Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1888-10-19
CHAPTER XVII.

TIE sUEYIRINCs IN THE PoOR-Housl
The unfortunate beings who are sent
to the poor-house deserve the pity of the
entire human family. They are Away,
treated to the plainest, coarsest food
and wearing apparel, and frequently
not enough of that. The poor-house il
usually let out by contract to the low.
est bidder. and the contractor who
takes it as job tries to make the most
out Of his job. Poor-house contractors
are not always humane men. They
often abuse their helpless victims, and
a. they get SO much per head for every
member, it is to their interest to have
many, and feed them as cheaply n
possible.
In the case Of Bill Jones contract,
like many others. it was, what is some
times called. a political job. Bill fur
nished Arnold's man for collector Of
revenue all the votes in his school
district, and Arnold. who had elected
the county justice. just - ono or two
men sometimes do elect every officer in
their county. had Bill appointed poor,
house keeper. We fear the county
justices did not look to the interests OF
those unfortunates who depend on them
for the little comfort they require in
this world. They did not study the
physiognomy Of those brutal features.
or consider the suffering he might
cause. But they rather considered
whether they would gain the most
votes by appointing him or the benev.
olent-looking man recommended by
his pastor as suitable person. Preach
ers are not usually good electioneers. and
consequently their recommendation
are hardly ever considered in the dis
tribution Of public patronage.
"Old Blaze can preach IKE blue
blazes." they thought, "but he didn't
help u to our Office, and he can't do
any work to re-elect us."
Bill Jones and . gallon Of CHEAP
whisky would carry more votes on
election day than all the sermons Old
Blaze might preach in six months, %
they gave the poor-house, at Arnold
suggestion. to Bill Jones. whom We
find the proprietor when little Amos
Lakeman is entered. by order of Ar.
mold. pauper. The little fellow sal
for long time in his hard chair, after
his piteous call for his sister. He wa
silent now. Those wretched creatures
had snarlod at him like wolves when
they heard him, and it seemed - i
they had claws with which to tear Out
his eyes. He could only groan and
sob, while his flushed cheeks dried up
the tears before they fell. He dared
make no outcry. though his head was
70 dizzy and his side panied him %
much that he could scarcely maintain
himself in his hard seat. He saw other
creatures around in the yard who were
equally ~ wretched, dirty and helpless
- those in his room. Riu Jones, With
largo whip more like . slave-driver
than poor-house keeper. was beating
IN old man because he could not hoe
in the garden.
You lazy dog" he numbered, 'd'ye
think we're goin' to keep ye here like .
lord, and ye do nothin'p"
"Oh, don't, don't! cried the old
nan. trying to escape the keen lash Of
the whip; I'm report 70. II 70 donNl
quit"
"Report mo. ye rascal. +" crack. crack,
crack came the whip about his body
and almost bare legs. The paupez
could only scream with pain. HI
backed up in fence corner and then
crouched down, buried his face in bid
hands and arms, while the keen Lash
was laid upon his almost bare shoul-
derp.