Connecticut western news., 1875-04-16
AT THE POORHOUSE

Experiences of a Chicago Reporter Who
 Spent Three Days as a Vagrant in the
 POOrhouse. .-.8 5' .aaizG. 2l GIaG58 Ii -eA
 Grouped in ldoorways and about the yard of the county house, as we came up, were various human figures, whose slender forms denoted the preyings of misfortune and want, and whose gar ments huttered about in ribbons of tat ters. They had crept out of their tene- ments to witness the daily arrival of the s' bus, !" the sole link connecting them with the world It was very cold. The air was laden with forebodings of snow. Attempting to rise, in order to get out of the wagon, I found my limbs stifened with cold, so that I could scarcely stand unsupported, I assisted, the :. driver, however, in letting the very vel ,t5l old woman down from the wagon, after after which, [, too, dismounted. My three male com rades were shiveringiy standing near, in readiness for further instructions. The driver said nothing to us, but continued unloading the wagon of its stock of groceries. Under the pressure of cir cumstances I thought myself justified in addressing the driver. Accordingly, I stepped forward and said very humbly
 '" If you please, sir, where are we to go 9'' I'll a' ."--- ,.-'. 4.,A |
 If he had allowed his better feelings to predominate for only that one time, and had been humane enough to give me the oesired information, l. could have for given all his previous brlltaities. |, But he did not. He never yollchsafed to re- ply or even to lift his head. And I think that was hard, considering that we thinly- clad wretches were needlessly shivering there in the cold. Finally a bystander said to me in 8 low tone that "the ole man would be around direct ly, and would show us where to go. In fact, after moment, 's the ole man ap- peared. His actions denoted that he was in authority, and yet his. appearance was mean. I was considerably puzzled to understand what his position at the poorhouse was, and I afterward learned that he was one of detestable class known as boss paBpers.1 He approached lelsurely, and, after staring at us con- seeutiyely from head to foot, removed a pipe from his mouth, and said :sanlL
 thYou come with me. ":lGa b@eB a
 Now when | first saw this man was favorably impressed with his appearance. His outward look was that of respect able, quiet, elderly gentleman in reduced circumstances. Besides, I was naturally pleased with him, for he came to me in the role of a savior, to guide my weak and benumbed limbs into haven of warmth. But that stare with which he greeted us was so stony, and yet so contemptuous, that I began to change my mind. We: started along at his bid ding, single file, in the direction of one of the large tenement buildings, but we had scarcely taken dozen steps when the old man who led us stopped. He deliberately turned around, and, without any explanation, stood gazing" at the driver of the wagon, who was still en- gagged ln unloading. Now this old man knew that we four shivering wfetches were suffering from cold and exposure. And yet he deliberately kept US waiting there in the snow for nearly ten minutes, while he did nothing but look .unconcern- edlly st the wagon, apparently entirely obHv1Ous of our existence. am con vinced that he did this from pure and unadulterated malice, merely to exhibit his authority. JToJ those readers who are sitting by their comfortable firesides, and who have never been exposed in their garments to three hours jolting over a rough road on a bitter cold day, this may appear trifing matter. Doubtless 1t was not an indictable crime. But to us, for the time being, it was a serious thing. It was cruel and wan ton aggravation of our suffering; and yet it was only one of series of petty tyrannies to which I, with the hundreds of other paupers, were constantly sub- iected. . .4 -., -,t
 Finally, after having given us ample proof of our subjection, the old man knocked the ashes out of his pipe and leis- urely proceeded. We tailed after him. and, entering large two-story frame building, found ourselves in the midst of pauperdom. It was a large. long, low room where we were, each side be. ing lined thickly with cots, leaving 2 passage down the middle about ten feet in width. At the foot of certain beds were little wooden benches, upon which ill various attitudes, were seated the in. mates. Some were also lounging upoI | the beds, while still others were stroll l ing up and down the room or clustering about the stove. 4.s-.u.lta. .srT 5e.1s
 Without exception, they were tattered
 wretched, and Gstless. There was very little conversation, although our arriva
 was doubtless the only new topic afford ed by the day. Some of them looked curiously at us, but very many did no
 lift their eyes from the floor. Our guide conducted us to the, far extremity of the room, where he was joined by a shaggy | headed old chan with ar, 11nnof11ro