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

- Ne Oss w IIkN LIN H.
!, instances picking bits d decayed lem
, ons. bananas and oranges out Of the
gutter.
One group of boys was tormenting q
miserable cat. Another group was yell.
Ing at police officer who had just or.
, dered them out of the street, where
, they had been trying to have game Of
ball. Over the steps of the tenement
entrances, some Of them high enough
to be designated "stoopS" women hold
Ing sick babies or little Sirls staggering
under the load of a 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, whete no alleviating
bit Of cheer or relief vas inserted to
give onessay Of hope foIthe future.
The only buildings inffront of which
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. "Flfe Vaudeville. !"
hung out over the entraHces.
1t has been said that mo living being
ever successfully dedcribed Bowen
street s6sfhat a person who never saw
1t could have even the taintest concep-
ton Of its truth. Mr.. Anrsh had never
seen anything like 1t. abd all his read
Ing had never given him any idea
whatever Of the reality. He stared at
1t all now In a bewtldered. almost
frightened manner thaHgrasped only
part Of the terrible significance Of It
ull.
Finally he turned II John Gordon
and said with a tone h which irrita.
tion was the dominant nbte:
"Why don't some off these children
60 over and play in tie Hope House
Fairgrounds instead of rolling in this
awful filth? l understood you to say
that Hope House had d playground"
John Gordon looked at Mr.. Marsh at
first with a feeling of indignation,
ness x
"How many children can play In a
space shut in and bounded by lot less
than 80 feet wide and 100 feet long?
1t is crowded to overfewing now. Do
you know how many years Miss An.
drews pleaded and begged and prayed
and turned mountains pf selfish indif-
ference and commercial greed to get
that little playgroundTsS
II have no idea. Hadn't we better
90 inside now?" Mr. Marsh replied
feebly. Lets get through with it.
had no idea It was all lso horrible. OF
course this Ia unusually bad. isn't it?''
'There are fifty othsf streets as bad
or worse within tweamiles Of Hope
House." Il >' sszh:.
"Why don't they get new. garbage
boxes at least% Mr.. Marsh exclaimed
In the same irritated manner. He had
begun by being sick at the sight Of the
fearful conditions. HS was now grow
Ing angry.
"Who do you mean by they. Mr..
Marsh" John Gordon said. with some
bitterness. "The landlords? The city
ordinance makes it obligatory on the
landlords to furnish and keep in good
repair garbage boxes sufficient in size
to accommodate the number Of fami-
lies in their tenements."
Mr.. Marsh looked at the box In front
of his own double decker and said
nothing.
1t was rotten apology for what had
once been q small box. 1t had only
three sides and no cover. 1t was filled
to overfowing, and crowning the heap
Of stencil was dead chicken swarming
with maggots. 1t was fair sample Of |
every other box In Bowen street, and |
n its loathsome and naked uncleanness
itstood there in the blaze Of the pitiless |
sui a dumb but CHASTITY and over
whdming witness against the cultured
Indifference Of the men who are not
willing to be their brothers. keepers so
long Is they Gun live luxuriously on
their bother's needs at distance from
all sufring and responsibility.
They vent into the narrow court that
separated the rear from the front Of
the building. and John Gordon pointed
out the deadly nature of the construc.
ton.
'There is 10 direct sunlight in any of
these rooms, that open OIL the court.
nj at off |
where we dill or come In from the
top"
He uttered tie word in time to pre-
vent Mr.. Marsh from stumbling over
projection in the ghape Of raised plat
form built out rom the side wall,
shortening the dhtance between the
main walls Of thecourt. The use Of
the platform was, as he afterward
learned. to furnish \ little additional
room for hanging ou clothes, which
were suspended abovethe platform on
q series Of rucks.
The floor Of the court or passageway
between the two wings f the dumb
bell'' was slippery with Nth of every
description. In the semidakness which
prevailed in spite Of the suns glare
outside could be seen pale tired wo-
men with sallow, dirty face peering
out from doorway and windw. The
heat was sitting. as not bre th blew
In at either end Of the passage. ind the
odor was overpowering.
Mr.. Marsh hesitated. II
81 don't know that l care to 81 in."
he said almost In q tone Of fear.
"Too late to back out now. Nr.