The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-06-19
BOHEMIA ON THE MISSISSIPPI
HALF-DAY ON THE UPPER AND
LOWER LEVEES
The Man Who Made His Living by
Keeping dump" on the Fiat
The Dump Wemen and Chfi-
dren md Their Dealings With
the Dump Man-The Size, struc-
ture and Occupants OF Houses.

dren md Their Dealings With
the Dump Man-The Size, Struc-
ture and Occupants Of Houses.
eff hadn't braked my ankel tree
years ago, l could have been married
ten years already" So spoke long
haired resident of the Bohemian flats,
as he reached up and grasped the caves
of his house" with lazy Indifference
Yes. it is really true, and the word isn't
a misprint, for the caves of the man.
sion We're easily within mans reach,
being not more than six feet and a
half high. He was explaining the de-
tails of his business to a curiosity
monger, who. for convenience, will be
referred to as Miss Inquisitive. 1t was
by accident that the place was found to
be one of human habitation. for the
whole enclosure was SO stacked with
boxes, tin, iron, rope, pants. coats, dish
pans and dog kennels that the visitors
We're about 10 drive by with but a COM
ment on the huge refuse pile, when
from behind a heap of paper boxes and
old clothes the wiZened face Of an old
woman peered out at them quiZzically.
How would you like to live in that
q
sudden stop before the heap of rubbish.
What house? 1 don't see any
house, quered the other looking
about for the object.
why, where that old woman Is" he
said. pointing with his whip to what.
from the carriage, looked like a dog
kennel resting on dry goods box, for
the lower tWo-thirds of the structure
was completely hidden by the refuse.
Lets make a call"
No sooner suggested than carried
out. The visitors scrambled out of the
carriage and. picking their way through
the puddles, entered the precinct and
accosted tie pale-faced Individual, who
announced himself as the host of the
establishment.
HELPS THE POOR.
Aren't you afraid of fire with all this
kindling wood piled about your house?"
inquired Miss Inquisitive, as she un-
hooked the binding Of her skirt from
crooked nail that projected from a box.
This isn't no kindling wood; this is
all my property" he said, waving his
pared arm majestically around. "This
Is my business, and 1 help the poor
people around here"
A peculiar scratching, rustling noise
attracted the notice of the self Invited
guests to another section of the debris
where not one but Geveral women and
children were digging into the rubbish
with the Vigor of rat-terriers.
Are these members of your family ?"
asked the gentleman caller. as he meas
ured with his eye the dimensions Of
the house"
NO, these are dump-diggers They
get what they want and then / sell it
to them by the pound. I hain't got no
FAMILY If L hadn't broked my ankel
tree years ago 1 could have been mar
ried ten years already" The last GER
tence was uttered as if it were an old
familiar phrase, and indeed it was
proved to DE such before the visit was
ended.
What are these people digging for?"
asked Miss Inquisitive, as she moved
toward an Old woman leaning over a
box.
'Ohs she has gotta store in the civ
Wneres she sells clothes and hats, and
she comes here to get trimmings and
samples ard things'
And sure enough the box was half
foll of samples of brilliantly colored
straw brsiis, hat-bands, pieces of net
ing carriers and strips of cloth of
Variegated hues.
But who are her customers?"
oh. lots of folks what can't nav big
prices. and she makes her things nice"
where do you get all this material
from and what do you call this bust
neSS?"
This is a dump, aid 1 make a con-
tract with the big wholesale houses so
they bring their samples, what they
don't want, down here and then 7 use
the stuff to help the poor people around
mere and make my own living. You
see, can't do no heavy work. cause
tree years ago l braked my an1el. else
sure l could have been married fen
: nd In i
nit scannf the faces of his visitors far
confidence in his declaration. Then he
lee the way elong worming, squirm-
ing toe-ra'h through the debris in or
DER to display more Of his goods The
ACTON cav tie stranger a chance to
pace off, the length and breadth of
the house.
HE KEPT DOGS.
Seven by ten," he said under his
breath to Miss Inquisitive. But the
latter spying IN attractive-looking dog
Kennel, had stopped to look in and was
rewarded therefor by the sudden pre-
sentation Of two rows of shining teeth
and an onlinous growl. Miss Inquisi-
tive Immediately found greater attrac-
lions farther along the tce-path.
why do you keep dogs in your
Dump she asked when she had caught
up with III, hest
He / was more afraid Of tieyes
tran 1 was of fire." he replied with a
funny li,tle shrug of his shoulders.
You see ! h2in't got no wife to watch
wnen L amt here, cause 1 broke my
ankel tree y ars ago.
But II You had a wife you would
nave to have bigger house." suggest
ed Miss Il quisitive, who was drawing
her treath a Little cas- ec now.
"Oh, maybe enc udder ROOM" said the
enforced bachelor as he pushed back
long brown lock of hair behind his
car. But from the expression on his
face ii was plain that an "udder room"
would be en- Trey superf1uous
do you find this hard work ?"
''My-e," exclaimed the dump man
with an ov dent shudder at the sugges
ton, 81 can't do no hard work. You
see, when l brOked my anlzel I was in
bed tree years and I didn't sleep a
winkt, else | could been married ten
years air a 1y."
There were many curious things ly-
ing all about, but the visitors dared
ask the hest no more questions, for
fear that h would 'broked his ankel
again ard not get married for ten
years already
AS they threaded their way out to the
gate little ump-digger-a girl about
seven years old-looked up from her
work wopderingly. Her rich, brown
eyes, but Zone shade darker than her
face, plainly asked for something. The
expression set Miss Inquisitive musing
Upon the ethics of giving and the mus
ing was warming her heart when she
suddenly perceived that the -childs
head was the liveliest habitation about
the place.
Truly it is more blessed to give than
to receive, murmured the young wom-
CHI hos