Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-15
ALL IN PENNIES.
A Locality Where the Struggle for Ex-
fstence IL Hard.

A Locality Where the Struggle for Ex-
istence IL Hard.
From the New York Herald.
Cherry Hill is shrouded in the somber
gloom OF approaching dawn. 1t Is always
dark in the narrow street after shutdown.
but the lights which steal from the stained
windows OF the saloons and tenements on
either side onset the grewsome shadows
Of the dark and yawning alleys in the
early night. Now they are gone, and the
silence is broken only now and then by
the groans and mumbling Of drunken
wretch who has fallen helplessly in a
doorway.
A brisk step is heard at the corner. The
figure OF a man passes swiftly up the
street. He pauses at a small grocery stors.
unlocks the door, takes down the shutters
and lights the gas inside. His Teutonic
features are bright and shining. and his
fair skin bears a glow that betokens
recent application Of cold water and
coarse towel
1t is o'clock. One by one the tenement
windows reflect the light Of lamps and
candles Cherry Hill is waking up. Those
who live in the haunts of hunger and pri-
walton are preparing for the toll and hard
ship another day is bringing to them.
Hardly has Herman begun his task whom
a frowsy- headed boy, half-dressed, and
with shoes unIaced, stumbles through the
doorway. He carries a small tin pail.
"Say, Herman" he cries. as he walks
toward the counter, gimme tree cents
wort er milk an half a dozen rolls. Hully
gee, it's cold! DE ole man nearly broke me
nut draggin' me out sayin the little Cherry
Hill grocery store Is open for yer! Arr,
you're er stingy bloke."
He slaps eight cents on the counter,
picks up his rolls and kettle of milk, and
hurries out whistling Sweet Marie" with
variations according to his conception of
the melody, and-the little Cherry Hill
grocery store Is open for the day.
AS you look around you see little of
pretty nearly everything else you can
think of that human beings have to use,
and covered boxes and barrels denote the
presence of other things you would never
even guess. The shelves are trimming
over with all sorts of boxes and cans, with
tomatoes, baking powders and washing
compounds leading in point of classified
numbers.
A frail little woman. clasping a thin
black shawl tightly about her shoulders.
enters noiselessly. The cares of mother
hood and a life of cease1ess toll are
stamped upon her features. She brings to
view a small pitcher, with spout and
handle gone, and places 1t on the counter.
Good morning, Herman, she says.
Three cents worth of milk this morning,
and three cents worth of coffee" To this
are added two slices OF fresh pork and
six rolls.
'Inree, SIX, sixteen, tWenty-One, counts
Herman briskly. Then hands her four
pennies change, which she places in her
mouth.
Breakfast for four!
Good morning Mr.. OMara," says Her
man, as a thin, sparely-built man comes in.
What will you have?"
'"Ten cents worth of potatoes, two cents
worth OF onions and a paper Of tobacco"
He gets the tobacco first. and then, lean
Ing against a BARREL slows away n gen.
erous flngerful. Herman writes I'D the
charges in a greasy little account book
pocket.
us that all, Mr.. OMara?"
"Well, no." is the reply. IT wanted some
but never mind now. I'll come down for
1t after awhile" That is the way they
shop In Cherry Hill. So Herman hands
the book over without a word. Even then
OMara remained in the store over an hour,
talking politics with Herman during dull
spells and chatting with the customers.
The though Girl"
With a loud Halo, Herman, how's
t'ings?" the type of the east side tough
girl enters. Not bad girl-simply nat
urai and in keeping with her surroundings.
Born on Murray Hill, she would be an in
genue.
The dummy makes a mock attempt at
kissing her. Her fist lands on his neck,
sending him spinning, and he laughs
coarsely and pretends he is nurt.
Get out, you bum!' she says. "rll make
| yer dizzy II yer come near mo-" Then, In
the same breath, the incident entirely for