The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-10-12
The "Slaughters" and Their
Ultimate End.
PURSUED BY FATE.
Where the Paupers Live and How
They Are Buried.
JUSTICE AGAINST MERCY.
ScHoHARIE Counr HOUSE. N. Y,
1870

Schoharie IL an old and. believe, an eminently
proper town. It is not large. to be sure. but it
boasts of several vol built streets aud the usual
complement Of churches. hotels and stores. 1t Ia
very quiet at Schoharie; but quiet. we are told.
fosters meditation and charity, 1t is out of the
line Of commerce. but it requires little of the
outside world that it can afford to struggle with
civilization alone, Surrounded as it is by highly
cultivated and productive agricultural region. it
has its own market for large part Of the produce
of tho soil, and exchange becomes merely
o matter Of local barter. 1t has its
lawyer and, doubtless, its representative law
makers As IL is so we'll supplied with churches
1t is only reasonable to infer that it is equally well
provided with minister's Moderate reproach it
doubtless feels for wicked communities like Now
York. where. as the newspapers and then in
form Its people, the poor and the outcast often die
of hunger and cold. 1t is snug little village and
claims Immunity from those unpleasanr accidents
which drag to the light the miseries Of mankind.
Its people are no more uncharitable but probably
even above the average OF the small communities
that dot the map of our great Christian land.
In addition to all these good things 1t has it's
county almshouse modest building. which. viewed
from distance. seems in perfect keeping with the
most conservative ideas of the place. visited it to-
day, and win tell YOU exactly what saw, and how
saw it,
THE HAPPY VALLEY
Schoharie nestes In a valley, along the hanks of
The creek from which it takes its feeder to
Tho Mohawk. Tho valley Is not moro than q milo In
width and either side the hills rise rapidly.
upon the other. until they almost achieve the dig
nifty of mountains, 1t is happy valley, be-
cause every dweler therein is satisfied with
himself. The road to tho almshouse crosses
the creek by covered wooden bridge and dsshing
boldly up the hillside until it attains elevation of
about two hundred feet. skirts tho rugged heights
for three miles. 1t is only called three miles from
the village to the almshouse. but fear the
tented, well-to-do people Of tho county's capital
travel the road 30 seldom that they have forgotten
Its length. At any rate 1t required nearly an hour
with good horse to cover the ground--so steep
the ascents and decents and ROCKY the road.
After all. the ride is . pretty one. for
below to the left lies the Schoharie valley. ut
this season Of the year charming ar
rangement in rcd ana green as the eye gathers the
buckwheat fields and meadow land into one vast
landscape. And there is water in the picture Also
tor the bright little crock has broadened considera
bly,. Looking for q reason for this-for streams
not naturally larger we ascend them-we discover
. big red mill, and near 1t dam. A long expanse
Of foam 10 soen below the cascade. and tons Of
white pebbles showing brightly among the dark
brown loan.
ON THE GROUND.
A sharp bend in the road brings the object of our
search in full view. 1t two story brick structure.
probably ono hundred and fifty feet in length.
"headed up the southern end by short ell the
gable of which breaks tho otherwise parallel lines
OF the building. The front. looking valleyw IL
colored light gray tint but the ends and back of
the structure remain rod a. the brick composing
them. Economy has begun aiready-and decep-
tion The roof is OF tin. painted brown; but great
ghastly belt Of metal bsects 1t from the
trough to the peak, and the rain and sunshine flor
Nature believes in harmony are fast tanning away
the Wilderness. Tho rust of time is at work on the
roof; and graveyard in o small apple orchard
the left shows that 1t has been like
wise cutting deep among poor and unpticd
humanity. There are some lambs reposing
upon and bsside the sunken graves but they
are not the sacred and beautiful embems in marble
which are seen in the cemeteries of those whom the
world loves. for near by. the ewes grazing. and
rs wo approach they gather their aock together and
withdraw to tho fence that securely enclosed
tho sacred place. Not maidstone with name upon
tits to be seen. not trace of the graves occupant
left. However sad aud touching tho stories there
buried no human hand can fix the identity Of the
character In tho tale Perhaps II is well to place
the potter's Field at the gateway to the pau
pcr's dwelling place. Shrewd overseors OF the poor
IN time gone by may have reasoned that the moral
effect would be wholesome. The conner who
how tho dead are treated realizes at a glance
what the living have to expect Then. IL he have
courage. he will drown or hang himself. and the
overburdened taxpayer viii DO proportionateiy re-
lievod.
sH AM RECEIVED.
Pulling up tho horse ut tho door. inquired IL
Mr Qs,ickoruaao fho vaa AZ
ing affirmative reply got out of tho buggy.
Tho director of the county farm made his
appearance. He was a rather preposscssing man.
past tho middle of life. who suffered from
q seriou2 impcdment in his speech. He
u once insisted that the horse should be put in tho
barn and that should make myself ut home" just
sif such thing werc possible. TO these suggcs-
lions willingly assonted, telling him frankly that l
should insist ON paying for having the horse fod.
My host conducted to tho front door OF his part
OF the house. and, having entered the hall. was
ushercd into room that appeared to be parlor, sit
ting aud bed room. Indeed. ] Immediately discov-
cred that there were only two rooms on that hoor IN
the keepers wing; Me offered on me ,o,l cna,r S
the cook regarding the "boilcd dinner" soon
seated himself noar me- must say !
he had not been no thoroughly hospitabe. saw in
smomont. however, that his curiosity was aroused.
md 30 determined to estop any unpleasant ques-
lions.
"what kind of place wouli Schoharie be for
young lawyer--a young just starting out In lifo
like myself?" asked, point blank.
The shot found its mark. His PRIDE was gratinod
and. to satisfy his curiosity he imagined himself
facts regarding his visitors career than week
OF questioning could have elected. lilo settled 1t
forever that thoro was likely be o now lawyer in
Schoharie and that he had been one of the rst men
In the county to be advised with. lie gave me an
estimate OF the ability aud income Of the lawyers In
The entire valley very nattering to Them and con-
cluded by saying that II were doctor he could ad-
wise me.
Hum" he said, at last. "IIave you gonc into
partnership with anybody in the villagcgS
mo, air"
"IIavo You regularly practisod tho profcsslonY'
"No, sir'-and Tor a moment wondered whether
could keep from lau Ching II lie asked me If had
been admitted to the Bar, and told him mo
But he did not ask, and hastened to change the
subject
SENTIMENT AND FACTS.
"The Wow from your windows IL quite pretty"
asserted.
''Yes indeed" was the reioinder; "a heap OF good
scenery ~ wasted about here"