The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-10-21
PARAGRAPHS Or POVERTY.

PARAGRAPHS OF POVERTY
The yard Is reached by driving under o covered
way leading beneath the extension to the stone
house facing the road. The keeper, f. q. Hall. has
been passed the road for he has just set out for
Warrensburg Application at the "ofice"-in which
preparations for preserving berries OF some kind for
the keepers family is in progress-procures guide
about the place in the person of a wretched little
cripple named Willie Eastman. He has been eleven
years in the establishment, and, although he has at
tanned the age Of twenty he Is not more than
yard high. He conducted me to the second story OF
the stone structure. and. after another. we en-
tered the typical rooms which i have before de-
scribed ut Jacksonville and Schoharie. The air was
sitting in many instances. no regard whatsoever being
paid to ventilation.
In one room young woman was found feeding
very old man with spoon. He was furnished
corncd beef cabbage. and IL is only just to say
that the meat sweet and wholesome. / am dis
posed to be rather satisfied than otherwise with the
appearance of the rooms in the main building. al
though there are numberless details that might be
bcttercd. At least they good compared with
what are later. detect steep stairway lead
ing up to the attic and although my guide threatens
to leave me push right up. 1t leads to close
entry which gives access to an apartment where are
accommodations for seven or eight persons. Tho
most Objectionable feature is the door, which opens
in such way that in Of rush, such. for in
stance. would occur II the premises were on fire.
all means of exit would be choked up.
We descended into the basement OF the stone
building Here was the kitchen, and 1t seemed
crease and mud were smeared over V everything en-,
countered, even to the clothes Of the occupants. 1
am told that six or seven old women sleep nightly
in this kitchen, in some room adjoining to which
could not find a means Of access. The tables on
which the meals we're served and the rusty tin
pans In which thoy dolcd out were shown me,
but they have destroyed my appetite for days to
come. II proposed to show me the broad-but
mol knew that trick by heart.
WOMEN CHILDREN.
Now follows the really sad features or tho place,
and glad to say that some efforts making to
effect an improvement. At present, however, the
apartments in which tho old women are housed are
disaraceful. AS the diagram indicates, long frame
shed In Joined to the stone structure. The part
uearest the main building liz used for u woodhouso
and tho loft between the ceiling and roof Is occupied
by about sixteen women and several children. The
women are mostly very old. but few girls young in
years and misery there. Three children were
found In the room at the extreme end of tho loft
infant aud the two others bright Intelligent
little things who came up bravey to have their tiny
hands shaken by the visitor In this foul atmos-
disease were found these two bright speci-
mems of thoughtless childhood, unsuspicous of
anything better to whom happiness
unknown. Sick and hungry though they looked,
they laughed and cried like the Joyous children
OF our New York homes. How they deserved to be
pited! How wondered that there were not to be
found IN Warren county childless hoarths TO which
such charming babies would come angels OF Joy.
l recalled the tale of "Sias Mariner. Weaver OF Rave
loe" and doubted II the young maidens and old
OF the Adirondack hills had pondcred the moral
It contains. While the children prattling to
me- dotc crones by their side oering at them /;
an old woman was cirsing ana grooming; and a
blear eyed GIRL evidently Of most erratic habits
laughing and telling vulgar stories. In the centre OF
this strange group stood these two chiidren-strai-
woman In all Warren county to pity or to rescue
them! Not toy on tho floor; not u story or pic
ture book--no home, past or future.
TIE PAUPFR FUNERAL.
My driver was the undertaKer's assistant--the
Jehu Oh the village hearse. He was susceptible to