The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-12
CHRISTMAS IN THE TENEMENTs.
The Holiday Spirit Lightens the
SQunIid Quarters.

Jacob A. Riis, author Of How the Other
Half Lives and of other studies of life in
the tenements, contributes an article to the
December Century on Merry Christmas in
the Tenements" Mr. Riis gives the follow
ing description of actual scenes ON Grand
street:
of travel form an eddy, the line of push
carts debouches down the darker side street
In its gloom their torches burn with a fit
full glare that wakes black shadows among
the trusseS of the railroad structure over
head. A woman, with worn shawl drawn
tightly about head and shoulders, bargains
with peddler for Il monkey stick and
2 cents worth of filter gold Five ill-clad
youngsters fatten their noses against the
something there, which proves to be a milk
wagon, with driver, horses and cans that
can be unoaded 1t is something their
minds can grasp. One comes forth with
penny goldfish Of pasteboard clutched tight
ly in his hand, and casting cautious glances
right and left, speeds across the way to the
waiting ITS yer Chris mas, Kate" he
says, and thrusts it into her eager fist. The
black doorway swallows them up.
Across the narrow yard, in the basement
of the rear house. the lights of Christmas
tree show against the grimy window-pane.
The two children arc bVsily engaged fixing
little candles that burn there shed light
upon scene of utmost desolation. The
room is black with smoke and dirt. In the
middle of the room oozes an oil stove that
serves at or ce to take the raw edge off the
cold and cook the meals by Half the win
dow-panes were broken, and the holes
stuffed with rags. The sleeve OF an old coat
hangs out of one, and beats Greariy upon
the sash when the wind sweeps over the
fence and rattles the rotten shutters The
family wash clammy and gray, hangs on q
clO1heS line stretched across the room. I'm
der it, at table set with cracked and empty
nlates q discouraged woman sits eyeing the
children's show gloomily. II is evident that
she has been drinking. The peaked faces or
the little ones wear a famished look. There
are three-the third an infant. put 10 bed
in -shat was once q baby carriage. The two
from, the street are pulling it around to get
the tree in range. The baby sees IT. and
crows with delight. The boy shakes
branch, and the goldfish leaps and sparkles
in the candle-hght.
sec. sister,. he pipes: see Santa claus"
And they clap their hands in glee. The
woman at the table wakes out OF her
stIfDor gazes around her. and bursts into
a fit Of naudlin wecning.
The door falls to. Five flights up another
nnens upon a bare attic room which q pa
are only three chairs. box and a bedstead
in the room but they take 4 deal of care
FIJI arranging The bed hides the broken
plaster in the wall through which the wind
came in: each chair leg stands over rat
hole. at once to hide it and keep the rats
plaster of the ceiling is held up with paste
board patches. I know the story OF that
attic. It is one of cruel desertion. The
wonan's husband is even now living in
plenty with the creature for whom he for
sock her. not a dozen blocks away while
she ~keens the home together for the chill
dre1l She sought Justice. but the lawye~
went back to her little ones. For this room
that barely kaeps the winter wind out she