New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-10-23
urp EXPERIENCE OF" SLUMMING."

one YOUNG WOMAN DISCOVERED THAT
suECoULD DO BETTER ELSEWHERE.
ovnertence of one young woman In New York,
..rents could afford TO keep her In luxury, but
~no' .e,erred 10 do missionary work among the poor
WV ,,s East side, is told by herself as follows
I" VIZ am / no longer stunning you call IT
,.o I have discovered that can do more. good
,,e social circle where i was born mat may
H.. .ou A. strange. l only arrived a, I myself 10y
80, experience and it surprised me. too. When
~. Became thoroughly imbued with the Idea that
MS. accomplish some good work for The canNc OK
m..,itv- naturally thought that most could be done
,-s The field seemed largest. Comparing IA" lo' oil
49, gerry poor and ignoran, and depraved with The lo
INK $50 among whom had been brought up. there
Ind 10 be no question as 10 where ought 10 20
and labor an,
,,.vinr overcome the opposition Of my friends ana
,,nr been accepted as a worker 10y a s0dey when
,,rcduced me to the people wished to elevate was
GOOD deal surprised find that most OF them did MOI
- elevation in tie way in which thought best Tor
,,em They were willing to be made rC.l 10 D. cure"
,,,s.sse IN have their homes improved by somebody
IA. N have their children educated by outsiders ana
a. n. amused and entertained as much a. You liked
, a. for endurance, patience, seideiAl generosity
maskness virtue sobrety. charity; these were not 80
popular. 49,. ~. anton, ~,
o,rs among them. They watched me 50 closely Tor
spv sign Of pa rOnizing them that often they Nau o'
lime 10 think OF the truth Of wha, SAID 10 'hen'
rev OF them thanked for my el'or's on their De
..r and found il hard to remain even toicIabiN
,rslcone visitor their homes without cond"ihhs
d,r,iness laziness shcssnes- a>efuIness Tnd"h'ss
nd coarsenes, If WAS not welcome could Go no
cod and if were always finding fault Wild the hap's
81 q lifetime ] certainly would not be welcome
Deeply disappointed. after six months Of work.
st having made appreciate permanent improve
VI inm
,shored. asked one eoily Old woman dor there
are As many saints among the poor as anywhere
rhv I did not meet with more success. You're
On, NJ your depth child said she. What do you
know Of our lives. of our ways. of oar troaDieS o.
our minds OF way of looking al things lou
don't understand and We don't understand you
We don't see things in the same way. because We
don't look AT them from the same point. lou TEL
these poor people 10 be- clean without knowing Low
much money and time. which Is the same thihs'
:, cos,s 10 be clean. Cleanliness is one OF the
dearest things in New-Iork. You scorn Iafh'ss'
,,t II YOU had been half fd from tie cradle up
and that with food containing htue nourlshmehl'
YOU would not have Oneten;h OF the energy No"
VOW have Iazness i peoples only luxury. We're
sbif,less YOU say, and dcr't save our pennies II
! denied myself every thing but The bare necessities
NJ life even such a live, could not save more
than five cents a day, Sl5 a wear. $40 In hall
eeptiry which il the bank did not burst ana ROD
Inc o. il all. would give me $50 year 10 i've Oh
when ! am too old TO work. 100 lUu oi pains anu
lnArnitjcs 70 make life on SO year thing TO be
desired. There's many slip twiNt the cup ana ule
lin in fifty years. my girl ard we think 1t better 1"
employ our spare pennies while We are sure oil
,hsm Rude and coarse are, compared Win
YOUR standard but not ruder or coarser ihan people
0, vour wealth and rank III society were some
centuries ago | am told cont despair OF H.
nv dear but leave to God ana ourselves anu
time and 90 back to those who love you.
Honestly now don't sou think there Is plenty
OF codessness selfshEes>, greed lust. Cruelty
vanity envy backbitnc, cOvetousness, Deceit loHf'
drunkenness and other forms of wee among inc
people you know in your own station IL He 10 maze
creditable record if you succeeded in removing II
YES Auntie,' said i Acknowledge that. IAere
Is much 10 be done even in my own family
And don't really think now that u Nolir own
If vo,r father mother sisters. brothers. cousins and
item would give you more influence over them than
over Bill sykes the teamster. whom YOU near now
tlaspheming in the room over our head ana threat
ching 70 beat his wife for having his supper ready
Yes Auntie, ! think you're right SAID. as
The truth OF her words came home 10 me. 20 here
| am among my own people again. and believe
now that the rich can be elevated Just well as The
poor and that the Creator would Just an
educated person reform and lead useful, vriu,us
life ignorant one: and ! can more easily III
huence the educated one TO do So"