The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-23
FROM WEALTH TO POVERTY.
IN OLD DUBLIN MERCHANTS DEATH
IN A NEW York TENEMENT.


AWO ibtiho WI AiO klbulll lboI VI lIt IfuI
building Mt 20 Prince street were hired n month
ago for 81 per week from tho andady Mrs
Brady. by an old man who has for years ped
died from door to door prayer books. beads
crucifxes. and pictures. Tho gentle manners
and superior intelligence Of the old man. and
his roticcnce on subjects connected with his
personal history made him marx Of curiosity
wherever ho was accustomed to call with his
wares. That he had ut one time been in good
circumstances was apparent from his de-
meanor, and no seemed to grow prouder and
moro retlcent and sensitive the poorer he be-
came. The rooms that hc rented in Prince street
had for furniture only n bureau out OF use.
It was Mrs. Brady's. When Mr. Kclly-that was
the old pcdder's namo-brought his brother
William. who was about fvo years older than
himsoli. to the rooms. no took possession with
only the two woll-worn valscs in which he car
ricd about his merchandise They seemed TO
be clothed ms warmly as was necessary but they
had neither stove. bed. nor bedding. chairs. ta-
bic. nor any other furniture. William was fco-
bic and could not work His brother went out
peddling in the morning and returned at night
Neither would speak to any OF their many neigh
bors IN the samo house unless first spoken to.
Then they replied in language singularly choice.
but In u way that made the first speaker keep at
n distance After Mrs. Brady had received her
first dollar from the peddlcr the remainder Ot
the rent, rs It became due was not offered her.
She said nothing. but Mr.. Kelly. meeting her.
would voluntarily promise to have IL in u few
days. Deceived by tho proud bearing OF her
tenants she did not suspect their need until
| the second weeks payment was not forthcom-
| ing. Then she offered TO the old men a coal
stove that had been standing in the yard. II
coal. She also gave them bcdstead but they
had nothing 70 put on u,,! " week ago tho
| seen for many days some raped at the door,
| but were not admitted, Mrs Brady learned
sSG % @ She TeG sGdSS 70 pePsuaSs Sps him TO lot N WSS
BE- taken 70 hospital. iii / did" no replied.
II would never sec him alive again" Mrs;
| neglect. but the old man only shook his head
and said '' The Lord will provide, On Tues
day morning he t9ld Mrs; Brady that his
As Mrs Brady opened Mr.. Kclly's door for n
Sun reporter Yesterday Mr. Kelly got up from
| Goals were burning. A coat spread before tho
hearth was his couch and an empty cracker box
face. and his gray eyes had an apathetic. hope
less look in them. lie wanted nothing to be
he quietly insisted All that he could offer for a
seat was drawer pulled from the bureau and
Kelly a. he talked stirred the fcebly burning
| Goals with crooked wire. Hc insisted that the
visitor should not take on his hat because
there were so many draughts in the room. The
| body Of the dead man was stretched on tho floor
In the adjoining room. dressed in the clothes
worn during sickness. An old. ragged coat
bit Of burning candle While Mr. Kelly was
telling his story somc young mon entered tho
door unasked. and stood with hats on and
hands IN their pockets to listen curiously TO
ing while they listened and was silent until
they wont out, one by one Then he said. with
the slightest flash in his eyes and indignation
| In his voice: They came in TO hear my story.
but | wouldn't let them know that was inspir-
ing you" MIR Kelly said that he and William i9r-
in white and rod lr tarreed hemp. an, other ex-
ports from Norway and sweden. Ho made q
300 on "A Transaction. William was among tho
| first shipowncrs ~ Dublin. The nrm consisted
| ~ two partners. William was the senior mem
ber, and transacted tho wholesale business OF
the firm while the Junior member was IN an
other part Of the city engaged IN retailing The
nrm imported lumber largely ani mo retail
yard was supplied from the larger yards super
Intended by William. The cartmen. IN making
up loads - transport from one yard 20 inc
other tumbled the lumber about and selccicd
the choicest lots for the retail business VIII
liam objected. and the junior partner would not
yield: So the partners resorted To- litigation The
L. buy ninety Irish acres OF land five M les from
Dublin. The land was fertile and he prospered
The brothers hnd clung together during the
legal contest. What belonged 20 ono belonged
the farm. William had wife and slX children.
The story was broken here by Mr. Kelly hunt
ing among "a bundle Of pOcketwOrn legal do.u-
mrnis for "A pictured group Of tho family Not
finding 4. he said q! must have been IN one ql
while looking through tho clothes on the dead
man, he was looking at the ni,ture and KISS
ing Il Tor two weeks pnsL Ihe photograph
was fOudd. In II William was a strong. middle.
aged man. with a face full ot intelligence and
character. On his knee he held a little girl not
old enough 10 walk. while sitting 10y his side
we're his wife and nye other. children
Resumlng the history; Mr.; Kelly said that while
on the farm he with William. joined mutual
benefit association. The Treasurer WAS their
friend. or supposed 10 be. and being pinched
for sum Of money one DAY tney G proi1r1hd ,r ha
defaulter, and tho association demanded pay
ment. They had not the money and promised
IL, William met a friend n few days aftcrward
and was told that "A Sherins auction sale was
advertised 10 be held at Williams house that
knew Of any legal proceeding against them
They found on Inquiry that the matter haG
been in court ana 'Pat 9y ratiHnenary M eN ~
jeaously guarded that judgment TO recover
money belonging TO them may oe swiftly OBJ
tanned. The sale took place; everything wen
nt n sacrihcc-horses, cattle, iurnlture-ano
flOO more than the judgment called for wer'
, taken In by the Sheriff. Thenceiorward mis-
fortune followed the brothers. Little by little
their property slipped away william TOOK hl'
family to Quebec. Canada intending to begin
life over again among shipping men. amonl
wathods Of business there we're different from
| those in Dublin; he had lost his business apti
tude and he changed abOu, from place 10 place
, His wife bought sewing machine and Learned
heavy and her strength failed. Her two boys
. were placed in u dry goods store as cash boys
} | This was after the family had moved TO Mon
ago William wrote to Now York, whittier his
| brother nti come from Duulln, St9luk llW ~
. knew that work could not be ms difficult TO ge
1 | In this city IA in Montreal. He was cniTeatet
q not to come but he was determined. In hii
3 | pocket when he arrived were only tl3. He ha(
chronic bronchitis. and could not work In eN
o posed plnccs but he found that he could get NJ
. work whatever. His brother cheoriully support
/ ed him by his peddling. Then William was takei
y sick and was in the Farmers Hotel Tor lonl
r time. They grew poorer in purse ana llnally thel
r went into the cold rooms in 20 Prince street
One cold night Williams feet were irQzen. Ill
@ found his way to the Medical College In Twenty
Il sixth street, opposite bellevue Hospital hn'
i asked a young physician there 10 pIoperl
= bandagc his feet and put something healing OF
o them. Tho physician refused Then tho o.
r man returned to his cold room never to leave
z alive Walking in his stockings on the bar
. floor he took cold Then he suffered from a.
ague and fever His bronchitis caused hlt
acute suffering. Proper caro- would have cure
d him. his brother believes. On Monday Nigh
Mir Kelly WIS startled from dOze by n shriel
II The sick man had thrown himself upon tn
door where he lay motoness, Mr., Kelly ha
10 goto neghloring room for match Whe
he returned and lighted the stumpot candle 7
found that William was dcad. As Mr.. hrll
finished his story II German woman win
d kindly face opened the door poeped in, an
then showed plate with good dinner IN I
g replied as she asked him II he had knlt
~ " Don't say anything want to do whnt can