The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1872-12-26

children land at Castle Garden. As the
parents never hear from them again, they
do not know whether they are doing we'll
or not.
HOMES IN NEW YORK.
After passing through Castle Garden,
they are at once transferred to Baxter,
Crosby, Thompson, Elm, Elizabeth, and
Park sts., where their life of slavery be-
gins in earnest. A Tribune reporter yes
terday made tour through their dreary
lodging houses. Nos 35, As, Al, and 56
Crosby St, Nos 72 and II Thompson ST.,
aud several tcuements in Elizabeth ST.,
between Broome and Spring sts., were
visited A complete description of No
45 Crosby ST. aud Of the great tenement
in the rear is here Introduced.
The building which bears the mum Der
is an old fashioned brick house which at
one time was painted white. Ascending
a flight Of stone steps the reporter enter
ed dirty hall way leading to a porch at
the rear.
A stairway at one side Of the hall gave
access to the secoud story and attic,
whence two gaunt, unshaven men, wrap
ped in coaks, descended. suspiciously iu.
spectng the reporter at every step. The
porch at the rear of the building looked
out upon a small court, and beyond a
high board fence a tall tentement. appar.
emily teemiug with life, rose to such a
hight as absolutely to shut out what little
sun light would have punctured through
the murky atmospere.
As the reporter stood on the porch re-
garding the building, he noticed through
4 window at his right a very strange
scene. Around the sides of a small room
in the front building. children to the
number Of abuot twenty were ranged, and
in the center of this circle was an old
hag. crouched upon her knees.
She was engaged in strange course OF
instruction, which she was giving to the
dirty faced boys aud girls. AS each was
called, he or she stepped up to the wo
uan, and received something-perhaps a
penDy-which was at once returned
The right hand was always employed by
the children, and their manner was both
attentive and respectful.
One luckless urchin, of perhaps years
did not perform the tedious lesson pro
perly, for as the gift was returned he re
ceived from the woman a stout blow OF
the ear. The boy did not appear to be
even surprised. Another child was call
ed up to the hag and the game, or lesson
in begging, or whatever it may have been
was proceeding again, when the centra
figure of this strange group discovered
the visitor, and, instantly rising, came tC
the window, and frowned upon him 81
savagely that he at once returned through
the hall to the street.
Determined, however, to 60 through
the large tenement, the visitor entered ;
low corridor which runs between tht
buildings No. 40 aud No. AZ Crosby st
and after wading through filth and mud
dy water reached the open court 10 the
rear. Here he met children who ap
preached and rubbed against him.
From every room proceeded the dis
cordant sounds of violins in childish
hands. The building was only 25 fee
in depth, and there were four rooms OF
each floor. In this house resides Nichol
la Negro. In the FIRST room on the left
10 by II, were quartered man, wife aud
several children. Ascending to the Sc
cond floor by slippery stairway, which
was almost spiral, the visitor saw schoo
of young musicians in trout room
teacher was playing sadly out OF time
upon black violin, and several urchins
| furnished with the same instrument, were
yainly trying to follow him. The dis
cord was something to be speedily forgot
teu. The hall ways were full of children
and as the visitor climbed to the mex
floor he again encountered the music o.
tuneiess harps and cracked yio!lns