New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-06-24
POVERTT-STRICKEN WOMEN

HUMOR AND PAT7IOS or THE ALMSHOtSE
In the grounds OF the almshouses on BackweTs
Island an old gave visitor the other
day his Views on the subject Of Old women. Look
al the min now" ne said. "aven thin as Is blind
wandhers round an throes TO contint thimsilves;
but the women Lord save thin. maybe us ouid
age makes thin peevish. but they shp'nd their
tonne mopin round the benches or growln an
spattin' Wild thimsilves"
He spoke truly. but the discomfort OF the women
is easy 10 understand Many OF the men are fairly
well educated These men enjoy the readlng-room.
which IS below the Chapel Of the Good Shepherd.
and the games-chcss checkers or dominoes-
which the reading-room supplies. Some OF the Ola
women cannot read. In their day and country
public school education not available for all.
In earlier Ufe they were occupied in the work OF
their homes and the rearing OF their children The
homes may have been miserably poor but they
were their own. where they could cook their meals
on their own fiji and work as they pleased IN
their own kitchens. Now, bereft OF these
interests their lives are sadly monotonols.
In pleasant weather they ST. crowded on
the benches out Of doors. and some
look sour and others sad Many appear Indifferent
TO their surroundings to everything In NE some
have been brought 10 this condition by their own
misdeeds: others poor but respectable are there
through misfortune. not fault; few from the
cultured classes had been accustomed to the lux
ur1es and rehnements of NE; but all. respectable
and disreputable. educated and uneducated. rever-
ent and profane. are herded together
A visitor met an old lady WHO had known bet
for days I'm on my way home. miss" she SAID.
"Please show me the way TO the gate. Father
promised 10 send the carriage for me and thought
he uould meet me at the house: but m sure he's
waiting for me at the gate. Father wouldn't Tor
get" Happily for her while her cloude1 NINA
retained recoectons OF past days 1t ola not reaHe
her nresen surroundings Men OF the better classes
drr, 70 the almshouse when women OF the same
mi
yerv small means Such men have sought Greek
and Latin classics in the reading-room' ana the
librarian was able to supply them Men, Dereit
os their women folk and unaccustome1 10 wait
on themselves often cease TO struggle when re-
duced 10 poverty and pass to the almshouse.
Some time ago two aged women OF the cultured
o,ass were discovered living above the shop OF a
leu, in poor little street The elder was too feeble
N work but the younger took Work from inc sec
ond-hand clothing shops OF the neighDorhood. In
worry hard times they lived on flour ana water
rrho,r great dread was that a time might come
,ben the provider would be unable to buy either
,ai or eour and the almshouse would be almost
inevitable ~ 49,, l.,
Among the inmates on BackweHs lsIahd IL
dwarf who was formerly an attraction at barhum s.
The man who pointed her out explained; ohe iost
Nor nos,tion because more fashionable and better
educated ladies take such places in these tunes
rha lttle woman grnned and appeared delighted
hv tho reference to her former distinction Inc
ia women often boast of better days. and call In
uast,on one another's statements One told a
,,is,,or that she had been maid in the family or
a "cellarbrated MINISTER anu ''''' '"' ~
"strings of hymns"
.she can aayther rade nor write SAID her
,eiobbor ''let alone sphake hymns Joosht ashk
her 10 sphake thin II she knows so mootch. Inc
r,oIishwoman thus challenged. started up. ana
hn,a, literally to recte strings OF hymns Re
..rdless OF rhetorical pauses and stopping TO take
hreat m only when IL physical necessity. she
ranea ted line after line OF well-known hymns pieced
,oyether like a crazy quilt. and with extraordinary
misanplcations Of words She wound UP with
Lead kindly light, h'encircled with the moon'
And I'll come hon.
Another who asked what work she used 10
do said with offended dignity; i never WORKED out
Tor nobody ] was q parvenyure she mad PROP
rtcb family and thought IT was used as marx
OF respect. -, ... o,o r,ho,
some have very exasperating ways. one. when
o,sor she was annoyed, knelt conspicuously on the
eoor and. after enumerating In detail the ms
deeds OF her roommates, prayed Tor them inulVlu-
u ia had 10 be called In TO restore peace An Inn
,tssc,ie came to tell visitor that she nao Deeh
,erv had and had been tied In her chair so she
r,oyyldn'{ be in mischief But. MARY. said
roommate. "you were not bad enough 10 De put
70 he'd so what are you wearing your nlghtcap
10 10 Wear nightcaps of morning. Mary immed
ta,, took of the cap wherein her friend remarked
ma,S glance round the room; You're very pld.
SabIe Nary-a deal more biddable than some that
| has their senses A.. s,-... ,,s,,o- 20 ,b.