New-York tribune., 1902-10-16
IN THE TENEMENTS.
THE LIFE OF THE POOR IN NEW YORK.

THE LEAVEN IN GREAT CITY; By Lillian
W Bette Octa"o. pp. VI, Si5 Dodd Mead ana
Company.
Mrs. Belts writes from personal observation
ana contact when she describes the conditions
and development ~ tenement life in this city.
She aims in this hook 20 present the municipal
Froblems that arise from congested housing. TO
analyze the attempts made 20 cope with them.
and 10 fix the responsibility for existing evils.
Beginning with the evolution Of the slum dis
trict as n type Of which she chooses the Fourth
Ward she traces the growth Of political power In
the hands ~ the boss and the failure of the
churches 70 make headway against growing de-
terioratiOn. contrasting this with the intimate
and more adequate approach of the working
girls clubs founded by Miss Grace II. Dodge.
and tho College Settlement in Rivington-st The
conditions of life in a tenement home are set
down in plain spoken terms A chapter is
given 10 the material and moral standards in
the various phases and grades Of this home life
and another 10 the management OF income.
The notorious tenements on Single and
Double" alleys in the Fourth Ward were dis
placed by ofilce buildings before any or the
several attempts to reclaim them could sue
ceed Like the fortified cities" in an Oriental
town these depraved dwellings bafiied the police
and rent collectors. In these alleys "a hght De-
came a pleasure and death social Opportu-
nifty" In the four years following 1850 BEFORE
the tenements We're swept away, some regen-
Grafton was accomplished by lessees, VINO put
two ladies personally in control. But the pre-
vious fifty years Of neglect could not be en-
tirely overcome In the habits OF the people
The character OF a tenement Is in great meas
ure determined by the disposition Of the house
keeper in charge. Some housekeepers eNer-
else a tyrannous sway. Others leave their ten
ants more freedom than is good for them ana
the house runs down in the social scale In
general, the author says. tenement house peo-
pie do not understand that abuse Of property
IS a factor in the rent problem" Atrocious
conditions such tide water in the cellars
are sometimes beyond redress because Of the
political ''puI' Of the landlord. Abuse OF poiit-
ical power is so common In disregard OF human
health and safety that the burden imposed by
political corruption far outweighs that OF pow
erty itself
The churches made the mistake OF working for
the tenement house people rather than with
them. The i'll adjustment Of relief this led 10
is typihed by the families with more turkeys
than members at Christmas. In the working
girls clubs however. and the Outgrowth from
them for the married members the domestic
circles" the utter lack of any sufficient social
life was supplied. They did much 10 widen the
horizon both Of the charity workers and the
tenement girls ne mann BileNail1e d6oAiASN
their chances in life the part Of people
reared in tenements seems 10 be the cruel lack
of room. Il is the mothers dearest ambition
10 give her children space TO live in. and it
Is rarely gratified. The lack OF seclusion has
one odd and untra dtional effect on loVemaking,
as il seems 20 be held that two couples are
better than one. But no people are more quick
at apprehending the ways Of the socially su-
perior when given little experience.
Mrs Belts regrets that there is no word 10
distinguish the independent workingman from
the recipients Of charity. Both are poor but
gulf stands between them. As 10 the man.
agement of finances in the families OF skilled
workmen il is the general custom that the wife
Is entrusted with the control OF all funds. The
author lays the responsibility for the exist
ing unfortunate conditions Of tenement life
upon the wealthy and more favored men who
fail TO discharge their civic duties but content
themselves with supporting institutions made
necessary by their inactivity and upon the
divorce Of the churches from the political con-
troll which produces eventually the environ
ment Of the home.