Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-06-29

tricts are so overcrowded." II Is true that in
New York there are 1881 persons TO dwelling,
while in London there are only rs. And 1t is
also true that New York has an annual death
rate per thousand OF i7st. while London's is
only 1881. But the funny part of the whole
business, II death rates can be said TO have any
thing funny about them, Is that our tenement
houses have nothing to do with our large death
rate. At least this Is what distinguished
physician and health officer OF New York, DIR.
*. s. Tracy, would have us believe. He has
recently made report which contains many
Dristiing statistics. BY referring to these
statistics we find that ~ per cent Of New York 9
entire population lives in tenement houses.
We also find that the highest death rate is
among the % per cent who live in brown-stone
fronts and high class flats. The next highest
death rate Is among the smaller tenements,
and the smallest death rate OF all is found in the
largest tenements. where the ''overcrowding
has been the bane Of reformers for years. If
the doctors statistics are true-and his reprta-
ton would scarcely permit donbt Of their re-
hability-the whole population OF the city
would do well TO celtraiize itself in Mott and
Mulberry and Stanton streets, live in the
nasty, tumbIedown tenements which abound
In those regions, eschew bathing and all clean
illness, live on garlic and decayed vegetables
and grow fat and dirty and healthy. When
asked to account for his statistics DR.. Tracy
tells about the health boards strict surveillance
over the sanitary condition Of the large tene-
ments and the consequent education OF their
occupants up to hygienic cleanliness. But
have myself put a nose inside the doorways OF
some of these wonderfully healthfui large tene-
ments in the pursuit of business within the
past three days, and have discovered no ap-
preciable improvement in the "hygienic clean
illness" upon these same tenement three years
ago, when tried 10 live in one of them to get
at the true inawardness Of tenement life for a
newspaper story, and had to give it up.
BETRAYED BY NIGHTsHIRT.
And thereby hangs a tale. I didn't give up
living in tenement because couldn't stand the
foulness. / had hardened myself to that. My
exit all on account of a nightshirt. I got
lodging as a printer looking for job with
Honora Murphy, widow, No. 8 Stanton street,
and looked as tough any Of the rest OF the
dodgers. who were a pretty tough set had
made up well and passed. carried a rag bag
OF yalise that Ed Harrigan had used in Nc
Sorleys Imitation" and it contained a more
ragged pair of trousers than had on, a bit of
soap, two flannel shirts much worn, printer 8
stick and rule, and-a nightshirt l unfortu-
nately acquired the nigntshirt habit early in
life and found it difficult to conquer it. And
knew a nice long nightshirt would be great
protection in tenement house bed from in
sects and things. The first night l was IN
dressing while the two sharers of my room
were sitting in red undershirts and naught else
playing penoekle by the light of candle. L
got along all right until commenced working
my way into the nightshirt, and then felt that
the interest of the couple was conferred upon
me. looked around.
'Howiy Mary, young fcller." gasped one Of
the men, ''fots that thing?"
''Why. that's a nightshirt," said with an
effort to appear unconcerned-
"A nightshirt, is III Well, begob. it's the
first thing of the kind wuz liver known in Nora
Murphy's place or in the hull dom shtreet
young Teller, an it gives you dead away. You
amt no printer, sonny, you're some dude that's
done Jail job and yer hidin'. This is a
respectable house an SIGH as you can't stay in
it. wish We no harum wild the police, young
Teller, but my advice to you is to git out O. this
place dom quick"
Is it necessary to say that took the hint?
II. II. g