, 1875-03-14
Novel Theories of the Author.
tiles in Regard to
the Sick,
Instances Of Criminal Neg
Iect and Abuse.
AViit to the Potter Field--0orpses
and Cord-Wood.
An Unavailing Effort at Es-
cape, and Final Sue
cess.
PROLOGUE.
CQQK COUNTY CHARITY.

cooK COUNTY CHARITY.
Sweet chArityI In 4 eartain book, which
como men read and all Christendom sueazs BY.
the assertion is made that it ia moro blessed to
rive than to receive. And to this Thomas Aqui n
mas gives 1ia rspturous approval, adding that +'
benevolent man is above all others wise udRood-'
In tho light OF these statements with what rov-
ersnce does one reflect upon the inenabla viii
dom and blessedness Of those ofdc;a1 luminaziea
rho constitute thu Board Of Commissioners Of
Cook County! They aro tho greatest almoners
in this neighporhood; for do they not set spazt
many thousenda OF dollars each year fol
tho support OF the Poor aad audaring7
It is trus that tho money thus appropriated
is taxon from the pockets Of tho ta1-payerH- Il
II true that the honorable members Of the Board
DO not squander their hazd-eatned private Tor
tunes for the sake Of charity. It ia true that
they even draw salaries for the discharges
Of their onerous duties a. committeeman.
Such drawbacks a these, however, ART
triaing. The grand fact looms up IL tht
mind that tho Board OF Commissioners are pub
lie nlmooers, distributing OF their abundance ia
the needy and disabled, without reference to ags
or SEX
OF course it is not to be expected that thesa
gentlemen can pursue their noble career without
being subjected to SANDER and abuse There
are cap:ioua aod quibbling individuals Who Will
find fault with everything. Even
:: TIE MAHAoEa&ENr OF TIE PooR-uousx
is liable to be criticised There are, doubtless.
ungrateful paupers in that institution Who are
ready to make complaints aud decry the quality
Of tho food which IL furnished them Then,
seain, there may be paupers who,
they have latent spark at iudepend-
euce left in their wretched souls, might
object to being knocked down and kicked for
simply begging little tobacco from IN Official
But then the opinions OF apauper are unim-
po1tant. Tho Board Of Commissioners, or sven
its Committee on Public Cha1itiea, hare nothing
70 DO with little anaira like that Tho official
might have been little hEsty in thus treat-
ing ono Of the inmates; and II, by
any startling combination Of chances, neHs Ct
his iodizcretion should come to the ears Of tho
Board, the Board would doubtless refer tho mst-
tor to the Committee On Public Charities, who
in time might communicate With the Warden OK
tho Poor-House, uho might iDi5.entalIy mention
it to his aaaistsnt, who might iougly refor to it
some afte1noon vhilo clinking beer-glasses in a
Jefferson saloon with the official, merely ia
accent their JOINT hilazity-
Occasionally complaints Of M-treatment uks
above will creep out, and many find their way
into \ Newspaper ofice. Such has been tho
csse late1y. Various rumors have existed in 70
gard to the bad management Of the Poor-House.
and it was thought that they weza worthy of in
vestigstion.
BUT HOW INVESTIGATED
It is PLAIN enough that formal visit to the fnati
tuition would be os no avail, since It Is for The
manifest interest Of the authorities that then
misrulo enoud not be exposed Such q
rtit would be - barren o1
results as Is tbs regular aurux'
.iai of the Board Of Commissioners. There VA
ono method II getting {. some OF tho true facts
and that method was for representative Of Ii.
press to di.guiss himself IN rags, and gain I'd
| mittanee to tho Poor-Houeo II IN inmate. Such
oou1se WAS pursued A TRIBUNE reporter beeam,
| for tho tin1o being ! psuper.-ate, drank, AMI
slept among paupe1s- His experience Is he1e
| with narrated It only remains to p1efaee thu