The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-09
ACCIDENTAL POVERTY.


Standing on the corner OF Twentieth street and
Fifth avenue, not far from a fashionable church
and a fashionable club house. last saturday even
ang about ten O'Clock. shlvered and shook, like an
aspen leaf with the cold, Young man, 1aint with
hunger, hopeless, friendess. homeless yet not
even yet heartbroken. He was clad, If such term
can be used in such a connection, IN the thinnest
sort OF light summer coat buttoned around his
ragged shirt and chest without vest, in pair Of
light summer pantaloons, dirty and torn, and a
pair or boots which were not mates, one being
high boot and the other gairer, and both being
too large for his feet, and both being alike
ragged, one out at the side, the other out at the
toes. A foul filthy and disreputable looking felt
hat completed his toilet Of misery. Such as he
was, he shivered and shook Tor several moments,
vanly soliciting mercy and charity from the COM
paratively few passers by Finally he was APP
preached by representative of the HERALD, who
CHANGED to be in the vicinity and to this individual
he unbosomed himsef-what there was left OF him
TO unbosom-and revealed narrative Of possible
and actual suffering, which, common az such mar
ratives are, was peculiar in its representing with
terrible adequacy certain type of human misery
now quite often to be met with among the acct
dental poor.
OUT OF WORK.
His name Theodore StOuiman, and he
claimed to be OF respectable parentage, from St.
Louis, where he had a married sister living. He
had been early thrown on his own resources, and
had come to New York ten years ago for employ
ment. For year or more he had worked at an
umbrella factory in Hester street His wages were
ten dollars q week, and he generally made from
three to six dollars additional by time" This
overtime or extra money he always made II a
rule to save living only on his regular
salary. Finally the umbrella factory in which
he was employed changed owners, removed to
Elm street. and several rollers and cutters, among
whom he was one, were discharged, though he at
the same time received satisfactory character
rom his late employers, docume mt which was
shown TO the HERALD representative. Not losing
heart, Theodore Stoniman, taking his mother 8
maiden name, not wishing to be known in his time
OF comparative trouble by those who had known
him In his time OF comparative prosperity, obtained
place an opener OF oysters at No. 1888 Sixth
avenue, and subsequently as fish dealers boy at
No. 252 Sixth avenue; but finally there was no
more work for him to do at these places and he was
LETT altogether without work.
OUT OF MONEY.
He stu had $50 OF the money he had saved in his
possession, and on this money he lived as best he
could. paying 81 week for his room on Grand
street and eating two meals day at twenty-five
cents for the two, treating himself, he said, to an
extra nVe cents on q SUNDAY, and allowing himself
twenty-five cents week Tor fare, gust to save
his Doots"-his only pair-wearing one shirt and
two collars and one handkerchief and one pair OF
stockings week, to save washing me only had
three shirts, five collars, three handkerchieis and
two pairs OF stockings in the world, and spending
about thirty cents a week for newspapers to
read the advertisements for help In them,
and to spend the days and part Of the nights in
answering them-in vain. At this rate of SIS
week for all his expenses-board, lodging wash
ing, Car fare, newspapers, &c.-ais money only
lasted him about three months-from October to
January OF the present year. Then he, utterly
pennless, applied to his cousin. porter at a
Broadway hotel, who gave him $40. This lasted
him till about the first or the present month,
when, utterly unable to procure work, though he
sought Tor it day after day week alter week. month
afrer month, with un1agging perseverance, with
out ten cents in the world, without any chance OF
assistance from frienCs or relatives ct beng in
vain TO apply TO his connections IN St Louis even
had he been so disposed) The honest, INDUSTRIOUS
frugal, patient. persevering Theodore Stoniman
was turned out OF his lodging in Grand street into
the streets, his landlady Keeping everything save
what he carried on his back for the Two weeks
rent he owed her.
OUT ON THE STREETS ALL NIGHT.
For three days and three nights-from Tuesday
morning to Friday noon-he wandered up
and down the streets OF this great city with
out food, save some crackers and cheese he
had contrved TO pick up In barroom
here and there and dish OF cold
meat and potatoes kindly old market
woman had given him on Thursday. He suffered
terribly from the cold especially at nights, as his
drawers were only Of thin muslin, and as, before
remarked, he had no vest; could he sleep
more than few minutes at time for he had no.
where TO go at night. He could not as yet bear
the idea Of the station houses. He had no room.
No one would shelter HIM, taking him. naturally
enough, for tramp, and thief perhaps, WHILE
Il he lay down, footsore and weary some door
step or hid In some aleyway policeman would
find him and tell him TO move on or go to the sta
ton house.
Finally be tramped along more dead than alive
60 that place-amost as dreadful as the grave it.
SELF TO the despairing and honest poOrthe station
house, and asked, with tears OF shame in his eyes,
for nights lodging. He applied at an uptown
precinct station house and, ioolishly enough--not
wishing TO say that he had nome or habitation
at all--he gave his location as In Hester street,
where he had formerly worked. Then go to your
own station house, near Hester street, where you
belong" said the oficer In charge SO the rest Of
that night. Friday. he paced the cold, hard streets
OF this city OF hundred thousand houses, home.
less
The next night, Saturday, he applied 20 mis- own
station house and was told to 90 to the dodgers,
room, ana he went there but ''when saw what
At was and who were in { I'VE use his own words)
Icoudn't stand it. made up my mind Would
rather DIE In the Streets" And so from that time
poor Theodore stoniman, whatever else ne did.
roubled the station houses more. sunday
nignt he slept In a cart near the East River.
sHELTERLEss IN THE STORM.
4opday plRht he walked the streets ALL thronGb