The New York herald., 1874-07-20
THE SICK CHILDREN.
A Journey Through the, Tenements
Of the Uppe-. Wards.
Inc POOR Praying for the Floating
Hospital.

few gentlemen recently made tour OF In
spection through manv OF the tenements In the
upper wards OF the city, both on the East ana
North River sides. The writer accompanied the
party and Is enabled to give feeble description OF
some OF the scenes OF destitutlon and suffering
they witnessed.
starting on the East River, in the district known
10 lame as Mackereville, they began Dy climbing
to the fourth story OF wretched human hive In
"hicn were imprisoned thirteen families IN
twehty-iour rooms. The hallway, stairs and land-
ihgs were swarming with half-clothed and half
wasned children Doors were open on every hand,
evidently to catch the currents Of air that strug-
gied through the passages. Through these DOOR
ways were Visiole domestic scenes Of the most
Varied character, ana OF nature that in better
abodes would be carefully screened from any pro-
fame glance. From the dozen cooking stoves
came at least two dozen different odors arree-
able enough some of them when inhaled singy,
but forming disgusting potpousrl Of smells
when offered in complex mixture.
In several Of these rooms sick children were
seen lying IN chairs, on lounges vr extended upon
pillows, bed quilts, or an old coat or shawl upon
the floor. AS the visit was intended for O speciaN
case" the toilsOme ascent to the top floor was
sights and stenches.
"Does Mrs. B. live on this foor'P asked the
first gentleman of the party as he succeeded In,
scaling the last flight OF narrow stairs.
"Yis sir. In the 'front.'" was the reply Of q
rheumatic female who had bobbled to the door at
the sound of the strange footsteps
Approaching the door indicated by the woman's
finger low Knock was given, in response TO
which the door was opened by slight girlish wO-
man, who In pleasant voice and with an apollo
getic gesture bade her visitor enter.
The room would doubtless be described by
AN ORDERLY FEMALE
as 'itteredn but the articles OF furniture were 80
few in number that The most promlscuous arrange
ment Of them would have appeared the result Of
mathematical calculation to masculine eyes.
The eyes OF the visitors did not, however long
rest on the inanimate objects in the small close
room, but wandered 20 the window, under which
was lying little baby girl, with bright naxen hair
and great gray eyes, over which the lids were
wearily dropping. The hectic flush OF fever was
upon her cheeks, and her forehead white as mar
Bile, was covered with drops Of perspirataon
wrung by her agony from her weakness. Her eyes
wandered the faces of her visitors with an air Of
mute inquiry that warred with her nagging inter-
est in the afars of life. Her pretty curling lips
seemed to search for air and as II strug-
Cling to inhale IT, She was, all in all,
so pretty picture, and so winsome In her
sunerngs that 1t was no wonder the
party stood Tor long time IN the centre OF tne
the mother recalled them to themselves and
directed their attention to another quarter ACROSS
the rOOm In an angle OF the wall there lay, drawn
up on an old coat with q dress rolled up under
his head for pillow, a little lad who must have
Bu months ns Of sckDess aa stolen al
color from his face, which was snrunken and cling
ing TO the bOny framework OF the skull. His eyes
had lost the hight Of lie in it's steady blaze, and
gave forth now only the feeble chickering's OF the
name within. He paid no attention to the visitors
a
tired look from time to time. When the party
looked at the young mother again her head was
turned away. She was weeping. well filled
basket had been lett at the door, with
copy Of the HERALD peeping forth, which which
hospital had been broadly marked. AS the mother
bent over the basket into which her tears dropped
opening paragraph OF the article in question.
When she turned to us again there was grand,
said, oh SO eagerly :-"May accept this as an open
Invitation from al! these kind gentlemen and la:
Then her eyeds dropped, and shadow stole over
the face where the light had Just been glow:
So while we renamed, hope and gladness fought
with the dismay and terror that had hitherto held
undivided sway in the poor child WOman's heart.
ONE OF THE VISITORS WAS A PHYSICIAN,
who made careful examination OF both the chill
ana ne a n 1 n
cursion OF the Guhd barge. Away up among the
shsnties Of the slaughter house quarter on the
North River poor, tumble-down rookery was en-
tered, where there were only two wen ones In .
family Of seven consisting OF an aged couple and
their five grandchildren. The old man was Feeble
and the crone sat nodding and droning BY the
open window 1t was sne who told US their
simple story OF poverty and sorrow. The father Of
these children was killed by fragment from
blast while engaged IN tunneihng. His head was
was brought home the wife was in childbed, and
the shock, poor woman killed her.
"Since then," said the wthered grandam,
"we've not had day but Of sickness In the mouse,
nor days luck. FIRST one OF the childther was
down i'll and then another. IL was dipthayrea and
measles 1rsv ana now its q low fever, and the
youngest the little chick OF baby, beyant s lyin
wid the cholera iniantum. Glory be to God, l
don't know what we'd do at all, at all Its only the
kindness OF the neighbor as poor almost az our
selves, sure, that gives US bit to eat day ather
day and Saturday nights sinds IN q lew pennies,
from one an another, to buy few lemons ana
o bit OF ice wid, for thin that Ia sick there" A
careful examination OF the little sufferers, the
youngest lying three IN bed. stretched cross
wise the other two sitting BY their grandam's
sce, their hands ciutching the ruDgs OF her chair
showed what disease could do. even against
youth and robust health, when IL had oOntagiOn
and the atmosphere OF the shamDes for It's breath.
After anOrding these poor creatures relief the
party came back to theis starting point through
the lower end or Central PARK, and It occurred to
the writer that were half the pains taken to insure
the thrift and health OF some OF the human DomRs
who crawl about the slums Of New YORK that is ex-
pended In training and pruning these stripping
Trees childhood would presage something else
than the moral def0rmtty OF thieves and street
girls, aud the full grown man and woman would
has itself blame for the snared and ugly natures
we find around us, and when We devote to the cul-
ture Of the little mites OF vagab0nd humanity
about US the same eYOrt to beautify and adorn
tnat the landscape gardener makes, AZ grand re-
suits may be expected
In the meantime the barge b being got in readi-
ness.