New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-14
CONVICTS' FAMILIES AIDED.
A DAY WITH MRS MERRILL. MRS.
BOOTHS AGENT
CHARITABLE WORK THAT HELPS TO BRIGHTEN
DREARY LIVES IN srNG SING. CLINTON
AND AUBURN-A HOME NEEDED.

DREARY LIVES IN SfNn SING CLINIoN
AND AUBURN-A HOME NEEDED
When Mrs. Darlington Booth first began her
prison work and organized her pest up the river
at Sing Sing shc found that she had 20 have some
body to visit the families OF the imprisoned men to
help and comfort them. and she selected Mrs Colo
mel Merrill. There not very much to be done
at first, but when Hope Hall, tho home for eX-
prisoners was opened and letters commenced to
pour In from Sing Sing, Clinton and Auburn pris-
ons Mrs Booth had to get two mere stenographers,
and Mrs. Merrill found that her position was no
sinecure.
A Tribune reporter went with Mrs Merrill one
of her visitation trips the other day In Elizabeth
ST the first visit was be paid. Up rickety, dark
tenement stairs the two proceeded TO top floor.
where they paused and Mrs. Merrill knocked soft
~ on the door almos: whisperlr & 1T IS all right
only Mrs Merrill" This precaution, she eX-
| planned afterward necessary, because the
butcher and grocer. well the landlord, call so
often for the money owed to them that the door is
never opened until the caller announces his or her
| business.
| In one dark dingy were five people-man.
wife and three children-all hudded around lit
| tie kitchen In corner was broken-down
| bedstead and In another a mattress on which the
children slept.
one OF the children, a brlsht-facod little boy
| whose sole covering was a black jersey and a
| ragged pair OF knce-breeches was complaining OF a
sick headache. and began TO tell Mrs. Merrill the
| moment she entered about letter they had from
! Dam" whose time. he said would soon be up.
III Dan wasn't in de pen youse wouldn't need to
| be hclpn' us-would dey pop" asked tho little
| chap. Evidently he was proud of Dan.
| The father shook his head slowly and smiled
| He too was almost much in need OF clothes as
| the boy his whole wardrobe consisting of Il
patched pair of trousers and wooen shirt the
having been sent 10 the pawnbroker's several weeks
| before. Not many years ago ne was in afliuent
| circumstances the owner Of a lucrative business
| lie began to speculate and gradually went down
| and down. He te III. and his son Dan took the
| place of head OF the house. Dan was good" he
| said softly. put he got into bad company, and
| and-well he forged a check: but" brishtenins up
che IS all right now. Mrs. Booth-God bless her.
is his friend. He will be out in four months. and
then please God, We will be happy again"
UNABLE TO LOOK FOR WORK
"you are unable to find work I suppose" the re-
| porter asked.
| II am unable to look for It, because" shame
facedly. ~ have no clothes. I applied for relief to
several charitable organizations, but all got was
! about a dollars worth of groceries,
| BY this time the children were getting excited
| over a mysterious bundle brought by Mrs Merrill,
and the reporter noticed kettle and frying pan
| being put hastily. The tears gathered In tho
on thfre w SySs - rent NIP paid d. III "
| IN a Muberry-st. tenement were found SIX
a AND grganrldmoher and the sister Of the wife
whose ,b husband the re sGTyn Of ou Tabbn ar
since hs mprsonment the e. bToheTn ri VI h3G
| left some substantial help here.
'Nev mind. Mrs. Merrill; when Domlnick. he
coma out. ! paya you back ALL said tho WIFE
70 'Do not think about that dear am not look
| ing for repay ment," said Mrs Merrill.
BRIGHT SPOTS TO BE FOUND.
"What dark sights you accustomed tor ex-
spnf
.Oh T have bright ones too" Mrs. Merrill said
.,,iIinoIv Il will show you one at our next stopping
Mace We shall woman who is employed
az cook by q family in LeXlnston-aVe. She mas
husband in Dannemora Prison and three children
g., tho hands OF the Gerry society. She herself
uas arrested several months ago while drinking
ri,b , number O., men and after the children had
been taken from her went steadily from bad 10
worse Mrs Booth happened to see an account
of the affair In the newspapers ana saW that the
% and description correspOnded with mat OF
No v.ifn OF one OF her boys. VINO had requested
her several times to Try 10 mo ms WIZ h %1
(rn" which she emerged some weeks later
ehrnsed o mUr kitchen WAS bright and clean
/ 81, Tho Kitchen OF a good housekeeper. Al the
drst glimpse % the Nounterr uhll4rh r S1G ID" ~
MTS, N' sh, showed Fred's letters ana one from
home written I by her shonld e come on LOOKING
h.r I'' iroe Niue eyes and pale, handsome features
a. an, we comld hardly believe that she had ever hee'
anything s., oH ls, was to young man whose fathe
IS "a Mfer in Auburn The son her oV Was SEN
enced taken Of by ,oSg sg"bfm@" r w
gay" nm me Uhnre he now holds responsible
poston For the wrehSa or Gi h his fTSn n
not q "o'" him. his boy either hated or wa
asS him And ,a sse Mrs Bod5 S"&
him ihioiii ,hen the old unburdened M
ss% no G GS 'i' SSRS @S
a Now the hit, MUS that make 1t seem TO the inmate
ike a new place
r INV A PROSPEROUS YOUNG MAN
a.. manly looking young fellow. In a WORK
'r's suit and skull cap, came dow" 70 inc g aae
tory once whore Mrs Merrill ea'r" ,, np,5 I'T bp
e letters .0t course. the fellows here know moth
70 added; -, and do want them to. lhe'
NH. ,ns nor understand A., ,r,o, ,eed now f.
r MT here the neglected children ol oe ie
can 10 taken ea ,,em not to lind nome for father