Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1876-02-04


PROPERTY-A FLORAL WEDDING-THE
END OF AN ACTOR-DEFALCATIO
BUSINESS.
New YORK, Feb. /, 1876.
THE WOES OF THE POOR
Why do not the poor of New York get
on better? Why is it that a man on a
salary of SIS week cannot support his
very comfortable subsistence in country
town. 1t would support him and leave
him something over to lay up for rainy
day. True it would, but in New York il
is the merest nothing--it means starvation
which is not even genteel. Why is it
The answer is easy enough. The poor
artisan or laborer on SIS a week might
live on it and save money. if he could get
what he lives on at any decent price-but
he don't. If 1fpotatUes are worth, we will
say, S1.O0 bushel, by the bushel, what do
you suppose the laborer pays for them
He can't buy bushel at once, for his little
Sl5 won't go far enough. He has to pay
81 for rent of his rooms, which is nearly
half of his income, for place for him to
live and sleep, leaving him IS week for
food and clothing. This would answer if
he could only buy his food in such quanti-
ties, and at such places as food can be pro-
cured at reasonable prices. But he cannot
do this, for he has not money enough. A
barrel of potatoes costs, we will say, S3. 80,
should he buy barrel he would have
nothing left for other articles of food So
he buys halfpeck Of potatoes, for which he
pays forty cents, or at the rate of So. 80 a
bushel, instead of about dollar. His coal
would cost him only about Sc a ton, if he
could buy ton, but he can't ; he can buy a
bushel, though, just enough TO last him q
day or two, and for that the dealer makes
hun pay al or 80 cents, and when he has
to get 4 peck instead Of bushel, the ex-
tortion is still more.
And as it is with his coal and potatoes,
so it is with everything. He never has
money enough 70 buy any thing in quantity
he lives from hand to mouth. and is con.
sequently, compelled to pay four prices for
everything. 1t is a decent fortune to have
retail store in poor neighborhoOd, for
the profits made from poor people are i'm
mense. And as there is no credit given.
the trade is sure. There is no such thing
as getting up in the world for a laboring
man in New York, unless streak of luck
comes. This season has been exceptionally
hard, for labor has been scarce and wages
correspondingly low. How they live at all
is more than can understand.
AN INCIDENT.
The lives of the poor are hard enough,
but they are sometimes followed by so
miserable death that it appears the crown
ing mockery of a relentless destiny. Who
realizes the pitifulness of the short and
simple annals of the poor? Short and
simple Long and bitter rather. for the
hours Of toll are thrice as long as those OF
ease, and life weighs heavier as it drags its
years along. One of those sad cases which
often happen was told last night at a happy
tea table by city physician. a poor
woman who had oeen a servant, went to a
doctor for help when far gone in consump-
ton. He gave her medicine and told her
to come again the next day. She came
with the rest of his poor patients, but
while waiting was ken with hemorrhage,
and died in the hall. The doctor knew
nothing of her but her name, rot even her
family or where she lived, and the police.
man sent for to take charge of the remains
decided, with the astuteness of his class,
that it was a case for the coroner, and the
body must be left where it lay, untouched,
till the next day. There the poor CHASTITY
blood-stained creature lay in the rigor of
death, one would think not the object for a
pleasant home. Think Of 1t The corpse
lost TO recognition, the woman's friends, if
she had any, unconscious of her fate, she
lying an unwelcome and hOrrld spectacle,
the very spectre of poverty thrust upon the
kindness and comfort of wel-tod do house
hold. One cannot torbear sympathy for
the housekeeper whose dining room will
always be haunted by so shocking men,
ory. Aud yet one OF the physicians called
in to see the poor creature, looking at the
corpse, said, with 4 burst of genuine feeling
Poor woman, L can't pity you you are
better off than l am" He was happy and
happy to make such a
speech out of idle feeling. Yet no one who
heard it could doubt he spoke the sincere
telling Of his soul.
SPRING FASHIONS.
With the mild days about the first of
February, the counters show light Cam
brics and wool goods, for prudent people
who take time by the forlOck in matters
of dress. They must do so, for in these
days it takes, by moderate computation.
two weeks for 4 woman working all the
time to make a dress. This is the allow
ance by the most skilful dressmakers, and
It not seldom takes that time to do the
alone. For the comfort of
ladies' who do their own work, l am happy
to say that the old style of dress, with long
plain skirt and waist attached to it, will
De worn the coming spring. Such models
are on display in the windows as leading
styles. The pre- ttiest fabric out, is a fine
check in black and white, crossed by
single bright color, which gives it a fresh
,priDg-like look, while it Is quite modest
enough for the street. AS it comes in soft
wool goods, plain woven, both light and
lura BILE, and very wide, it will be favor
te with ladies, as it is sure to be with men
because it is so bright and pretty.
MONEY ON REAL PROPERTY.
To the man in the western part of New |
Y ork, who wrote to me, asking the address |
)f the old lady told of in these letters, who |
:rled because she didn't know where to |
invest her money, that he might get her to |
end him some money on his farm, l would |
ay, that he could hardly get money on |
'uch a mortgage, if his farm were i'll Cen
raj Park, instead of Chemung. Their
3 more money in the banks and in |
private hands now than ever before since |
he war, and it is harder to get a loan on
he best security. Even town property is /
Ooked on doubtful y, for the prices are 60
ng down so, it is not safe to lend on it.
Values are changing, credit is unstable,
anks are tickle, and the untortunates who
ave money have nothing better to do with
/ than TO hold it, and be glad # they can
eep it safe without getting interest on it.
AFLORAL WEDDING.
If l tell the girls about a wedding that
anne off this week, they will all be dissat-
SIZED if they can't have one just like il.
'ut they will he sure to find fault now If
hey don't hear about ii, so here goes.
he times are not good, and money is not
asy, but their was pet daughter to be
larried, and it was for once in n lifetime
D no expense was spared. On the return
the bridal party from the church, they
,und the sidewalk, steps and hallway
.rewed with flowers, lilies of the valley