Connecticut western news., 1874-08-21
THE FIVE POINTS,
A Pest Hole i'm a Great City--Poverty il
 the Midst of Wealth.

A Pest Hole i'm a Great City--Poverty in the Midst of Wealth.
 Enter the region of destitution and filth, the Five Points, says the New York Sun, by whatever way you choose, the approach is over mounds of putres- cence, and through fetid atmosphere rendered doubly, trebly noxious at this season by the terrible heat. The re- porter went in by Baxter street, taking the lower side, because the sun had passed the meridian and was slowly westing, and the dirty sidewalk was partly in the shadow of the dirtier buildings that lined it. From every doorway, whether opening into subter- ranean dive as dark as the cave of Tro- phonius, or into room on the ground floor, hardly less dark, there came forth 8 sickening stench which did not need the aid of the suns heat to make it deadly. From one issued blast so foul, so heavy laden with the noisome odors generated in an underground eel lar, fed by the unclean breath of half a dozen dirt encrusted and besotted loungers on the rickety steps, and sea. sonod for it's work of death by the stale aroma exhaled from 8 heap of de- caying rags and leather ornamenting the space at the foot of the stairway, that when tho incautious wayfarer came within the poisoned current he was we'll nigh prostrated. The roadway, broken at every two paces into ragged pits half filled with oozy, slimy, masses of garbage, and covered with reeking heaps of refuse which only want of room had forced the denizens of Baxter street to cast out of their tenements, sent forth responsive volumes of almost visible odor, and the atmosphere was saturated. Fortunately little breeze was blowing, and the heavily tainted air was frightened, little by little, of the disease e-breathing particles that bur- dened it, and after fashion suffering humanity on Baxter street had chance to breathe.
 Five Points does not properly in- clude the whole of Baxter street, but as without Baxter street there could,not we'll be any Five Points, the whole length of that short thoroughfare should be studied by the stranger, tion of what the classic region was 8 few years ago, before the advance of civilization had begun to blunt the edge of it's savagery, and afterward to destroy the bloom of its barbarian. From it's rise at Chatham street towhere it comes to an unexpected ending at Worth street, Baxter is nothing but a line of dirt, margined on both sides with large and small buildings, the abodes of un- cleanliness. On one side the curiosity seeker, unless repelled by the constant ly arising stench, might find much to s,o4o 1,sx af secondhand clothing as he will there continent except perhaps in South street, Philadelphia.
 But the secondhand boots and shoes should also be seen, and perhaps the best time to see them to advantage is when the sun is working his way around toward the dinner hour. Then they be sure, and with soles frayed at the edges but they present sight of great variety. Those ranged in rows on boxes and steps, some with buttons, some with strings, some with leathern thongs, might pass for the foot cover. ings of Falstaffs army. They are of all sizes and shapes. One shoe which the reporter asked permission to meas. ure, is thirteen and three-quarter inches long, and across the ball of the big toe four inches and half wide. The sole is nearly an inch thick, and the heels of the pair would serve as excellent quoits at long range. Another pair is like pair of scows, such as drive the water up into Newtown creek in the busy season. They will fit only man whose foot was made in a brick mould, but will last him forever. Goats of the oldest cut hang in long rows in the doorways of the Baxter street clothing stores; pants in fashion and color utterly unlike any seen since the cross ing of the Red sea by the Israelites, when, as was well-known to the old painters, all the Egyptians wore trous. CTS but amid the multifarious styles the visitor will remark one peculiarity that attaches to nearly every pair ei brooches within his purview in Baxter street-that they are all most extrava gantly spring -bottomed. This is evi. dence of the fact that the old clo' mer respect the sesthetic sentiment of the community, and strive by 8 liberal out lay of cloth to keep alive in the hearts of the youth of their neighborhood that spirit of pride in dress which forbids the young man of poverty to lag ont inch behind his more favored brother in adorning himself, or in any way tt ignore the behests of fashion.
 Then the tenement houses on botl sides of Baxter street are studies. Here are people of many different nationai ties, living, many of them, in a way tt shame the beasts of the field. Herr nearly all the newly imported Italians congregate, and scores of Chinese, ant here and there an almond-eyed Japan eze, with sad smile on his tawny face Here is also to be found the newsboys Thespian hall-the we'll "Grant Duke Theatre"-an underground tenn pie of the muses boasting no light, les
 cleanliness, little comfort, but troup
 of performers of supereminent talent Said the reporters guide, @ youngste
 of fourteen, whose life has been passed ) in and about the region known as tn Five Points.
 Here," said the boy as the pal !; neared the rear of the Five Points Mis- sion; here's de way to Donovan Court" He pointed to narrow ale. leading into large court, from whicl loomed up tenement house we'll know in the annals of the police:
 "H How many people live there ? asked the reporter. .'
 ."Guess dere muss be over hun
 dred, Dere's lots in dere, ' said Jim
 mic. "Some is Irish, an 8 good man.
 of lem is Eyetalians. De Eyetalians j pretty good quite people when dey ain | troubled. Dere's always row in Dono l vans court, because de people vii , spree.''
 The court has two entrances, on ] from Baxter street and one from Pearl , It lies directly in the rear. of the Fiv Points Mission House, and has for ] long time borne bad reputation. :, nos+ of ,5;Sra,,ItoLla characters IT. 1pa