The New Orleans Democrat., 1876-08-14
sLEEPuNG ON TIE ROOFS.
where Many seek Rep0se on sultry SUM
mer Nights.

IN. Y. SunI
The climate OF New York during the
hot, dry summers, closely resembles
that of the Holy Land and some at least
of our devices for mitigating our suffer
ings under the heat are not unlike the
ways OF the generations that lived when
the mummies were fresh. The ancient
Hebrews cooled themselves on their
housetops, and at certain seasons lived
there in temporary booths. The Ara
bians. from the Euphrates to Jerusalem,
sought the refreshing coolness OF the
evening breezes on their roofs, and the
Egyptians habitually assembled there;
the Moors worshipped there, with heads
turned toward the setting sun. and with
them the custom OF using. the housetop
as a favored place OF family resort trav-
eled along the African coast, into Spain,
thence to Mexico, and South America.
Perhaps IL even ante-dates, on this con
tinent, the Spanish invasion, and the
extinct race OF Yucatan may have aired
themselves on their lofty roofs when
Uxmal was in its prime.
During the last heated term In this
city the roofs became the place OF re-
fuge from the close foul air OF the mar
row tenement rooms, and many were the
roofs on which slept the entire pOpula-
ton OF one OF these houses, whose num-
bers rival those OF small village, and
on Sunday evening when the sudden
heat again beat down on the city the
roof was again the place OF refuge. On
a tenement house in Canal street, tow
eripg over all others in the neighbor-
hood. eight families slept on Sunday
night. 1--WE have camped up here all
SUMNER" an old man said. About
four weeks ago, when we could not sleep
down stairs, we drew lots as to who
should have the best places; then came
q few cool nights and some gave up their
places. Tonight see all hands bac x
again. You see there are good and bad
places up Lere. just as IN theatre.
| Near the chimney is the poorest place
for the bricks are sometimes warm. we
olive the Young unmarried fellows, what
Amt got no jim jams, the outside births,
near the cornices, where the women
folks are afraid to go. One wants this,
and the other wants that, but we
straiphtened all that long ago. To-
NIGHT every one has fallen into his place
"a good company of soldiers would at
roll call. A week ago forty-nine souls
slept soundly up here.
| On one housetop In Macdougal street
the father had raised a canvas tent over
his mattress, and thereon lay his two
children, smiling at the future, while
|
Walking along the rOofstOf row OIL
ten houses in East Broadway, the scene
was that of as many vast uncovered
dormitories. On one OF them little
wasted child, with the hectic flush OF
death on it's sunken cheeks, rested In its
mothers arms, q victim OF the former
heated term. Around the sorrOwing
group the boarders slept as though
death had not chosen one OF their num-
Der. The father assembled one OF the
narrow stairs with q glass OF water TO
cool the little ones parched lips, It's eyes
closed in death, and the cry OF the grief.
stricken mother broke the stiffness ol
the night.
1.-The hot weather did it," the father
said. while tears streamed down his
cheeks. II knew we should lose her as
soon as we had another spell OF warm
weather. All she wanted was country
air; but we are poor, and ! c0uldn
afford it. even to save my child's life.
"This is the best part Of the house,
said Teuton in Rivington street, and
II the landlord would only stretch an
awning over the roof 1t would be bless
ing to the poor tenants. The women
are afraid OF rain, and though tney
know it will do themselves and the
children good to come up here on
| Iue TOOL, tHoy hCOp 0no
rooms rather than run the risk OF thelI
catching cold up here. During the last
heated term the roof was covered every
night for over three weeks"
II have slept up here every night fol
five weeks" said hearty man On 9
roof in william street, ''and l have
gone to work in the morning as fresh az
il we didn't have any hot weather, while
my companions In the shop looked
tagged out and tired" Eyes" added his
wife, land believe we nave saved the
baby by bringing him up here"
All along the Bowery, through Lit
tie Germany" in Sixth, Seventh, Eighth
and Ninth avenues, and in all the cross
streets where the tenements are, tne
roofs were alive with people on Sunday
night. H
Mr.. Iexell considera himself martyr