The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-21
PICTURES OF POVERTY.

SCENES AT 81. JOHNS GUILD AND In THE
HOMES OF THE POOR.
The HERALD's readers are familiar with the
noble mission of charity performed by the vOlun-
HERALD often has occasion to mention, and always
with respect and honor. In summer as well as
winter this unsectarian and liberal society has
won our sympathies; at one time by its floating
hospital for the sick children OF the poor; at an
other by its efforts TO carry food and fuel into the
homes of the famishing workmen at time when
nearly all our Industries are in some manner
paralyzed and our tenements are filled with
unwilling claimants Of charity. ST. Johns
Guild respects the people IL feeds, know
ing that the great mass OF them are
hard working and useful citizens who, strive as
they may, cannot realize any considerable credit
at the bank, and do fairly well to keep their large
families comfortable IN prosperous times. TO pre-
vent these Iamnes from breaking to pieces and
falling prey to evil influences and their own
necessities; to preserve all the Industrial forces
that radiate from these poor mems homes; to
avoid the danger Of almshouses and prisons alb
sorbing useful lives and valuable labor such ia the
true mission OF ST. Johns Guild. But beyond these
the depths Of the mine to which No. So Varlck
street IS the opening, and upon which It sheds
Sns rom and Se
lures In the darkness. What will
our readers say OF this group nlumined by the
filckerng light or candle IN the hands OF o
chance passer-bya In dark cellar in Franklin
street, Ia place INFESTED by rats, DR.. Brush. one
OF the tireess physicians OF the Guild, saw this
scene. man stretched on q few boards in the
corner Of nosOms mole rseang with ,1e ed
No windows A talow candle. dripping grease
over the hand and sleeve Of the physician, the
paralyzed. little distance away woman
found lying on pallet Of rags, and IN the wom-
four O'Clock in the morning, discovered by the
doctor at four IN the afternoon The woman,
twelve hours without nurse or attention and many
more hours without food or fire.
Yet an angel had passed through this cellar and
LEFT ner footprints on It's hltny aoor-an angel
angels are represented by the artists to wear:
cast from the stuff OF which herones ana angels
are made. Hearing q. noise In the neighboring
cellar, which mad awakened her after midnight
the old do not sleep soundly just before SUNRISE
she had listened attentively. When she heard
h ro ene RI ae
She CROPPED her way IN the darkness to
her neighpor's side. She tore the skirt Of her
She stood patiently at the bedside. and in
the darkness as a nurse. BY and oy she mad occa-
street and she must nave felt that the morning
was bitter cold. she certainly noticed that II was
growing quite IlDnt anu OI ner Oully
avOcatiOn ana the crust OF bread dependent upon
her success Success did not always attend this
woman aged and inirm. She went shiverlng
back into the cellar. Then what did she do she
CROPPED her way to the pallet where mother and
baby were lying. She knelt down and iondled
them, her tears dropping on the mothers face.
Who can tell what dreams and memories
OF days gone Dy were ntting through
her brain2 She iumbled about her dress
for moment and then stood erect. A
moment after she took the child In her arms and
almost instantly returned 1t to It's mother
wrapped In q warm covering. About TO face the
bitter blast OF the morning this venerable rag
picker mad removed her only pettlcoat from under
her torn dress to wrap up the little waif God had
sent into this cellar.
This same physician two days ago set the ankle
of woman OF seventy, who had broken her leg
there in crossing the street. The woman lived
with her grandchild, little boy, and all they had
In the world TO eat were q few frozen
potatoes which the boy found In Q
garbage barrel. These they baked. two
as time and only whan they were very hungry.
at neighbours fire. They had no ire nor means
to make one Of their own. Yet This woman had
sent her hearts blood, her boy, her protector,
support and hero to the war, and had wept and
mOaned and refused to be cOmlOrted when his
true heart and his stout arm lay puseless and
stllled on The wet field OF Shiloh. And to-day,
almost In the shadow OF the nag ne fell IN carry
ing, the aged mother, tortured by pain, shiverlng
with cold, first found relief IN ST.. J0nn's Guild,
nom the necessity OF making her daily dinner
OF frozen potato.