Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-05-09
WOMAN AND HOME.
THE MISERABLE EVERYDAY LIFE OF
CITY CHILDREN


Chicago News Rambler
feel a great pity Tor city children. By
city children do not mean generally the
children Of a city, although they, too. miss
a great deal and are also to he pltisd. but
refer rather 20 thousands Of little ones who
live with their parents In the business por-
tion. Often their parents have charge Of
the huge building in which they make their
home II you will cast your eve to the up
per stories Of some Of the tower.like struct
ures on the busy downtown streets you
will see clean dImnity OF neat chIntz cur
tains adornIng the window. in vivid con
trast with the uncurtainei, unkept. and
grmy sash Of the 81 prisS below. Mayhap
the window ledge will mold a narrow wooden
box containing a few mo roses. or else a
few pots will hold to the welcoming sun or
the smOke-tainted breeze few other hardy
flowers
Owners Of business blocks like to the per
sons they give them in charge Of, live on
the premises, and the janitor and his
family are assigned 10 apartment, in the
upper story. Often these quarter, are made
cry and pleasant by a neat and metholical
wife, but nftener still they are reniere lmore
bare and miserable than their uninteresting
surroundings IL is the children of such
working parents are busy all day. and the
little ones are left 70 amuse themselves
But bowi They have no play mates for,
likely enough, there may not be a family
similarly situated within two or three
blocks, and they are afraid to trust them
selves far away from their door. They
Chamber down five or six flights Of great
wide Stair, thro aged with busy men with
the eager glare Of speculation and compe-
tition in their eyes and reach the still more
thrunged sidewalk
Ponr little things! They have never had
playmate who could teach them a game
such as other children play. Once IN q great
while one notices them making dismal at
tempt at Ring 'Rouni Rosy" or some such
play, but the trial Is generally a dismal
failure. Then. occasionally, You are
startled TO hear above the crash and din Of
Of street the shrill Y ices Of little ones sing
ing London Bridge" But outside of these
/ have never seen these poor babes engaged
In any other play. They run about in ali aim
less way and d yht and get very dirty. but
they never seem to enjoy themselves TLey
always seem tired and hot, ami rather dis
gusted, and their faces wear a pale oldish
lohk.
They have no place TO play except the
sidewalks II they play in the Railways
cross men cOms out and scold them. and
when tley 60 to the pavement they are run
into, jostled, and knocked down by other
cross men. Thcy have no back yards nor
front yards They cannot play marbles or
hOT-scotch for the interruptions and ~hi-
>py" is deniel them for the same cause
Kites are out Of the question. for they only
nee a rift Of the sky through a net work Of
telegraph wires Their only grass is few
blades that spring from oats dropped in the
cracks OF the paving stones by horses at
thei- monday meal Tue country is a terra
incognits u them The psrk,i Oh, yes
they have been to a park-twice Their
father and mother took them on two occa-
siOns on Sundays Ii was very hot, and
the street cars were crowded. and they got
tired bef re they got there. Have good
time! Oh, We, they had rel and green
popcorn, and the ground was all green,
and there was water and boats-at least
papa said they were boats That's all
They don't remember anything else, and
they wouldn't have remembered that if it .
hadn't been for the popcorn
Nobody they meet in their everyday life
has a kind word for them When men
speak to them it is to tell them to get out
of the way. Where other children receive
csresses they receive cuff. For them the
sky IS never blue Thick murky clouds of .
smoke obscure what little they might other
wise see of it. blackening the house, and
sh"wering down smut AMI CRIME. The
street is full Of charging horses and the air .
is full Of the din Of business They exper-
fence no sweet and tender influence, and /
have no associations TO bring them pleasure
and teach them knowledge They are pre-
shrewl aud glib They are
never at loss for an ans wer. and slang or
a lie slips from their tongue like second na-
ture They hsvs no one 70 guide. advise,
omfnrt, or instruct them. Poor little city
children!