The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-12-01
CITY INIR LLHGE ENCE.
THE NEAR ALASKA,

The present condition OF that vile plague spot In
our fair CITY, Bedford street and its vicinity, Is very
community at heart Bad that region still is, it
is as nothing to What 1t was five years ago. Any
one who was intimately acquainted with it then
would not know 1t now; and II the refermatory in-
time thatIdve years more have elapsed It would not
be recognized by those that know 1t now.
The visitor who now sees the street for the hrst |
time sees many things that startle him. He sees
crime, 1lth and wretchedness OF the worst kind, '
such as it is not possible to In any other place
He sees the miseraby poor, the outcasts and p n
pers OF society, the thieves, petty aud otherwise the
prostitutes tne h eScs,ed n1 deecton muir
time being, and all are seen In tner very worst light
Yet startling as al these @ may may oei ".ey verify
is the heart of the morally infect I'd region Bedford
now Alaska street, Is now COZ. .Iparatvely safe both
was not so. In those ds.,s 1t was at the risk OF a
mans life that he passed along after nlghtfa; aud
certsin lot. Their rows Of broken down and decay
ing frame o1lclngs crowded upon eacn other on
Baker, st. Msrys, and the numerous other small
streets courts, and alleys. NOW Baker and Spaf-
ford streets are almost reclaimed and what were
the very worst spots now contain dwelings-small
but more neat and comfortable than the rotten dens
Which preceded ds tn by poor but re,
itself, though the hardest 10 reclaim, is show
ing unmistakable signs OF better time coming Its
rotten tenements still remain to great extent but
IN some Instances they have given place to more
human:like dwellings, having less disreputaole
look, at the least Others are already doomed,
through the exertons of special society hereafter
10 be mentioned, and in due course OF time must
surely give way to improvements.
This present comparatively good condition of the
neghboroood is largely, II not entirely owing to the
work OF the Bedford Street Mission. This was
started at q time when no deceat person dared to
venture into the vile district, and it was established
endured and outlived hardships, sneers and i'll
treatment from both friend and foe. Though it was
looked upon at first with the greatest suspicion, and
even hated by the inhabitants OF the neghborhooi,
1t has gradually worked its way into the hearts OF
many Of them by attending to their physical wants
ton OF Rev. Mr.. Long and his worthy lady to the
work there set before them could not but produce
an effect. When those who to be bene1t saw
for themselves that 1t was for no selfish ends that
the Iaore suscepSe es to any anSs wsGe G
yances which might be made. Even
mission, now treat its missionary with respect
Those who were itS greatest enemes are now desi-
Where parents are irrecaim 4bie, the work of the
mission is to take the children and educate them in
better ways. The educational system has now been
going on long enough to show some of its fruits
The hearts OF the workers are now made glad by an
occasional visit from some young person VINO is now
at least respectable member Of the com uunity
whom they had taken from the worst and educated
to usefulness Medical atte adance, Irrespective OF
by the mission. Flthiness is the greatest enemy OF
the goot work. and therefore the especial object OF
the missions eXeTtions. All who are in any
way connected with the mission house, whether
as pupil or the recipient OF medical
aid, are hrst made as clean as possible, then have
their other wants attended to. Free baths every
body were started several years ago by the mission,
operation during the past summer, and it was by
this means that the dreadful plague OF the reapsng
fever was In great measure stayed These baths
are also greatly needed row. but the funds will not
permit the introduction OF hot water, without which
they are useless in the winter season. Clothing is
Distributed to the needy occasion aud money will
warrant. The pupils of the Mssion-school are the
special recipients OF this charity. Once year at
least, at the Christmas dinner the members of the
day and Sunday schools receive each suit OF
Clothes which charitable ladies, members OF the
Board of Managers, or contributors make up.
Secular education OF both sexes is made prime
necessity, and children OF both sexes are gathered
into whist is now iourlshing school. Religious
training s also given to whoever will accept OF it.
church and Sunday y-schoo services such attendance
is not made obligatory What is sought is rather to
Under this arrangement it is not found ddicult T.
obtain good audiences.
Itis the Bedford street mission which continually
rouses the city authorities to action when their ser
vices are needed. The Board OF Health, which
usually does nothing unless It has to in this region
where the results will not show TO the community
at large, is continually made to attend to its
neglected duty by the officers OF the mission. The
police and the building inspectors whose business
1t is to condemn the rotten buildings when they get
unsafe, are also aided or urged on by the mission
officers The mission was never in a better working
order, but 1t must have funds TO carry its work.
1t is supported entirely by voluntary offerings.
better charity there could not possibly be.
An industrial school for girls meets in the Mission
House two afternoons in week. In 1t the girls are
entering though well grown have not tn the Slight slightest est
idea how TO use a needle. The school has just been
started for the present season. The average at
tendance is about thirty-fve. Though no good
specimens OF work can yet be shown, the teachers
state that in less than six weeks very creditable
needework can be turned out. great want OF
material TO work with is felt In running this school,
Any ladies who have old pieces OF stun, old gar
ments OF any sort, which can be cut up and renade
into any shape, will find them to be very acceptable
II presented TO Mr. Long at the mission. Every
inch OF old stuff in the private houses OF the
Is at present pressed into the service and feared
that this scant provision will fail. In this con-
nection 1t might be well to mention the fact that the
mission has just received q large box containing
about fifty dollars worth OF cloth and material for
the Christmas presents OF clothing for the children
1t came from the firm OF Mallalieu 4 Brother
woollen manufacturers OF Kent connty, Maryland.
This same firm send yearly about the sane amount
as a donation, OF which heretofore acknowl ledg-
ment has been made. The mission is very thankful
The lady teachers and the friends now engaged
In cutting out and making up the goods as far as
they Will go, into comfortable winter garments. The
hdustrial-school cannot as yet be trusted on such
A free lodging house for women has lately bsen
opened by the mission authorities In the same
building where the baths were located in the SUM-
mer In 1t free lodging is provided for all who may
apply, OF whom the police bring when it Is too late
or too Geld to reach the station. The outcast
are thus brought under good influence, and their
children are saved in many instances from a death
by freezing. BY it, also, the police will be enabled
20 know the professional begging class who will not
will make use OF the shelter are the ones
who usually either remain In the street all night or
are crowded into the worst dens and cellars where
wickedness, filth, ana disease abound. For the
worst OF the customary accommod atoms, probably
only sleeping room in unfoored cellar with a
dozen more OF others OF both sexes a rent is paid
OF about ten cents a night In the Mission House
lodging better resting place can be obtained free.
The only trouble is that the funds OF the mission
will not allow the space to be sufficiently large
With more money similar establishment for the
accommodation OF men could also be opened
through the eXertlons OF the mission several
houses, though many OF the old crowded ones sti
remain, they being too profitable TO be done away
with any sooner than necessary The landlords are
m haaF nf Enl