The New York herald., 1877-01-14
PICTURES OF POVERTY.

AMONG THE BAXTER STREET TENEMENT
HousEs-cAszs OF DEsrIruTIoN- EFFORTS
or THE ST. JOHNS GUILD.
Il has been well said that onchalf the world knows
not now the other half lives, and 1t might be added
how 1t Ian guishes and-dies Between tho Fifth ave.
nue. mansion aud the Baxter street tenement there s
but slight kinship. Their concerns run differently
aud the OF the Baxter street tenement aro
the greater OF the The large theoretical charity
OF the many does not reach thcm the curtaicd and
limited efforts OF lew earnest people bring them
solace aud assuagemcnt There grim, des.
porae battles fought against confronting poyerty that
one seldom hears of and "breastng the blows OF cir.
umstance'' is not unknown heroism OF many
thresholds where gaunt destituti0n stands sentinel
day spent with OF tho visiting agents Of char.
liable institution would be likely TO bring homo these
prvpositionst to any observer.
THROUGH DESTITUTE HoMgs
Yesterday HERALD representative accompanied one
OF these gentlemen on his mission and cases
where ''he shocks Of doom" must indeed have been
felt The first place visited tenement house in
Worth street, very far from large and mars
Of There were some bad cases 0! des.itu-
ton within It's walls In instance the head OF the
family had been sailor, but was stricken down
by illness. He had known some rough weather. and
his ship had tossed fierce gales, but he was
prosraed by iniammatory rheumatism, and his
had 10 look TO the maintc OF the household
difficult TASK enough 1t was There SIX children
the only thirteen years OF age, and then by reg
uar gradatons down to the youngest child, which
was only year old The effort 10 rise superior 10
fale was apparent Nearly everything had been
sacrificed, but the endeavor 10 MAINTAIN
cleanliness and decency and seli-rcspect ap-
pearcd TO have been unrcmi.tng and persis-
tent. The children were clcanly looking aud
healthy, but the stove OF the trail tenement held
slen der fire indeed and pllo OF pawn tickets
counted for the furnishing OF that humble home
stead In the next The infinitely worse.
1t was small angular with hardly any light and
with ireless in tho centre heap OF rags in
corner answered tor bedding aud bedcothus three
ragged children told the tale that their mother out
quest OF something wherewth TO live. The and
who have wspt over Little Joc's' death might wen
drop tear over tins harder fate OF living
SOME DISTRESSING CASES.
large tenement house In Mulberry contained
many oi dire distress and want In ono instance
there was solitary woman IN miserable apartment.
The stove held no fire, the edstead was empty and
ana ague had parayzcd the weak occupant OF the
place. She to,sering toward the grave; but the
slight comfort. Close by widow, with Two children,
sat before miserable lire. She was III with diphthe-
her gratitude ior the relief afforded her.
In another apartment IA mere euphemsm To
ased man sat crouchns over stove IN which fire.
had been recently lighted. The stove had becn
stranger 10 nre Tor long time. but the chness OF
The misery had ut all bcen dssipaed Tor ton
of coa had been delivered that morning. The old man
knew not his bcneiactor, but his benson lacked
nothing OF sincerity IN consequence A partner in bis
trouble ngsd woman. whose chief trouble
the want OF some scani bod clothing und there was be-
sides niece whose leg had been broken and who in
consequence burden instead OF support 10 the
Impoverished household.
SUNSHINE THROUGH THE CLOUDS
And so on. throughout the whole range Of destitu-
ton. There degrees IN IT, but Ia all cases 1t was
keen, bitter aud oppressive These were not cases OF
1iaurU hrnn nVh 4 nh m
trary II lor the part the absolute lack of
ployment that had paraiyzcd the humble economy OF
such homes In various ways too, were these shocks
inGly; others with brave resolves and present en-
deavors. Scrupulous cleanliness was the rule IN
many OF these wretchet tcnementA The floor
scrubbed almost perfect whtcness, the little orna
ments on the chimney piece and the cheap prints or
wood cuts on the walls tod OF natural
aesthetic taste which tho ''clcnched antagon-
ISM OF distress could not altogether van
quish. Nor were many OF them without some
streak OF sunshine IN their desolaion. Where tho
sangunc Irish temperament had an abiding place II
flashed and again In spite OF all lets and him
ORANGES, and the kindly hospitabc zeal OF that portion
the worlds family superior TO the terrible dis
which bore hard against It. Tue broken chair,
pro1erod with inherent courtesy and kndliness tho
apple rendered from the basket which had been dis
played the street corner valnly-hcse and other
little marks Of consideration showed that there Is
certain natural genuity which survives even when
poverty holds sway. Among these poor people, 1t
may he added the benevolent minstratl0ns OF ST.
Johns Guild are well appreciated.
FULTON MARKET SOUP KITCHEN.
At the Fulton Market Kitchen In basement cor
Of Front upd Bcckman Streets tho number Of the
poor daily fed 500 The supplies furnished
by the Fulton Market people, who contribute from
tne business belonging to each. Men, women and
children the recipients OF this charity as many
tho supplies VI stock the applicants for
soup continue 20 Increase IN numbcrx