Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-12-25

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ball. Over the steps Of the tenement
entrances, some Of them high enough
to be designated "stoops," women hold
ing sick babies or little girls staggering
under the load Of child two or three
years younger filed up the picture Of
sodden, unkempt. disheveled, tired out
humanity that turned that awful street
into human hell. where no alleviating
bit OF cheer or relief was inserted to
give one ray Of hope for the future.
The only buildings in front of which
there were no steps were the saloons.
These averaged five to block and one
on each corner. The corner saloons,
with a few exceptions, also had at
tached to them vaudeville halls, with
staring lamp signs, Free Vaudeville"
hung out over the entrances
1t has been said that no living being
ever successfully described Bowen
street so that a person who never saw
1t could have even the faintest concep.
ton of its truth. Mr.. Marsh had never
seen anything like it, and all his read
ing had never given him any idea
whatever Of the reality. He stared at
it all now in bewildered, almost
frightened manner that grasped only a
part of the terrible Significance of 1t
all.
Finally he turned to John Gordon
and said with tone in which irrita-
ton was the dominant note:
"Why don't some of these children
go over and play in the Hope House
Fairgrounds instead Of rolling in this
awful filth? understood you to say
that Hope House had playground"
John Gordon looked at Mr.. Marsh at
first with feeling of Indignation,
which rapidly changed to one Of sad
ness
GLOW many children can play in a
space shut in and bounded by a lot less
than so feet wide and 100 feet long
1t is crowded to overhowing now. DO
you know how many years Miss An
drews pleaded and begged and prayed
and turned mountains Of selfish indif-
ference and commercial greed to get
that little Playground"
Il have no idea. Hadn't we better
go inside now?" Mr.. Marsh replied
feebly. Lets get through with it. /
had no idea 1t was all so horrible. OF
course this is unusually bad, isn't it,"
There are fifty other streets as bad
or worse within two miles Of Hope
House"
"Why don't they get new garbage
boxes at leastr' Mr.. Marsh exclaimed
In the same irritated manner. He had
begun by being sick at the sight Of the
fearful conditions. He was now grow.
ing angry.
who do you mean by they Mr..
MarshW John Gordon said. with some
bitterness. "The landlords? The cit,
landlords to furnish and keep in goot
repair garbage boxes sufficient in siz
to accommodate the number of fami
lies in their tenements.'
Mr.. Marsh looked at the box in from
of his own double decker and salt
nothing.
1t was rotten apology for what hat
once been n small box 1t had oni,
three sides and no cover. 1t was fillet
to overlooking, and browning the heal
Of stencil was a dead chicken swarmin,
with maggots. 1t was fair sample o
every other box in Bowen street, ant
in its lOathsome and naked unclcanncs
ii stood there in the blaze of the pitiles
sun dumb but CHASTITY and over
whelming witness against the cultured
Indifference of the men who are no
willing to be their brothers keepers $,
loHs rs they can live luxuriously oil
their brothers needs at a distance from
all suffering and responsibility.
They went into the narrow court tina
separated the rear from the front o
the building, and John Gordon pointed
out the deadly nature of the construc
ton.
There is no direct sunlight in any O
these rooms that open on the court
All light and air must enter eithe
where we did or come in from tn
top"
He uttered the word in time to pre-
vent Mr. Marsh from stumbling over
projection in the shape of a raised plat
form built out from the side wall
shortening the distance between tn
main walls Of the court. The use o
the platform was, as he afterwart
learned. to furnish little additions
room for hanging out clothes, whicl
were suspended above the platform ol
Il series of racks.
The floor of the court or passagewa.
between the two wings of the dumb
bell'' was slippery with filth OF ever,
description. In the semdarkness whicl
prevailed in spite of the suns glar
outside could be seen pale, tired VIC
men with sallow, dirty faces, perrin
, out from doorway and window. TIL
heat was sitting. as not a breath blew
in at either end Of the passage, and tn
odor was overpowcrng.
, Mr.. Marsh hesitatod.
II don't know that | care to go in,
he said almost in a tone Of fear.
: TOO late to back out now, MI
; Marsh. Gomez 1t will do you goot
Make you more contented with you
. home on the boulevard" John Gordo
said grimly.
| He greeted the group Of women 4
the doorway, and they returned hi
greeting civlly enough, for he wa
wearing his regular inspectors badge
, authorizgd by the board Of health, an
besides all that he had already in tn