The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-03-19
SEEING HUMAN NATURE.
ITS DEVELOPMENT As SEEN eY 4
SUPERINTENDENT OF THE POOR.
The Female shyiock-A Mothers Low"
for Her Afflicted Boy-A Recent Ar
rivnI->hlppipg Paupers ITO" Europe
A Discharged sailor.

outdoor pocr, works from a. m. until D
D m every week day, and while he talks
he IS listening TO complaints, appeals,
arguments and inquiries, and his hahus
are busy signing papers, making mem
oranda, hanc ing out bottles oil cough NIX
ture. puttina his name 10 vouchers, open
ing letters ald various other occupations.
By dirt Of doing three or four things at
once when he il most rushed, he manages
70 get the average down to about nine
things per minute that he gets through
with all day long
While the reporter sat watching MIN
and waiting TO hear about his observa-
tons upon human nature, the dull brown
atter.festooned chain OF misery that
moved its human links along the front OF
his desk was suddenly broken by II very
Charming variation upon It's monotony.
An exceedingly pretty young woman,
with pouting red lips, sparkling eyes and
rose leaf complexion; a young woman
prctrily gloved wearing rich furs and
costly jewelry, and maryelously hand
some hat--altogether quite q patrician-
csque young woman-stopped before Mr..
Blake aud said:
VIC IdNG q NtAhLNf - N+ANN NANA ~
child, who cannot pay her rent. We have
dispossessed her, or AZ least served her
with a notice OF dispOssess!on, but we
can't put her out because her child Is
very sick SO want you 10 send an am
bulance and take the child away TO some
hospital"
You want us TO take the sick and per-
haps dying child away from its mother,
81 that YOU can throw the mother into
the street and let your room 10 better
paying tenaptw
Yes, SIR replied the young woman,
stfliy, but with Il little 1nsh on her
cheeks, US Il she was Just beginning TO real
ize that her attitude might not be admired
by people weak enough TO DC humane.
Mr. Blake's eyes projected themselves,
and lie seemed making IN effort 10 swal-
low some words that would not have
sounded prettily. After brief but hI-
pressiye silence he answered sternly.
No. shall do nothing Of the sort If
the poor mother brings her sick child aud
asks us 10 care for it, we will do the best
NC can, but we have 10 right 10 90 what
you ask; We never interfere between
landlord and tenant
The handsome young woman Redeemed
augrly, and exclaimed arGumentatiyely:
"Bnt she can't pay her rent1'
Il have told you that can do nothing
Tor yon. " replied Nh Blake, in tone OF
disgust; I'VE do not interfere between
landlord and tenant"
The pretty female ShylOck gave her
head an indignant toss, flashed look OF
scorn upon the poor wretches surround
iu- her-Who were listening and viewing
her with expressions Of loathing and sur
prise-and quickly went out.
\ pale, thin, weary looking young wO-
man, still bearing traces Of beauty, came
up to the desk, and said, with evident
effort:
Ny little boy is deaf and dumb, and
paralyzed. | can no longer keep him. |
have come to see If you viii put him in
some institution where he viii be warm
and taken care Of. "
Are you widow
"No, sir. have husband, but he can
get little work TO do. We are very poor,
and have another child, which Is all we
can take care Of O."
Il will send your child to Randalls is
land. where he will be very well cared for,
IL ycu desire it. When will you be ready
10 have the ambulance take him away"
She seemed TO hesitate, but nerving her
self, replied;
ANY time, sir.
Very well, the ambulance will call for
him TOMORROW morning"
She tueed very pale, her lips quiyered,
and her eyes filed with tears az she ex-
claimed impulsiyely:
On. sir, make il Friday. Let NE have
him one more day"
Mr. Blake kindly told her how we'll her
little afflicted boy would be cared for,
which was the best consolation she could
have had, and when she went away re-
marked 70 the reporter: There's more
human nature for you. / wonder II that
young Shylock who was in here while
ago Will ever have in her breast mothers
heart as tender as that of the woman VINO
just went out"
The clanking OF the human chain that
drags itself before Superintendent Blakes
desk is almost wholly III minor key.
Now and then, however, there Is little
relief to its monotony
A young German stood confidently up,
and in response u the question, asked In
German, How long have you been IN this
country" replied placidly: Il arrived
yesterday"
MY Godr' CALCULATED Blake. "And
you sc found this place already! Well, I've
known Of their being pretty soon before,
but lie is the freshest thing I've seen yet y
Tie recent arrival WAS sent back to
Castle Garden. The state board OF chart
ties and our municipal commissioners OF
charities and correction have plenty Of
business in shipping of paupers, the
burden Of whose support properly belongs
upon other communities and even in other
countries.
The Swiss cantons," said Or. Hoyt,
"openly and boldly ship US their paupers,
even claiming right 10 do so, and COM
placently invite us 10 reciprocate by send
Ing our paupers TO them, II we can. But
we cannot Catch our paupers going 10
Switzerland! Not much. They know
VIXEN they are well of. We also get
great numbers Of the most undesirable
class or immigrants from the Austro-
Polish, Italian and German lowest classes;
the greater numbers and the worst the
Austro Polish. They como here 10 live
by begging and crime, and If we DO not
succeed in catching them and turning
them back they are burden practically
from the day they land"
a tall, thin man, erect, bronzed by eX-
posture 10 the elements, and wearing a
sailors hat, wanted TO be sent to Boston.