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

lures Of No. 81 that are peculiar. I
would like to have you see them"
II cannot go, Gordon. It's out of the
question. I 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.
II the tenement Is one story high, there
must be ten feet between front and
rear; II two stories, fifteen feet; IL
four stories twenty-five feet. etc. Yer
agent deliberately ignored this law
and built your double decker so as to
cover oil the space. In doing so 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 selfishly 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 So
ciety?"
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.
1t was only temporary indisposi-
ton. however, and after resting an
hour Mr.. Marsh recovered sufficiently
to cit Up and expressed some NORTH
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
impression on him.
TO GOrdon's disappointment. Miss An
drcws had been called away and was
not present at the evening meal. Mr..
Marsh was able to be at the table with
the residents and was close listener
to the talk, although he said little.
"Do you feel equal to a little work
this evening, Mr.. Marsh:" Gordon
asked after the residents had adjourned
to the library and had begun to scatter
for their several duties
II think so; yes Mr.. Marsh an.
swcred. lie was really ashamed of his
inability TO endure unusual sights of
disagrecabe human suffering.
Then perhaps we had better visit
one Of the vaudeville halls. | want you
to see how the saloon. as political in
stitution, comes in to supplement the
absence of home life. Perhaps it will
help you to understand better, if yo2
want to, why the tenement house con
ditionS are not interfered with ard
why it is to the interest Of the politi-
clan that the people suffer as far as
endurance will go in the matter of no
homes"
At o'clock. in company with an Off
| Ger in citizens clothes who was de-
tailed to look after Hope House dis
| trict. Gordon and Marsh entered one of
the vaudeville halls joining n corner
| saloon on Bowen street. Mr.. Marsh
was unusually excited. His university
training, his exclusive, refined culture,
his sensitive habits We're all the exact
| opposite of everything he had felt and
seen since he entered Hope House dis
| trict. He went in with Gordon, and
| they took seats in the rear of the saw
| dust covered floor in n hall that would
| hold 200 persons. They faced a gaudily
| painted curtain, which let down in
| front of a small stage. The hall rapid
ly filled up with men and boys. The
| air was heavy with the fumes of beer
| and tobacco. The night was sultry, and
| ut the saloon bar. which was visible
| through the doorway opening into the
| hall, could be seen long line of men
and women drinking, while others
| stood behind the line reaching their
hands over for glasses or waiting their
turn to get up to the bar itself.
Three vioins, harp and piano be
| gan TO play, and the curtain went up
At that very moment in Christian
homes all over America good women
kneeled at clean beds by the side OF
pure hearted little children to repeat
the evening prayer to the good God
But will the time speedily come wher
little voices shall swell the thunder OF
the good Gods wrath against an insti
| tuition that carries into homeless DIES
erts of the great cities the plag Of
death. the foul touch of lost virtue fol
the sake of gold:
| TO BE CONTINUED.