New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-02-05
SOifE PRORLEMS or POLITELY.

In the course Of n sermon the other Sun
day Or Ransforl declared that nowhere in the
world is the retail trade more unfavorabc TO tho
poor than H. is in this country. That there Is
a large measure OF truth in this statement will
be denied by no ono familiar with the life of
the very poor in the tcncmcnt-house districts. For,
partly through necessity and partly through ig-
norante. they habitually make their purchases
from day to day, and often from hour 20 hour,
the result being. ~ course. that they pay
enormously high prices for everything. Instead
Of buying n ton Of coal for Sc or loss. they
buy il by the scuttlc bushcl at the corner
grocery, sometimes paying nj the rate OF slj
or $50 ton. Besides which. the coal for which
they pay this monstrous price is often Of the
poorest quality. Flour. which they could get
Mt about 81 80 barrel, they buy in the form
Of bakers bread NJ about SIS barrel So II
Is with all tho other staples Of life. The we'll
10 do are able 70 get everything at bottom
prices, because they are SO situated that they
can purchase n large quantity ut once. But tho
very poor, who can least afford il. pay two
or three times rs much for similar articles which
are often inferior in quality. The snme thing
is true OF the few Injuries which the Door
sometimes allow Themselves When they wish
TO purchase these luxnrcs-a watch. or bit
OF icwclry. NAV bc-thcy almost invariably patron
izc some little shop in the nciqhborhood. getting
an article for which, ralc, they pay 20
per cent more than they would for the same
grade - goods In n large establishment
Evidently something should be done 10 remedy
this state OF affairs; but it is not easy to say
what. II is useless to appeal to the retail
dealer for lie is simply doing what all business
men do-getting az much profit as he ran out
OF his business. W" may think that it would
b" 10 his interest in the long run TO bc con-
tent with smaller profits hut long IA be
does not think so the question Is settled, far
rs he is concerned. The only remedy lies in so
improving Tn" conditions Of life Of the poor
that they will be capable of looking out for
their own interests. Even the poorest family
ought TO have enough room to store away at
least a ton Of coal at once or TO keep n
barrel Of -four At present few can do So This
opens up the great question Of tenement house re.
form-a question which cannot be much longer
ignored, because il vitality affects the well-beinc
and prosperity Of the whole city If we not
only allow, but force. thousands OF people 10
live under conditions little better than those of
wild beasts, we must not be surprised If many
Of them show themselves to be as little amorable
to law wild beasts. No matter how we
explain it. there is something wrong with
social system that Is content 10 let an MANI
thousand human beings live in tenements that
ere themselves prolific breeders of ignorance hone
lessress and crime. Bat improved tenements
would be Of no avail. unless the poor are them.
selves improved. The most helpless aspect of
their condition is tina. they are contcnted with
il. They want nothing better because they arc
intellectually conscious Of nothing better ANY
city missionary will testify that there are families
which would violently resist compulsory law
OF cleanliness. For instance, il they were forced
to take bath habitually they would feel that
sense Of shame that most people would feel in
the commission OF some foolish or dscreditable
act.
1t IL absurd 10 suppose thar anything can
be donc with such people until they are morally
rcgencrated. They must lie educated ALL CIV