Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-02-03
POOR OLD FOLKS.
NEW YORK clTY'S ASYLUMs FOR
The INDECENT AGED.

THE INDECENT AGED.
Old Men snd Women Who Attend News,
Candy and Fruit Stands-Aged Blind
Men-Longevity and Physical viSor Of
Aged Toilers.
There are several asyluns in New York
city for the INDECENT aged Of both sexes,
where on proper application they are COM
fortably provided for, free of charge; but it
is chiefly the unfortunate of the better class
those who have seen prosperous days and
are utterly incapable of maintaining them
selves by their own exertions-that accept
the eleemosynary hospitality offered, while
the superannuated of the working classes,
accustomed to earn their daily bread by hard
labor, prefer brave struggle for existence
to accepting the domestic retirement afforded
| by these humane institutions.
1t may be that the better health and Ion
gev1ty statistically demonstrated to prevail
among the working classes perpetuate the
family circle and afford the superannuated
an abiding place at home, be it ever so
humble; for as a rule the aged who seek the
charity OF the institutions indicated have no
near relatives and are practically alone in
the world, with no kindly hands to care for
them even if they could do q little toward
maintaining themselves. 1t is natural that
these unfortunates. bereft o. relations and
with no prospects, should seek the retire
ment of the ''home' which the thoughtful
charity of the humane has provided for them.
Only the infirIn or crippled of the lower
classes are to be found in these institutions.
The number Of the aged of both sexes who
maintain themselves by attending news
stands, candy stands, fruit stands, ETC., is
surprising, as revealed by a tour of the east
and west sides, especially in the tenemers
house districts. One would suppose that the
care of the little ones would be intruSted to
the aged grandparents in the hard working
family where both the mother and the
father 60 out daily to work. Unless, how
ever, the aged member Of the family is con-
fined to the room by infirInity tine children
are left TO care for themselves and the aged
contribute to the family suppol by their
own exertions.
THE AGED BLIND.
As rule, the aged blind among the poor
maintain themselves and perhaps contrib
ute to the support of the family, by beg
ging, being led to their accustomed places on
| ried son or daughter with whom they dwell
on their way TO work in the morning and
back again on their return in the evening. 1t
is fact that cannot escape observation that
the blind men pTedominate; that there arc to
be encountered in a stroll ten blind men to
one blind woman beggar, and patient inquiry
reveals the fact that blindness is as rare
among women as badness. The writer las
4 IL,
aims to the thirty blind men lie has encoun-
tered on the popular thoroughfares on the
east and west sides. The hunters on the
prairies allege as one reason for wearing their
hair long that it preserves the eyesight, and
perhaps we may find in the similar custom Of
women an explanation of the fact that
blindness is comparatively SO rare in tl4 sex.
The superannuated females among the poor
are more active than the men, whose in
dustry in earlier life has perhaps Slapped
their vitality, and frequently the old women,
looking often more like witches than human
beings, are to be seen vying with the juven-
lies in gathering wood from the debris Of
buildings or dismanted houses, and display
ing an inclination to youthful agility and
strength that is remarkable for their years.
Since the systematic gathering of the garb-
age by the wagons OF the street cleaning de-
partment the old women rag and garbage
pickers have disappeared, excepting from
the neglected quarters OF the tenement house
districts, where however, they are still to be
encountered with their male rivals hook in
hand and bag slung over the shoulder.
1t is to be observed that nearly all the
street stands in the poorer districts are at
tended by old folks, who are thus actively
employed from morning till night, and these
have not the comfortable booths that many
similarly engaged have in other parts of the
city, but their rude stand of few boards is
generally situated ct the door Of draughty
hallway or a window, where they must suffer
from the exposure, yet all of them show the
most rugged vigor. il may be doubted if
these vendors really maintain themselves on
the profits of few cents they realize, but
they contribute something, and are not
drones in the busy hive.
CLAIMS TO OLD AGE.
Like the servile darky in the south, these
old felix's are apt to claim greater number
of years, probably through forgetfulness,
than they are really entitled to, and few of
them, according to their own statements, are
under 65 years Of age. 1t must be confessed
that they always fully ''lookn the advanced
age they claim, hard work and dissipation
having left marks on their faces and forms,
SO that while theg are physically vigorous
and why they are worn and ssnile in APP
pearance sometimes to pitiable degree.
The hearty, peachy, rosy faced great grand
mother of the comfortable home, OF spruce
bald headed grandfather who still consults
the almanac, is not to be found among those
obviously overworked and careworn toilers
for their daily bread. The life of these has
been battle since childhood, and they show
the scars of the struggle; but their habits Of
activity have endowed them with rugged
vigor in their senility, watch is generally
denied the more favored who have lived in
ease and comfort.
In the outlying market gardens in the
suburban districts many superannuated per-
sons of both sexes are to be found working in
the season, wedding or gathering, especially
among the Germans, the women responder
ating The visible evidences of Old age are
almost denied by their physical activity and
endurance.
PROFESSIONALLY the longevity and physical
energy of these aged toilers, not only in the
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