OF lightning his
great horny fist smOte one OF his benefactOrs in the
| ribs and placed him hOrS de combat. The other
covered with fear in the corner OF the enclosure
while the enraged mariner intent apparently upon
escaping from what he supposed to be the viest OF
durance vile, made for the door through which but
| moment before he had been carried unconsciously
In the doorway stood the missionary, unarmed and
powerless before the brute, when he thrust under
| his very eyes his two clenched fists But steady
| and unnnching look saved Mr.. Long for the
| moment from assault and past him plunged the
sailor IN full tilt for harmless spectator who stood
Just in front Of the pulpit His feet however caught
| against an obstruction, and he measured his full
| length on the floor again. but only to turn quickly
and grasp the leg OF his anced adversary into the
| tender part of which he ran his teeth with all the
energy and fatality OF wild boar Then, springing
to his feet he rushed mady to the other end of the
room, where miserable woman lifted up her voice
in terror Of her life. The crowd without, perceiying
| the frenzy and fury of the man whom they had
| anticipated would prove an easy subject
| had meanwhile locked both of the
| doors leading TO the street, and when the sailor
| still more intent upon escape. than mischief made
this discovery by trying each in turn he pulled from
his belt long and wicked looking knife armed with
which he again rushed towards the two men at the
| rear of the room. Way OF escape for them there
was none and resistance would have been Of no
avail But Just as the scene was about to be con-
| summated with a deed OF blood, Officer McCul-
| Tough dashed into the room and confronted the
demon he issue now a square one
| between dirk and billy, and before the knife
| could be welded with effect, the hard wood was
| brought down upon his skull with such force that
again the jolly tar reposed at length upon the floor
and his wild career was terminated by pair of un-
| ornamental bracelets
Amidst such scenes as this does the Rev. John D.
Long pursue his labor ot love, never despairng and
| never ninching
| "A Christmas Dinner for the Ragamuiins.
AS we stated day or two ago. it has been the Gus
| tom to give the children who are attendants upon
the schools OF the Mission grand Christmas dinner
and this custom will be adhered to on Saturday next