The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-08-24

BEHIND THE SCENSS-h hEhh VIEW Vt
WHAT We LIVE Init is difficult 10 lind
grsnder sight among the works of the fallen
seed OF Adam than the back side or house,
NO matter what house. 1t may be the gor-
geous mansion of blear-eyed and bloated
bondholder, or the humble cottage OF some
poor laborer, still the same appearance, In
creasing and diminishing according to the
nature Of the structure. is there. Both seem
to have that in their general makeup which
is patent to attract the attention of dog
from his bone. Pass up any OF our interest
ing alleys and note as you hurry by the d.
lapidation and confusion which is attendant
upon the rear portion of every dwelling
upon the line OF march. For length, breadth,
depth, and general solidly OF shlftle>snesS
and neglect, the back yards of our city
houses are perfect models. Some OF the win
dows in tee upper stories have panes Knocked
out, and Others appear to need the same
thing. being adorned with the Web-Wovcn
homes of indolent spiders, and perhaps COW
cred with the dust and grit OF the wind
swept streets. Rickety blinds, halt-fastened
on, may be seen here aud there dangling
from their places, never disturbed from week
to week save by the dashing and heating
force of the elements.
The first floor is bordered on the exterior
bv meanIv.constructed porch, and on this
little platform is crowded much OF the rub
Dish and ott-scourings of the place, thrown in
confusion, to remain there month following
month, an annoyance 10 nelghbors, who are
doing the very same thing on the opposite
side of the alley, but at the same time COM
planning Of the neglect and shlttlessDess of
the residents over the way. Houses whose
fronts are models of neatness and beauty
oftentimes display rear which is neither re.
spectacle nor wholesome. We have seen
back.yards, where cats refused to fight,
owing to the uncertainty OF the ground
upon which they stood. A cats foot
bold in hand-io-hand struggle counts
greatly in the result of the fight, and no cat
of respectable ancestry and training will
allow herself to fight in u back yard where she
hasn't room to get on her own back while her
antagonist is springing at her without smash
ing holes in her person on the rough edges
of broken fruit cans, demolished furGlture,
and unemployed Wheelbarrows. They had
rather dispute on shed.roof any time than
run the risk, and what careful beast wouldn't?
There is fine, we might say palatial, resi-
dence standing on New York avenue whose
front exterior is faultleSs:
The face of the building is neat and clearly.
The broad and massive French roof presents
picture of strength and beauty, which moth
ing but view of the back portion of the
structure can destroy. Fountains playing in
the pleasant park through which one passes
in reaching the marble steps which lead to
the front entrance, heseeak for the place ele-
gance, wealth, aud artistic taste. A sight at
the back yard Of these premises will reverse
kl... 49, 1,ot ,tnf- u
pletely that fora few moments you won't be
willing to trust your own mind. Itappears at
the first glance like a neglected junk-shop out
Unemployment. Everything is in the utmost
confusion. That which might, by proper care
and attention, be made delightful spot, re.
sembes china shop with an angry bull in
side having upset everything in reach be-
cause the proprietor won't come down from
the top shelf and wait on him. Old chairs.
broken erocke1y, pieces of carpet, half-un.
hinged blinds, slops, dead and dying vines,
shabby porches, Cilapidated fence, spider.
webs in rrofnsion, and several more hanging
from the cornices and stretching across to the
next roof in search OF fly meat.
All this is but an outline of the rubbish
which lies scattered about that yard, thrust
ing its dlugy and unhealthful presence be-
meath the back window OF dozen homes
which overlook the place. But at the same
time the inhabitants of these same homes
have no moral right to complain. for by in-.
spection they were found in nearly the same
condition, making that a dismal, darksome,
disease-breeding hole, which otherwise
might have been place of pleasant resort
and wholesome in all its conditions. A re-
form in the system now generally employed
in carrying on back yards is greatly needed,
both for its sanitary results and the magnetic
and moral Influence it will have on cat
fights WdskinqtoR RepubIcaa