The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-11-30
RICHMOND C0UNTY'S POOR.
MRS. LOWELL'S LOOK TSTO THE INNS
HOUSE FOLLOWED UT.
How the Ninety--even Inmates ~ the snstitu-
uon are Housed and Fed, and W hat They
any-M Mrs. " cf orurctS'a Acknov ic dgnient.

tton Housed and Fed, and W hat They
say-Mrs. NoCormnch'- Acknow icdGment.
A sun reporter on Monday visited the
ioorhousc Oh Staten lslan.l Of the condition
Of which complaint was made recently by Mrs.
Catharinc shaw lowell one of the state Charity
Commissioners. Tho pcorhousc is a 'wo-and-
n half story building Of gray stone. situated ON
n lonely road. about three miles from Port Rich
mond. The reporter first inspected the hos
pitnl. which il smull wooden structure. about
100 feet in front OF the poorhousc Ii contained
five inmates. one Of whom lay on 4 mattress
placed on the floor. The foreman explained
that the patient fell out of bed 30 often that this
precaution had to be taken. and pointed out the
empty iron frame 60 which the mattress be-
longcd. An aged man. stricken with palsy. who
was seated. was pointed out as another patient
who was given II low mattress for the same rca-
son. The bed clothing. in appearance. was
clean and neat. The room. however. was close.
and the floor was Uttered with bundles Of cloth
ing and household utensils. Unpleasant look
ing phias were exposed To view On u shell, and
the general appearance WIS disOrtlrrly. II not
absolutely unclcanly. In view OF the class ~
patients. one of whom. the occupant Of the floor
mattress. ~ drlirious most Of the time. the con-
fusion seemed somewhat cNcusrblc.
From the hospital the reporter assembled to
the attic story Of the poorhousc proper. where
in room heated to AN almost insult rthlc de-
PROC Nv "A lnrtc stove wore four or nve aged
dinner hour. and two were eating icchly. a. VI
without relish. from deep pewter pilates. what
sewing old RAGS together and n fourth formed
y fantastic figure with her enormous urban
Ike might 4iu. which nodded over her mead ~
She lay IND bed. The floor and woO!"Ik OF the
room were ~ clean ~ scruhbing could mako
them, and the walls were freshly whitcwnshcd.
An adjoining room md several children Tor its
inmates. one of them small baby. visible
silns of dinner weri here also predominant.
I'll" third room visited Oh the second story. al
Inn lttT A.
the smoke oi bad tobacco which enlnn1t"d from
N" pipe OF nm old woman rurled in a corner.
Here. again. fresh Wht,w and signs OF re-
cent sHtuhhing wer" to bee seen.
Tn first ury VS. devoted to mon. who occu-
the hall. On the walls, over the dozen or more
cots IN each. hung different articles NJ wearing
apparel In one room two or three old men
were diligently sewing on ragged garments. As
many more were smoking. and one rcndlng n
newspaper. An nhlr-hodicd boy Of 30 wus
standing lisiles~ly, ~ If time hung heavy on his
the old men snid. The Moor was clean. and the
walls were without a stain. The bedding seemed
In thr basement. which is dimly lighted by
small prison kc windows. is the dining room
painted blue. unhappy ,oukihs men am w'ur'n
w"r" seated eating out oil pewter basins boiled
were noating Adjoining the dining room is
the kitchen. which coniuins large ovens for
baking hrrad. with ull the modern improve
The reporter nnnlly visited the public wash
! room Whose hatnins tubs hay" lnt"ly boon
/ painted blue. ana which Is provided with hot
IN. poorhotsc nj present contains % in
/ mates Tho minority 81 whom ar, men. A "A
| rule they seem comparatively satisfied with
! their accommodate ana apparently rons'd'
! or ia" institution hs comfortable as poor
Mrs MrCurmark. the matron acknowledged
. tn" reporter ti!" rr'-.n 'r 81 ins' t. IN per
SUBJECTS of Mr.. Lnweil- complaint. hut -he de-
! lar 'd that they originated III ia" walls OF the