Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-12-25
"What's the differcncc"

deny that the common people are an
ungrateful lot. You heal ten lepers,
and only one out of the ten will ever
thank you for it,"
what difference does that make to
me If they're healedW
Heap of difference to them. though.
I suppose you know that even the poll
ticians don't get in Miss Andrews way
50 much as the people themselves.
They don't know enough to make the
general good Of greater concern than
their particular good. They're an I'M
grateful lot, the people are"
Not all of them. But even IL they
were. don't know MS that is any
reason for letting them alone. Jesus
probably knew that only one Of the ten
lepers would return to give thanks, yet
he healed them ALL"
"They must be mighty ashamed of
themselves by this time" said Barton
YEARLY. Gordon instantly noted it,
You're tired out. Not another word
tonight. Can't / do anything for you?
No? You will call me if you need meY
YES. of course. You know where
your old room IS. Just make yourself
mt home. l gave orders to William
when your things came to get your
room ready. Sound sleep to you"
In the morning the friends break
tasted at a clubroom near by, where
Barton had bachelor quarters at table,
and John Gordon noted with concern
~ face of Barton, which showed
marks of wakefulness.
II coughed once or twice just to keep
in practice. And at 6 o'clock / went
off again just as reminder Of getting
up time. But don't you worry. Ill be
all right when get used to it,"
He laughed lightly and accompanied
Gordon part way down into the city,
leaving him mt the point where the
Hope House district began. after exact
ing a promise from him that he would
take dinner with him at that evening.
John Gordon went at once TO Hope
House and had conference with Miss
Andrews.
There Is no reason why should not
begin my work ut once" Gordon said.
"'rhe trouble is'-Miss Andrews spoke
with slight smie-"you are not like
the average resident. More than half
of my people during the last ten years
Now | underestimate
This is my life work." said Gordon
gravely.
at Is matter of both life and
death. Mr.. Gordon. But let us arrange
| a definite programme" she added has
tily. as if disturbed by some idea for
eign to this conference Glow would
you like a tenement house tour to be-
| gin WITH"
Il will do whatever you suggest. |
! am sure that, whatever it is, it will he
just the right thing to do
Here is obedience for you! VIII
you always be as tractable?'
Il hope So
every WILL" She hesitatcd mo-
mcnt. Suppose you 20 out with Ford.
He is making report Of the block west
of Bowen street. You can help him"
For week John Gordon and Ford,
the university student, made special
study of a block of tenements in the
Hope House district. Ford took kodak
pictures of alleys and back yards and
stain ways and groups of tenement chill
drcn and inanimate groups of garbage
and sitting narrow courts and displays
of soilcd and tattcred wash and every
thing else except the smells, as Gordon
said, and he and Ford took them with
out the aid of a camera. Gordon tabu-
lated statistics, birth and death rate,
density. nationality. disease, occupa-
ton. religion and absence of ii, number
of people in single rooms, quality of
food used. drink and drunkenness, sa-
looms in block and their revenue, to-
gothcr with all other items that bore
on the life of the lives in that ulcer Of
the city
At the end of the week Gordon had
reached sone conclusions.
"What can he done about bctterng
conditions? The people in the tere-
mcnts are victims to Il large degree of
conditions that they are unable to bet
ter The owners of the property
There's the vital point. How to reach
them"
For answer Miss Andrews took down
from the house library volume con-
tanning list of property owners in
Hope House ncighborhood. Before Civ
ing it To Gordon she said sadly: You
must not let this list disturb your gen
eral purpose. OF course it will not dc
that But am sure you want all the
facts"
THAT is just what l want" said
Gordon, wondering Il little at Miss An
drews' gravity, although she was al
ways calmly serious.
She quietly. but with the same man
ner Of doubtful hesitation, put the booE
in his hands and went into the hall Il
answer Il summons,
John Gordon opened the volume and
began to run down the names i'll the
list He was alone mt the time, and in
thinking back over the experience he
was able to recall the strange sensa
ton he had of isolation from every
friend. even Barton, whom he had not
seen for several days. This feeling OF
isolation was SO unusually strong that
he had to fight against the falsehooc
that there was no tie of friendship il
his work, that he stood alone in the
struggle for humanity.
Name after name of agents or firms
or companies having control of the
urODprty around Hope House had beer