New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-21
SEAMY SIDE OF YONKERS.
A VISITORS WORK IN THE LITTLE CITY's
TENEMENT HOUSES.
PLUCK AND PATIENCE AND UNsELfIsHNEss
AMONG THE POOR-wHAT is NEEDED TO


The tenement population OF Yonkers is perhaps
not better or worse than that of any other manu-
featuring city. Contrasting with the beautiful
homes all along the banks OF the Hudson are the
tenement districts OF the low wage earners IN the
hat and carpet factories. There is a negro quar-
ter an Irish quarter, a Little Italy and settle
ment OF Hungarians
Two young women connected with the Womans
Institute Mrs. Won Wagner and Miss GOODWIN
both of them trained nurses visit and inspect
these tenement districts. Unless the visitor is
rarely fitted by nature for the work she is apt TO
do more harm than good. The poor welcome sym
patty but are apt resent what seems 10 them
simple prying patronage
Mrs Won Wagner says that for al least SIN
months after she began inspecting and visiting
IN the tenement districts OF Yonkers three years
ago she felt heartsick discouraged; many times
inclined 10 resign. she could not see where she
was any help 10 any one. rouno throush p0i
zion Of her district with her would convince any
rerson that this dscouraging time is now past as
~ every home OF the poor there is now gao
smile OF welcome A Tribune reporters experience
with Mrs Won Wagner was not devoid OF incident
A Young Irishman lay dying Of consumption IN a
rIean little apartment OF four rooms. his eyes
were CLASSY bright and his cheeks were hushed
Three little children and a fair young VIE must
soon fight the battles of life without the protect
,ne arm OF father and husband. AS MS Vsi'o.
entered the room II was evident tnat lHe .'ue" -
gaiisn, hattery so common 10 the irish hau nov
if, him for he said: "Ah. light Of me NE us
glad am then 10 you. You always Aho"
how 10 dress my back and fix these PAD res'S ''i''
give me an easy day and night
While the dressing Of the back was eolns On a.
1,bch the young wife assisted. they TAXED oI '"e
annette OF the sick and how ne siep' l@Ss
-igb, and the visitor said; Il see you nave eoou
-scb friends You have flowers and cherries
haven't had any cherries yet myself. $1,000.
After going out Mrs. Won wagner eApi''. -
,rTnat Young man used be conductor on 'he
al
.,rtcken down his old friends. many OF theIi Pe''!
VOL off see 10 it that his little family uoe -
want His wife does well by him she 'no. ous.-''
understands the danger Of contagloh anu ~
cessity Of cleanliness. but II wa
when I first found them. -.
.,7ha next tenement will not be so clean VI ~
well furnished as the last. The woman 10" 80
milk leg with prospect OF ano'hei' ou -
more proud OF her than Of almost an! -,
when first found them she and her husOa"u
had been drunkards for so long that only 0"e
the five children had survived. Al 'he I'M
-, erst visit the mother sick. the tenement
vas In a revolving condition Of fifth the Oa1y
dving-at least 10 all appearance. Inns was ~
Nf,h baby that 81 GODS Will 70 take Or ''ie
,rother EXPRESSED IT, I borrowed some clean oeu-
a., IN The accumulation in the house could
s. washed bathed the baby cleaned his cradle
a,d cooked the husbands midday meal for hlfl
did not dare leave the house for a moment i0f
nS 7 srnotheTingy hot but the poor baby was cold
TO give il the warmth OF my o%n DoqE ae ~ food
a time, l gave II Ioou
nay am; o; E TO get breath Of air during the
nor night carried the BABY INTO me yaIu' tTc
NJ ~. .as1 ali that l could do and all that sclence
co6 do for that baby might not avail 10 save IT'S
lie I prayed through the whCiS me- it fatber and
one might live and help me reform Us aa'Ie oriG
wo,ber When the morning Lght came couiS S
see that the baby was oe dorr child as YOU will
soon see There is still much 70 pe 49, ~ re
the two children that have come s ~, make allow
sss' ,o are d av and disorder for Of her
milk legs 1t is hard lot .i oro,,o5 inst want
a. q. Sa Ie heT in good cheer keep her trying Sne
and her husband have ne eS'R Will do better stu
me emu, one Of these tenements should De con con
6 hse5E ID ,orn down. The vaults are not con.
1 ennso 1 AR The sewers the wash from tne
butcher store runs into the oaT 1-orsS W; un-
5Tneath the bGtchers IS milk store ne sai5nr
Is u that rear tenement one an infant.
bt. fs,ber VINO is also dying OF copsu a S .,
went to the hospital last %eeH mother could put her
c6lldren While she goes out to GAYS tfep oldest
could keep her little brood sS sandi is not
cb use 70 him for hard work. so ne mus go ~ ~
himself for some clerical position IN "hic" nc
can he!p ms o,an dreamed OF the good progress
could make in Yonkers If had aset1 arnie eetnes
night down among my people e., bDt meeting once
veek ~ once In two weeks is not IKE Ins ia; 49,,
contact would like to have IN order 10 "0'N ''
1.7!FNg, n there could be some place IN me
co,,,rr' Mac conducted the cottage P. tIa
10 which consumptives could be sent sePi S, ne
fbose in the early stages who possibly m sst6 az
SD from the incurables. many 81 tle c4ii'' 30
who now die every year could be sIVeu so,o Tn.
There IS a great work here 20 De uoII. ~
girls 20 into the factories-hat ana caIPg.' no.
earn rom So 10 so week. according 10 ne w." 49,
~ 40 capable OF doing Il IS true that me, me
can attend the COOKING clnsses ~ me ins,rnc
but / have sometimes feared that these insai ~
tiors were TOO scientific for those VINO attehu !.
understand At al events 90 Eoo" y, 'i ,be &c, eco
marry and from absolute ignorance OF tne -,
nomcaI way 10 lay out the husbands "aEeS '"'