, 1874-02-22

becoming oTexpoweripg, tho attendant bel
the Light over big head and sald: "Loo
around" The sight from this spot WIS Ik
| nothing SO much AZ the startling Of q nest O
| rats IN the docks, or in soms warehouse collar
| In every direction dusky forms could be scei
! ciamoering up the framework, or in the act Q
disroblng, half reclining, or in some other 1tti
| tude Of preparation Tor the night.
| The a1de bunks, which arc built like the sec
tions in misunderstanding, except that they arc
Of unplaned timber and plank, are made about
Beven feet in width aud probably eight feet high
lower and upper, In size they are about u feet
by 7. and stand closely side by side.
how many sleep in one Of those bunks 2
asked the reporter.
''Twelyo or thirtoen! How do they got in p
"Why they sleep With their heads next to tue
wall"
"Do they7 Then they circle all around tho
toom."
ayes. One mans elbow touches tho next
"And on the floor Z"
"Ycs, on the door the same way"
"And no Window open, No light, no air the
same smell, the same heat, the same nose7''
t. Just tho same.'
in here?'
j" Yes; and that Is not al. For the rooms
swarm with vermin. The cots and bed-clothing
are literally alive with them. We cannot keep
the men clean, And wo cannot drive the Parasites
Away unless they are clean. It is hopeless
task. It will always result from tho crowdlng 80
many together. We have had moro in here.
There are now only about AGO."
For Heavens sake let us get out; this stencil
IL unbearable."
THE EARLY MORNING.
It was resolution firmly takeu, however, that
no personal discomfort should deter him from
seeing this plt1fnl aud shameful scene at its
worst, and the reporter accordingly repaired to
the quarters again at o'clock in the morning,
this time being alone. Ascending tho staircase
as the grey morning light was beginning to APP
pear, he opened tho door and stopped inside Tho
inmates, with two or throe exceptions, were
buried in deep slumoer. The deep, sonorous
breathing and the unquiet starts Of the slccpers
were plainly audible. The horrible odor OF tho
human poison WAS intensified hundred fold by
the ncc1etions Of the night. and it was almost
more than could be borne to endure it. It
seemed, indeed, fit place to realize the dream
OF Dante or to repicture the Courts Of He'll. But
one step, surely, inservened. Here were uen in
their lowest ea1thly estate, the wrecks
OF men. hopeiesa either for pity OF grace, come
to despair and to shane, and only clinging to
life from dumb instinct, or q horrible fear, and
finally, their hpgers yielding their clutch aud
falling, falling ahl who knows where Dos
pernte. indeed, must DO thu life that would en-
dure this condition for hfes sake, and j" that
undiscovered country from whose bourne no
traveller returns," aud which no sin-1aden man
vorse than this. With such, and kindred redcc-
tions. ths hour that inte1yaoed between the wax
ing Of tho paapers was passed in and around tue
building.
BREAKrAsr.
ATT o'clock the bell was rung for breakfast
THIS meal 10 is served in the basement Of tho
building. Ihero are three rows Of tzblea made
Of rough boar18, with wooden benches for seats,
extending the whole length Of tue room. Near
the centre il furrace upon which large IRON
t. Irsy1 g. f-I "a r
this substance, composed Of burnt bread peas,
and chickory il thrown, thus producing the CON-
pound called coffee, which costs tho county l6
cents pound. There IL rule which requires it
to be bought in tho berry, but thia Is ignored by
the Commissioners. l. hunk Of bread ID then cut
to, and spoonful Of syrup, schich has been con-
denaned BY the Board Of LedAh, tho ysgrant is
prov1ued with his repast. He needs no spoon or
knife to eat it With, there is nothing to str
which costs nominaily % cents pound, but
really is, ia made up and served to him. But one
cannot always be sick and havo these delightful
condiments. In order to accommodate the 750
guests a1l tho tables set I've times and loaded
down with the ln1urics spoken OF. Dinner con-
sists OF soup and the soup-meat with turnipa
Potatoes AIa not furnished. as theY cost too
r2uch. Only two meals per day are given.
THE HOSPITAL.
The little wooden building in which the sick
ed to. It contains at the present time ITO pa
tients. of whom halt arc women. II is divided
into two wards, and in these some OF the noet
terrible forms Of dlaease known to aHlict tho
human family may be seen. There is no value
or interest attaching to description OF any OF
these, but that the stricken inmates are horded
together without any sanitary accommodations
in = building that is no protection against the
cold weather, and with no shield against person.
al infection, having only ono bnth-tub for tho
whole number, argues either that "pity haa ded
to british beasts" or that tho people OF Chicago
hnd tho rich County Of Cook have long suffered
an outrage to exist because they knew it not
Some nay claim that the able-bodiod poor should
find means to live, but none surely will demand
that q human being crushed under affection
should lie by the roadside and die like dog.
In conclusion, to oblige d human being to live |
in such place as tho County Poor-House and
him premium to become criminal. There is
no Jail or pridon-peu in the country that can
compare with it in iudecency, filth, disease |
breeding qualities, or in depriying life Of every
Incentive to reform, industry, and purity. Once |
becoming IN inmate, tho pepper must feel that |
forever after his hand is against his fellow and
nothing he can do, or man can do in return, will |
,urpaas tho horror that be experienced when he /
-ecame the object Of charity in this place,
where
Hope never come4
That comes to ALL
That innocent men aud women. unfortunate
persons who have seen better days and have !
nothing but kindness in their hearts, or are |
perhaps, too weak to cope with the world, and |
would crawl away into some corner and live the |
.esidue OF their lives; or that old people, like |
hundreds that are to be at this place, ,Bhou1d
awe to submit to such an 1udignity and ehane
Is il put upon them is enough to make them |
urn with horror from the human rice, lift up |
heir voices, curse God, and die.
Tho pooI-House has ever been rank aud
neglected weed in the garden Of life. There are
Tot wanting hearts to commisarate the condition !
Il the poverty-stricken, but there are few who
,isis them, or do not turn away in disgust at ths
light Of the abject and wo-begone wretch.
inadequate preparation made for them in this
apid growth of this city from vlllage to d me-
ropolis, should result, ia not, therefore, 80
ecs notice, and ths- natural 1epugnAuce
t tho mind to contemplate depravity and
Fretchednees is an universal trait There is
title doubt that our poor have been thus for |
often. stony-hearted sud grinding men, who
AYE seen in their condition only nnnanli-
ess, or despair, for which they could account
n no hypothesis but that Of laziness, have used !
heir places and power to 50 coin their blood into
There are evidences Of this most
human of speculatipns al over the