The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1899-11-09
7Ms.( Shopper year, in advar CO
Six Months so cents,

ing at Hester St. and includes all streets
between the BOwery and Forsyth St.
The twelve squares within this terri
tory is estimated to be the home of one
hundred and sixty thousand souls, as
great population as the metropolis of
Minnesota contains. 1t is beyond the
writer's power to adequately describe
how these people exist-for it is not
living, but mere existence.
Imagine if you can, the luxury of
being huddled with six, eight, or even
ten persons of both sexes into a room
twelve by twelve. Rooms such as this
generally contain small oil stove or
charcoal burner for cooking purposes;
two, or sometimes where the family
feel particularly wealthy, three chairs,
which, by having board placed upon
them at meal times, are utilized as
tables. Not sign of a bedstead. bu-
reau or other furniture exists: but
when retiring time comes, the bed
clothes are rolled out from the corner
where they repose during the day, and
are spread upon the floor. Then, when
the females retire behind suspended
sheet or blanket to don their night
attire, the male contingent roll in, and
that is what hundreds of poverty
stricken people call home.
But with all the poverty displayed,
one hears less bewailing of their con-
dition than is heard in families much
better situated. If the streets of this
district are considered crowded on
week days, it would strike the behold
er dumb with astonishment to see
them on the Sabbath when all are free
from toll. 1t is absolutely necessary to
take the middle of the street if one
wishes to pass, and even then one has to
crowd and thread their way among the
hordes of children. The sidewalks are
covered with chairs on which rests the
heads OF families, jabbering away in
most alarming manner to one who
understands not their language. Every
few PAGES, Swarthy sons of Italy are
met vending their penny packets of
peanuts, popcorn, ice cream, candy. etc,
But the delight of the young folks is
the man with the street piano. How
realistic the song "On the Sidewalks of
New Ork" IS, can never be realized
by one who has not actually witnessed
the sight Of hundreds of children, from
tots who can barely walk, to addies
and laSseS we'll into their teens, dan
viz tn hn
popular airs played by the street piano.
The most prosperous businesses on the
East Side, Judging from numbers. I
should say were the restaurants and
saloons, and it is surprising to find
how cheaply their wares are offered.
Though not much variety is displayed
in the restaurants bill of fare. Every
thing looks neat and the food as we'll
cooked as in more shoWy and
costly cafes. One can, for ten
cents, procure very comfortable
workingman's lunch, consisting of
roast beef or pork, potatoes, bread, but
ter, fair coffee and wedge of pie or
dish of pudding.
Some of my readers who are used to
dining at DelmOnico's or the Waldorf
Astoria, back door route may turn
up their nose at such fare; but no poor
fellow who can't tide in Pullman's
lslde door must be content without
angel food. 1t has been said that peo-
pie who are confined to each others
society gradually grow to resemble
each other physically if not mentally,
and the ObServant visitor to the East
Side will be struck with the truth OF
this saying by the faces he meets, FOR
almost every other person met seems
to possess a Jewish cast of counte-
nance, which will most likely be ac-
counted for by the Jews outnumber-
ing all other nations combined. The
Ghetto of New York City, being the
largest in the world.
Tho poverty is prevalent, beggary is
not indulged to any extent, at least
not by the actual residents. Every one
works, from the llsping little tot who
pulls little wagon heaped up with
sweatshOp goods, to the mother who
labOrs over machine all day for a
mere pittance. With all their poverty
the people are much more generous
with their hard earned little, than are
the wealthy with their plenty, and con-
sequently are prey for all the lazy
gOOd-fOr-nOthings who flood their dis
trict. Volumes might be written about
this district, but my space is limited
and | close by saying that more un-
prejudiced people to write up this slum
territory, they would be held in much
better opinion. BONES