St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-08-12
SAINT PAUL.
PAUPERS, PARADISE.
Scenes at St. Paul's "Over the
Hill tn the Poorbouse.U

Hill to the Poorhouse."
Few people in ST. Paul have any idea
what well-kept and comfor table insti-
tuition is the Ramsey county aImshouse,
and it would repay any public spirited
person interested in such subject to
go over this building. The Wisconsin
Central takes on to station just the
other side of Gladstone, and a walk OF
block or two brings the visitor to the
door. The grounds are beautifully
kept, the farm is in per feet condition,
and the house as free from dust and
'pauper air" as hotel would be. The
halls are wide, the windows large, the
floors, though bare, are stained, and
through the whole house an exquisite
neatness prevails.
There are forty-nine inmates at pres
ent, only six of whom are women, and
from the managers account still fewer
of the fair sex would be preferable. as
they are much more trouble and are
more dissatisfied and diSagreeable than
the men. About 10 per cent of the lat
ter are able to work, and the rest who
are not absolutely infrm, wait upon the
disabled. Each one has some daily task,
il able to perform it. OF the six
women there none are able to
do more than make their own beds, and
one or two are entirely helpless. l had
the privilege of making Hannah's ac-
quantance when she was Scrubbing her
bed room floor. She is the Irish laSsie
of sixty odd summers who made herself
conspicuous last winter by clipping with
lad of seventy. whose destinations she
could not resist. 1t seems the gay
Lothario had once been soldier, and,
in addition to his martial air, he wore a
tOboggan Jacket, so it was not to be
marYeled at that he was frequently seen
prOmenading near the ladies' boule-
wards, and often making havoc of more
than one heart. His choice was Han
nah, who had the temerity to open a
space in her window and converse with
the gallant. One day he was overheard
entreating her TO fly with him. As an
inducement, he said he had $40 and
feather bed. and before their flight could
be arrested they had made a haSty trip
to the station and from thence to st.
Paul. where cruel fate awaited them in
the police wagon. Hannah's DISPOSE
ton, perhaps from this early disappoint-
ment, is not the best, and she quarrelS
and fights so frequently with another
one of her countrywomen they
have to be separated, one staying
down stairs, the other up. 1t is
very ordinary thing for the men
to run off. as a great many of them have
had an unquenchable thirst, but after
being arrested as Migrants and serving
term in the workhouSe, they are glad
to get back to their old quarters and are
better satisfied to remain.
All those who use tobacco are fur
nished with moderate amount of it,
and they look very content, sitting
around in the sunshine smoking their
pipes. noticed one man with needle
and very masculine long thread,
patching pair of pants, and was told
he was attending to the wardrobe of
one more infirm than himself. and of
whom he takes entire care, having be-
come attached to his duty so much that
the two are always together and he
waits upon his charge with tenderness
and affection.
There are two sitting rooms for use
during the day, and if any are sick
enough to keep their beds they are put
into the hospital, for it is not allowable
to stay in their bed rooms except at
night, as it encourages untidy habits
and laziness. There are five now in the
hospital with chronic complaints. A
hired nurse is not considered necessary,
dllu Gllc DdllCuto die 1OI D1 Ollc vi
the other paupers who is unit for hard
labor. When they know one to be dying
sheet is swung by the bed to keep the
other unfortunates from witnessing the
agony.
After talking with the women l con-
Guided that the world was chiefly COM
posed of drunken sons-in-law, who re-
fuse to keep the wife's mother; but,
upon hearing further particulars on
the county side of the question, am
forced to admit there must be few
drunken mothers-in-law also. One aged
wreck, who has been an object of char
ity for twenty years, upon hearing
strangers voice, felt her way over to
where | stood and asked me if | knew
her daughter living in the city, giving
her name and address. Looking into
her Wrinkled face, could but see in
her the impersenation of Will Carleton's
pathetic creation:
Over the hills TO the poorhouse,
My children dear, goodbye.
The daughter drives out to inquire
after her when she is sick, but does not
trouble herself to go in TO speak to her.
In other words, she goes to inquire if
her mother is dead yet. Oh, trembling
handsI Oh, snow-crowned headl When
God opens those sightless eyes it will
be in world that cannot see poverty,
degradation and SIM
JOHANNA DUNCAN.