The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-22
SUNDAY AMONG THE POOR.

ST. JOHNS GUILD AND ITS woRK-THE SICK
AND STARVING.
The church bells were tolling for the morning
service yesterday, when the writer, in company
with well known. physician, crossed Canal
street and entered the poorest portion OF the
Eighth ward. Crowds OF besotted whites and
lazy-looking blacks were gathered upon the street
corners and disposed in knots about the door.
ways. The buildings seemed more grim and
gloomy aud the dirt upon their walls forced Itself
more into notice than seemed to be the case on
week days. All about upon the snow-cOvered
pavement and the frozen cutters were gathered
little heaps OF garbage and cinders that had been,
time and again, picked over. In a wooden build
Ing IN Grand street, IN an attic approached by
several flights Of rlcketv and unclean stairs, q
sick woman and child were sought
THIS STORY OF THEIR TERRIBLE CONDITION
had been carried to st. Johns Guild, and an effort
was being made to afford them relief "An Eng.
hshman is the husband" said the lady who had
found them, land the wife Is OF irish birth; she
came from Dublin" They mad been discovered lit
orally clothed In rags The husband, with wounced
limbs-manged while engaged In plastng-was
stretched on two chairs near the hreless stove.
The mother in a corner, was found with q tat
tered covering to shield her from the cold, and
the meresu mite of an infant was whining eebly
ct her breast. No food, not even a crust OF cad,
was found in the house, and no member OF the
family had eaten anything lor hours They were
not, however, the only sufferers in the attic. A
widow with two little girls, her children. had crept
into the place for snelter At rare intervals this
latter woman found some thing to do IN the o1ices
q few blocks away.
THIS WAS WHAT THE LADY HAD SEEN AND HEARD.
When the writer and the physician entered the
narrow doorway OF the attic their eyes at en-.
countered a spectacle OF misery. Close against
the opposite wall. III the light OF the dOrmer win.
dow that pierced the roof, with mead bent over an
infant she held in her arms, was croucned an
elderly woman. She barely looked up ut the
guests who had entered ar her invitation and then
fell again 10 kissing the babe, croning over It and
rocking 1t in her arms to still It's low, whining cry
A few broken and unciean dishes were gathered
in a pile upon q dilapidated table, four shattered
chairs were ranged about the bare and discolored
walls from when the plaster was broken in great
seams. and the hearth OF the stove was piled high
was anywhere visible. In dark garnet ad joining,
place where one could not stand erect, there
were VISIBLE, through the open doorway, three
figures. they were each and aillmperSonatlOnS OF
wRETCHEDNESS AND POVERTY.
man was standing at the urthest end OF this
garrett In the track OF ray OF light which pierced
the gloom and darkness and ieli upon the floor.
He was hall clothed and wounded. His pantaloons
were hanging about him in tatters, and the sleeve
OF his shirt was torn open from the shoulder
down. He had no coat or hat, and his unKempt
his chest. gave him wild ana iormldaole asp p
His loot was crippled, and every movement caused
MN intense pain Deeper IN tue shadow bed
was visible. IT was almost level win the floor,
and at It's iurthest extremity upon background
OF rags one could discern the pale Iace OF woman,
lying, and the figure OF a child standing erect and
cilnglng to the framework OF the bed.
THAT PALE FACE WOULD HAUNT ONE
for many a day. A helpless, dying creature lay
stricken there upon the pallet, ana 1t was her IN.
faht unnursed and pining away that was held In
Tue arms Sa OF ae cro@Sng Rgrre cronnR ana
without. Dr.. Brush, the physician OF ST. johns
Guild, who accompanied the writer, advanced to
examine the mother ana infant and the writer
approached the latter and gazed upon Its ema-
clated lace and, skeleton figure. Its little head
was almost wedge.snaped. and its eyes were red
and swollen. 1t did not seem that 1t could nve
many hours, suffering, as 1t did, the most Intense
pain. A cup OF milk was from time to time placed
to It's lips, and it would sip eagerly lor moment
and then slcken. The Doctor came to ITS side say
ing the mother was very low, out might recover
on light but nutritious diet, and tdat she must
not attempt to give nourl shment TO the infant
from her breast or 1t would die.
HAVE YOU EATEN ANYTHING TODAY"
said the Doctor TO the woman VINO held the child.
mo, sir" said she I'VE have had nothing in the
teraay. save little milk III the cup beyond that
we begged Tor the child" The ply stefan gave the
woman a lengthy prescription and then ordered
the man to accompany MN with q. basket from
the house. The man caught up the basket eagerly
and followed down the narrow staircase. First
visit was made To the butchers next door, where
nearly dollars worth OF heel was quickly trans
1erred RON the stall to the basket; next to the
Rreengrocer's in the cellar a lew doors distant,
where a good supply OIL the various kinds of vege-
tables to be found there was secured. Then the
man was helped TO the door OF his home.
THERE SAID THE DOCTOR,
'thqt Is what that family needed. With food
can save them, without 1t l would be powerless.
some KIND heart sent q few dollars to the Guild
Tor this poor family and Dy eXpendlng for proper
iood Can prop them up and bring them back to
health ana e.n TINS is the beginning OF the new
dlspensatiou In medlcne.
few blocks away IN another garnet II tie
cripple was iouno. Upon knocking ut the door
leepe piping voice called ''come ill.," and the WIS.,
itor entered without delay. A poor, suffering
mite OF humanity lay coled up on piece Of rag
carpet looking up through the dirty window panes
to the sky. His paid hgnted up
with "a smile and he extended MS hand
1eeUly to the doctor "Mother has gone
out to see If she get fifty cents rom lady Tor
wnOm she Washes SAID the cripple, land thiuK
she won't get H. he added, a cloud sweeping
over his face. 'she has been gone so long,
what would you nike ~ SAID the Doctor.
an orange" salG the DOy, wlstIuly.
Gwen try ana get tnat Tor YOU" said the
Doctor pattlng the crlpple's head, land Wen be
back soon." SO out again ran the physician, and
at the nearest fruit stand he purchased half q
dozen oranges. On the way back ne bought some
tea, sugar, bread ana butter and at the butchers
nice steak and he carried them in his arms TO
the poor lonely child IN the garnet.
Surely loOd Is better than physic for these faint
weary bodies, ana the medical practice OF the
Guild physicians is worthy OF imitation In treating
the poor.
VITO