The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1883-10-10
TENEMENT HOVE LIFE.
PICTURES or POVERTY AND DEGRA.
DATION IN CROWDED ID SiRICTs.
What n Visit to the Abodcs Of Tho Poor and
Destitute Revealed 10 nm Iu,pcctor.
IFrom the New York Worth |

Sanitary Squad picked their way among
the children and refuse-barrels which
obstructed the sidewalks in Mulberry
street. Tho cool breeze which made
life tolerable in other parts OF the CITY
was wanting there. The heat radated
from the uneven Hagstones and noisome
smells rose from stagnant pools. On
either side OF the street lowered thc
high brick walls Of the tenements within
which resided countless thousands Of tl
city's poor, whose number defy th'
census.taker.
Passing down Mulberry street, wher'
IL was evidently markctday, the side.
walks aud roadway were throngcd with
bare-footed women and children scantily
and shabbily clad, who jostlcd each
other in their eagcrness to get near the
various wagons and stands Of huckstcrs.
Entering dark, narrow alley on Null
berry street, the reporter and his guido
emerged into courtyard.
A dozen or more brightfaced, healthy
children were playing there. One Of
them was flying miniature kite which
in its widest ascent never rose two feet
above the surface OF the ground. Four
old women were cnsc0nccd on benches
needless Of their surroundings, while
others were washing clothes in small
tubs, and number OF men sat on the
rickcty steps and 3nzed lazily Mt the
visitors. The buildings were five stories
high and offered shelter to twenty fam
lilies.
ITALIAN HOMES.
The landing OF the iire-cscapes we're
literally covered with bedding, boxes
and refuse, which made cgress almost
impossible and would prove fruitful
source Of danger in case Of fire.
On ascending the steps a small hall
was discovered whose walls had been re-
Gently waitewashcd ard which had a
fairly clean and IN biiablc appearance.
Each family has two rooms, the outer
serving for kitchen and dining-room and
tho inner for bed.chamber. In these
two rooms are crowded from four TO ten
persons when the family and "boardcrs"
are all at home. AT this season Of the
year most Of tho male members Of the
household whose presence il not needed
for rag picking arc Gin the country"
which means that they are working ON
railroads or tramping with their organs
and monkeys through the outside towns.
Further down tho street were found
The lowest class Of italian ag.pickcrs.
The odor which came from the out houses
was something nauseating; remnants Of
food were scattered about and the air
WIS rocking with filth. When asked if
there Ind been any deaths in the house
during the season, boy-the only one
who could speak English-said that al!
had been well On ascending dark,
narrow stairs the rooms were found to
he in very unhealthy condition.
Still further down the street two large
houses were visited, the appearance of
which was better than any in the quar-
Ter. The walls Of tho allcy-wny had
recently been whitcwashed and tho
inside bore the marks Of late renova.
ton.
Progress through Baxter street was
slow. The shopkcepers, the majority OF
whom seemed TO he Poles and filthy
looking act they were--displaycd their
to such M extent that the pedestrians
proceeded with difficulty and discom
fort. Second-hnnd clothing and second
hand shoes are the staple goods in Bai
ter street.
POLISH HOMES.
Ono OF the worst houses in the dis.
irict which was visited by the reporter
was II liyo.story rookery where tho very
lowest elements of Poles md Italians
herd together Passing through m
nlloy-way into n court yard scene was
revealed which hcggnrs description.
Congregatcd in that small inclosure
were ut least fifty people. men, women,
boys, girls and infants. Ragpickcrs
were continually coming in with their
burdens, the result Of tho mornings
labor, which they deposited in loose
pilc previously gathered from the gut.
tors of the city. One Of the ncighboring
merchants was Offering for sale IN arm
ful Of old clothes which should have
found fitting resting place on tho hcap
OF rags. An old woman, bent double
with age, had n small basket of deceived
fish on her arm which sho spread before
her customers. Pushing through the
miserable crowd and stumbling over
several infants on dangerous stairway
tho officer lod the way to the roof, which
was apparently tho summer bedroom of
tho community. In the corners and
along tho sides were piles of straw and
rags, covered with vcrmin and breathing
forth disease and death in tho MONDAY
heat.
On Park street stands ono of the lof
tiest tenemcntsin the vicinity, the front
being seven stories high and the rear
four stories. Underneath the front por.
ton, IN the basement, were found two
bar rooms. There arc over thirty fami.
lies in the structure, principally Irish,
with mixture OF Italians, but tho mp
pearance OF the rooms betokcn general
caro- and neatness.
While walking along Mott street the
officer suddenly turned into basement.
Tho reporter followed as manfully m
possible, though the darkness prevented
his seeing more than six inches before
him, until, after devious turnings and
wlndings and the ascent of short flight
OF tnmble-down steps, a small court was
reached.
CHINESE HOMES.
Upon opening q door made Of plaip
deal boards large room was seen.
which appeared to be Chinese opium
den. A long bunk made of straw mat
Ting extended nearly across one siie OF
The room, on which white woman was
sleeping of the effects of the drug On
IN, opposite side was double bunk of
IKE nature, on the lower part of which o
Chinaman was browsing. The proprie-
,or, who was arrested not long ago for
keeping an opium Joint, YVES likewise
asleep IN little alcove separated from II
m me man room by sort Of grating.
Ahe reporter and his companion made o