New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-07-29

les, and pleas re-seeking At another mission not
far from this one is a cheap lunch place. where a
cup OF coffee a bowl OF soup or thick slice or
bread is given for one cent AS the hour lot the
evening meal approaches. the poor people come 10
be fed faster than they be served Soon a long
line is formed. In which these victims OF poverty
await their purchase supper Tor three or
four cents. Most OF those In line are plear-eyed
men dressed in rags But there are women there
too and few children One family OF hve mem
bers stand together. All must be fed with total
OF fifteen cents.
There is poverty in the tenements as well as III
tho street In one OF the miserable two-room apart
ments which abound sits despairng VIE sur
rounded by crying children. They have had nothing
TO eat all day. not even crust OF bread Inc Ia
ther is a decent man. but he has been out OF WORK
FOR many months. He has done his best Tor his
family But his scant savings have been exhausted
his credit has failed the furniture Of the home the
clothing OF the family even the wedding ring mas
been pawned. He is absolutely without resource
and is desperate. His hand has grasped the KNOB
OF the door. -
Don't go, Tom, don't CO." says the wlle' IL
we must die. let us all die together
The man does not hear He looks for an instant
in helpless agony at his starving family, ana theh
he Is gone. The mother PUSHES to the door ana
starts 10 fly after him. But no. she cannot ieaVe
| her babies, Better xii them XII them YES
and then Kill herself She Is IN frenzy bordering
| on insanity Body and mind both worn and
| weak and suffering from extreme nervous tension
| The resolution to end the unhappiness OF all VINO
are left with her is a distinct relief She IS calm
as she picks up the knife which cut the last loaf
OF bread the day before The children do not know
| their danger They look up at her tearfully but
| trustfully as she stands there. knife In hand NO
she cannot strike them. II they were only DEAD
| she would take her own life. oh. that they were
dead, But the pain which they would feel when the
knife should strike-no she cannot do 1t. She sinks
Irov her
| and sits In fearless sorrow, unmindful OF time.
dazed with grief.
ALMOST A SUICIDE.
Tn. man hesitates when he reaches the street
| To the left the destroying waters OF the East
| River To the right is Chatham Square, with us
lights and It's life. He turns to the right lie VIII
once more mlngle with the crowd before he leaves
| the world Perhaps-it Is hope against hope-per-
haps he may meet somebody who ten him OF
| something he can do for his family. SO he turns
| TO meet the good angel coming to seek him
At the moment he tore himself from his family
little band OF missionaries was kneeling IN prayer
asking for a blessing the work they were about
TO do to out into the highways and invite people
| To the evening service. They I'll their arms with
religious papers tracts and cards OF INVITATION ana
20 of in different directions. one OF them meets
the unfortunate husband and father. Something IN
the sympathetic tone I'm which she addresses MIN
| attracts him and he tells her his story. Come 10
tho service she saws "and then I will go with
| YOU 10 your home" He IS persuaded. relief Is
given 10 his family and he makes another effort to
live
Some OF the missionaries with their invitations
into side streets. one goes down Park Row. another
goes little way mp the Bowery. still another goes
70 tho lodging houses in Chatham Square. She
goes IN rlcketv stairway into n nfteen-cent place
She speaks n word OF greeting 20 the proprietor
who is seated behind a desk He mods 10 her pleas
antly. He doesn't believe In religion himself. he
doesn't believe In much Of anything except that
men are constantly being ruined and that he -
able 70 make n greWsomc living by furnishing cheap
lodgings for the few each day that his mser-
able customers earn. beg or steal But she Is
such a CHEEKY little missionary that he really likes
70 see her in and he knows that many OF tho
| dodgers Ike 10 see her.
She goes 10 the ono large loungnG-roo OF the
house I. . or % feet square. There is sawdust
on the floor \ fcw round tables and number or
wooden chairs complete the furnishings sign
on tho wall says. no card playing after II o'clock.
or any time on Sunday" There are thirty or forty
men IN the room. smoking. doing. reading or
PLAYING checkers.
Good evening boys" says the little missionary.
The men look NJ. with scowi some with
absolutely no eSpression4-there are many such on
the East sidc-others with a smile and rough
saiutation. The checker game is stopped
I've again to invite you all over 10 the Tenn
pic" sh. continues. We're going 70 have n SPLEEN
dld service tonight Or. s.. the evangelist. Is
going to preach HIS farewell sermon Now I'm go
ing 10 give you all tickets that Will admit you TO
reserved seats VIII YOU come"
'Oh yes well come" say several dodgers gibly.
wen BE- there" They haven't the slightest inten-
ton of going. however.
Is the Creole quartet goin' 10 singF' asks a
blear-eyol man.
Yes they're going 10 sing before the speaking
begins 50 you'd better ~ early II you want to hear
them"
'"They warn't there last week"
no" the little missionary. ~ m so sorry.
They couldn't get there. although we expected
them I'm glad You % the Temple. though.
Come tonight. won't you"
"Ili come over" SAYS the lodgcr.
is there anybody here by the name OF John -
asks the missionary
MY name l. John" says n tough-ooking fellow.