The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-02-06
POOR OLD FOLKS.
WI
NEW YORK ClTYS ASYlUMS ron
THE INDECENT AGED.

ola Men and Women Who Attend News,
candy and Fruit Stands-hgcd Blind
Mcu--LongcVity and Physical Nigor of
Aged Toiiors.
There are several asylms in New York
cts lor the INDECENT aged OF both sexes,
v.Drc 0u proper application they are com
lral.t provided for. free Of charge; but it
t..O,.lv the uuiortunate'of the better class
tl.-. who have seen prosperous days and
nl. utterly incapable of maintaining them
..tr. lr their own cXertions-that accept
OH. c.crmo>yuary hospitality offered. while
t. -au0ruuuatcd of the working classes
accustomed 90 earn their daily bread by hard
nIn prefer brave struggle for existence
uat apiiug The domestic retirement afforded
b., these humane institutions
BE- may bo that the better health and lon
rrs -;austically demonstrated 10 prevail
among thc working classes pcrpetuate the
tmt circle and afford tie superannuated
au abiding place at home, be it ever so
MmhIo. for as a rule the aged who seek the
DaWiy a the institutions indicated have no
BOAR relatives and are L.acticallv alone in
,O world. with uo kiul, hands 20 care for
fl.ucFDu n they could do little toward
maintaining themselves. 1t Is natural that
fU-. uniortuuates. hcrcit Of relations and
ttu DOB prospects. should seek the retire
m.ut oi The home which the thoughtful
charity ol Tie humane has provided for them
only thc Iniirm or crippled of the lower
Glasses are 81 be- found in these institutions
To. number OF the aged of both sexes who
maintain themselves by attending news
'1lI-. candy stands fruit stands, etc, is
surprising as revealed by tour of tho east
and uo-t sides, especially in the tenement
mouse districts One would suppose that the
car. of the little oncs would be intru-ted 20
theaced grandparents in the hard working
family where both the mother and the
father go ont daily % WORK. Unless, how
ever. the aged member of the family is con-
lined 90 the room 10y intiuAity the children
are lcft % care fo- themselves and the aged
contribute 10 the family support By their
own c.ot.oIs
THE AGED BLIND
A3arulo, the aged blind among the poor
MAINTAIN Themselves, and perhaps contrib
ute % the support Of the family, by beg
ging. being Ped So their accustomed places on |
some irequcnted thorough.ro by the mar
RED sou or laue hter with whom they dwell
On their way o. work ia Tire morning and
back again on thcir return n the evening 10
ls "a fact chat cannot escape observation that |
thc blind men lr,douinatc, That there arc TO |
Do. encountered iu stroll ten blind men 10 |
0ae blind woman bo--ar, and patient inquiry |
reveals re fact that blindness Is as rare |
among women as badness The writer has |
only discovered three blind women seeking |
aIu. to che thirty blind men he has eucoun-
tered on the popular th0roughimes on the
COST and West sides The hunters 0u the |
nrlircs alice ls one TyasonlJ wearing their
I.Ir long that 1t prccryes the yyesight, and
perhaps We may find in the similar custom of
women ava explanation OF the fact that
blindness is comparatively 50 rare ia the sex.
Iho superanuuatel females among the poor
ar. more active than the men, whose in
dustry in earlier life has perhaps sappcd
tben vitality and frequently the old women,
looking often more like witches than human
beings arc 10 be- seen wing with the juvon-
iles m gathering wood from the debris Of
budu-, or disnantled houses, and display
lu- ana inclination 10 a youthful agility and
strength that Is remarkable for their years.
Since the systematic gathering Of the garb-
a-. by the wagons of the street cleaning de
partment the old women rag and garbage
ueber- have disappeared excepting from
ri. neglected quarters OF the tenement house
DISTRICTS where, however, they are still to be
n.unterod with their male rivals, hook IN
i.ui and bag sluus over the shoulder.
It DIS % bc Observed that nearly all the
u.et stands n the poorer districts are at
tended bF I'D folks. who are thus actively
employed from morning tIil night and these
Ia.. uot thv comfortable booths that many |
similarly engaged have ia other parts Of tho
.l.y. hut their rude stand Of "a few boards IS
generally Ituat,j az tho door OF a draughty
hallway or % window. wherethey must suffer
iI.m Oboe exposure. set all OF them SHOW be
l..-r lu .i vi.or IL may bo doubted II
tL.., yuulcrs really maintain themselves on
H profits NJ "a few cents they realize, but
ft.. contribute something, and are not
oi.u.- iu thc busy hive.
CLAIMS TO OLD AGE.
lake The serile darby in the south these
odi.lEs are apt To claim a greater number
oi Nvu- probably through iorgetfulness,
fa.l they are really entitled 60. and few of |
Them. according TO their own statements, are |
4a1.l 90 years Of age 1t must be confessed |
t1at th.} always fully look the advanced |
a-a they claim hard work and dissipation
layu, l.it marks ON their faces and forms,
ao ta4t while they are physically vigorous
ali why they are worn and scnilo IN ap-
laauuee, sometimes 70 a pitiable degree.
The hearty, peachy, rosy faced great grand
m0t r OF the comfortable home OF spruce
bald headed grandfather who still consults
,hc almanac. Is not 10 be found among those