The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-08-29

and nineteen is the numbahs wat will
draw dis day. Mcbbe some odder Mig
gah's got Same tlp;' but, Use purity sho
ob bein' fust. See2"
eli, daddy" responded the young
ster, won't we git meat an bread an
buttah Jest like white folks, if yo'
draws? IIuh?r
And on they went like lambs to the
slaughter. How much money tho old
man had, could only be conjectured;
probably not moro than u dollar. That
amountwouldI mean good food for q small
family for at least two days. The loss of
itwould mean hunger for the household.
1t was also evident that another dollar
had been spent for lucky stone"
and that the names of Washington
and Lincoln had been conjurcd with to
work upon tho old mans superstitions.
And this is but one out Of thousands Of
instances of the kind.
Many years ago. during the admins
tration OF Old Hickory. city was start
ed on the Virginia shore, and q corner
stone laid with great pomp and cere-
mony. Tho president attended and
participated. because the prospective
metropolis was named in his honor.
jackson City. Nothing ever came of it,
and to-day the original frame houses,
greatly dilnpidated, are occupied by
policy writers and players All this
crime and suffering occur In Jackson
City, within sight of the capitol, white
house and executive departments of the
government, yet beyond the reach of
the hand of federal power. Jackson
City is ncnr the old estate Of Gen. Lee,
almost adjoining Arlington, where rest
the honOrcd dead of tho republic.
Lightning express trains rush pnst the
spot, bearing with them the commerce,
wealth, intelligence md morality OF
civilization, yet never IN eye gnzes
upon, and seldom human being thinks
of, the barbarism md crime with which
the spot Is infested Morning and even
ing the place Is crowded with the poor
and humble: and, worse and worse, IN
licensed drinking places are open where
the most villainous Of poisons are sold
and drank. Many crime committed
within our city precincts emanatcs from
jackson City. From despair, despera-
ton. disappointment, hunger and
gloom to murder and other crimes Is
but short step.
Every day. as part Of the legitimate
expense Of the place, some poor fellow
Is permitted to draw lucky number.
With five or ten dollars In his hand. a
great fortune for such one, he starts
for the Long Bridge honestly intent
upon sharing with his family. But he
Is surrounded by friends" who con-
graduate him, prnise, hattcr and cajole
him. so that when he finally reaches tho
bridge he is staggering drunk, sur
rounded by o crowd of bowling drunk
ards, his money all spent at the bar for
liquor and cignra lie reaches home,
and whit homo it is Wife and chill
dren are anxiously awaiting his arrival,
for some neighbor hos told them of his
good luck They are hungry, but know
that he will bring them food. Who can
depict the dramatic scene of disnppoint-
ment, chagrin and probably the re-
proaches which come spontaneously to
their lips as he enters empty-handed.
The drama ceases instantly. It be-
comes tragedy. A curse. blow with
stick or razor, and, behold another muir
der is added to the criminal statistics OF
the national capital
Is it not tine for some OF our wise leg
islators TO be informed of the existence
Of this cesspool, almost in our midst? Is
1t not within the power of some modern
Scion or Lycurgus to devise ways and
means for the suppression of this center
OF crime? SMITH d. FRY.
Frnud.