The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-08-14
THE CONSTITUTIONS TUESDAY AUGUST H. 1885

popular prices some of the best attractions from
the broadway theaters. The Thaiia, the lead
ing German theater, is on the bowery; concert
saloons and dime museums are not now much
more numerous than savings banks, not since
last fall when "Saint" Anthony Comstock
made his raid. That was in the interest of
good morals, and not out of tune with the
times, as was his simultaneous raid upon the
art galleries for the nude in art, copies from
the French salons.
AND THE PEOPLE.
There is color on the Bowery, every COM
pleXion, and brilliant dyes and native dress
direct from Europe through Castle Garden,
give picturesque effect. These immigrants
have all their earthly goods inthe bundles car
RED in their hands or hung on stick over
their shoulder They are hardy-loking and
dressed In coarse stuifs.
See those two women, gay-colored shaws
over their heads, and one carrying child. 1t
Is after dark, and they seem to be looking anX-
Iously for some one All! it is that. Crossing
the Bowery to Blocker street come o lot of
men,. Italians, each with n pitch-fork over
the shoulder. The women hurry to one of
the men, sieze upon and greet
brother home probably from the first days
work in America
And with such come criminals, the off-scour-
lngs OF the earth, all to be added to our own
poor, who are an ill-nourished looking lot and
careworn. No fresh faces among them, no in-
nocence, no poetry, nothing of the dew and
blush of the morning. nothing OF those 'born
t., silver spoons, but the up-allnight look and
all the nights of many years, that white,
strained stained look Of men down in the
world. living by their wits, and women who
help them or slave for them, and worn-out girls,
disSlpated lads, frowsy, filthy children. How
lar, far away, from the green country pure
air, pure thoughts.
THEY ARE WELCOME ENOUGH.
Vet there are shops full of flowers and flow
ering plants, and there must be hands to cher
ish, hearts that love them. All yes and Ne
nave our sick and our dead. We are poor.
Don't taunt us don't flapnt your idleness and
luxury here. Life is a hard bitter struggle for
bread and place to sleep and something to
cover nakedness Leave off yovr patient
feathers and oVer-gaiters and gloves and shin
ing tile, your stick and stride and the clothes
that belong to Fifth avenue and Broadway
and you are welcome enough. We are good
natured.
FELLOWSHIP AND HUMANITY.
There is fellowship among tho poor; all
know what cold and hunger is. Do YOU sec
the coppers and nickles flow, positively flow,
into the tin cover held by those two poor blind
brothers, with their sad faces, and singing
their poor little song? But this is Saturday
night, and there are many with their weekly
pay III pocket or in tho brown paper bundles
al these men and youths seem to DO carrying.
They arc fresh from the weekly wash, and
shaved perhaps and in their Sunday clothes,
and have the look of relief for one blessed day
from the hard lot OF tho
factory. And men and women
with baskets from Washington market, the
Bowery swell and nylhph du pave, plausible
| swindlers keen of scent watching as spiders for
the gullible lily, ana thieves and cut-throats
male and female OF as terrible vsage and such
| figure as Victor Hugo coled about his devils,
all in the surging throng under the glare of the
loW-hanging electric lights on the Bowery.
TRUE CHRISTIANITY.
Peter Coopers Union, the vast reading
rooms and classes in the arts and sciences,
all free, ciyilizing the Bowery,
and tho Y. M. c.. A. has built on the
street and sustains tho Young Mems institute,
handsome modern building. Glance in
there on the evening of lecture and see tho
crowded lecture room, boys and youths and
some women; note the eager attention, and
after in the assembly room the happy faces,
the good fellowship, the games at chess and
checkers and the "sng-song," as the lecturer
expressed it, around the piano. There are
quiet reading rooms, complete gymna-
suin--always an animated scene
and good booths, and all for
seven dollars a year, and course in
any OF the classes for an extra half dollar.
THE END OF THE FUNNEL.
Wherefore there is progress on the Bowery,
and the upper part shows advance from lowest
living, but down at the end Of the funnel
where and whereabouts herd and hive tho
scum of Europe andfAsa, life is degraded and
revolving, and it is well the line of buildings
curtains from sight the life behind.
Think, my brothers, if that wall were sud-
denly felledi OH there is missionary work
enough at home! CHARLES WILLARD.