Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-12-24

over the paper. 1t was that that hai
made the noise.
The match f1ickered and went out
There was q moment of silence, broker
by Gordon, who said cheerfully:
"All right, Louis! Keep up good
heart. I'll try to get in and see yor
tomorrow"
"Thank you, Mr.. Gordon"
Mr.. Marsh pulled at Gordon's arm.
"For Gods sake, Gordon, let's gel
out of here. I'm growing sick. shall
faint"
"Come out into the fresh airw Cor.
don said ironically.
They went out into the corridor, and
Mr.. Marsh in his eagerness to get out
Of the building did not even stop to
reply to several Of the women who had
learned from Mrs. Caylor that he
owned the double decker and crowded
up to complain about the garbage boxes
and the drainpipes While Gordon
was talking with Mrs. Caylor Shout
Louis, Mr.. Marsh went down, hurried
as fast as he dared through the lower
court, and when John Gordon came out
he found him seated on the outer steps,
deathly pale and actually sick.
Gordon grimly eyed him.
"Its only o'clock. We'll have time
to do the other. There are some fea-
lures of No. 81 that are peculiar. I
would like to have you see them"
II cannot 60, Gordon. It's out Of the
question. ! am too ILL.,"
Lets go over to Hope House, then"
John Gordon said gravely.
Mr.. Marsh. with difficulty, walked
over to Hope House. On the way Cor
don said:
There Is an ordinance which says
that there shall be spaces between
front and rear tenements, graduated
according to the height Of the building.
If the tenement is one story high, there
must be ten feet between front and
rear: II two stories, fifteen feet; II
four stories, twenty-five feet, etc. Your
agent deliberately ignored this law
and built your double decker so as to
cover all the space. In doing 30 he
deliberately established condition
that permitted Of no light In a dozen
bedrooms like the one we went into.
More than that. he created conditions
that breed anarchy. for If the rich and
cultured citizens Of this municipality
for their own gain selfshly trample on
the laws of the city what can they ex-
pect from the poor and the desperate
and the ignorant but hatred of all 90
cietyT'
"I'm too sick to discuss It." Mr..
Marsh groaned Gordon saw that he
was actually suffering severely, and
when they entered Hope House he
gave him careful attention.
it was only q temporary indisposi-
tiop. however. and after resting an
hour Mr.. Marsh recovered sufficiently
to sit up and expressed some morttf-
cation at the way he had behaved.
But his manner was very grave, and
the experience Of his visit to the build
ing was evidently making profound
iInp1 ession on him.
To Gordon's disappointment, Miss An
drews had been called away and was
not present ut the evening meal. Mr..
Marsh was able to be at the table with
the residents and was a close listener
to the talk. although he said little.
do you feel equal to little work
this evening, Mr.. Marsh" Gordon
asked after the residents had adjourned
10 the library and had begun to scatter
for their several duties.
81 think 50; yes" Mr.. Marsh an
,wered. He was really ashamed Of bis
to endure unusual sights Of
human suffering.
"Then perhaps we had better visit
,ne Of the vaudeville halls. I want you
% see how the saloon, as political in
comes in to supplement the
absence Of home life. Perhaps 1t will
lelp you to understand better, II you
want to. why the tenement house con-
litions are not interfered with and
Why it Is to the interest of the politi-
ian that the people suffer as far as
endurance will 60 in the matter Of no
lomes."
At 3 o'clock. In company with an off, |
'er in citizens clothes who was de-
allied to look after Hope House dis
rict, Gordon and Marsh entered one Of
he vaudeville halls joining q corner
aloon on Bowen street. Mr.. Marsh
vas unusually excited. His university
his exclusive, refined culture,
lis sensitive habits, were all the exact
pposite Of everything he had felt and
cen since he entered Hope House dis
rict. He went in with Gordon, and
hey took seats in the rear Of the saw
ust covered floor in q hall that would
old 200 persons. They faced gaudily
ainted curtain, which let down In
ront of small stage. The hall rapid
? filed up with men and boys. The
ir was heavy with the fumes Of beer
nd tobacco. The night was sultry, and
t the saloon bar. which was visible
hrough the doorway opening into the
all. could be seen long line Of men
nd women drinking. while others
tocd behind the line reaching their
ands over for glasses or waiting their
urn to get up to the bar itself.
Three violins, harp and plano be-
an to play. and the curtain went up.
1t that very moment In Christian
ONES ull over America good women
neeled' at clean beds by the side Of {
4n rnnnnk / ,