New-York tribune., 1902-07-20
BACKYARD GARDENS.
OLD FASHIONED FLOWERS MAKE BRIGHT
A BLOCK OF TENEMENT HOUSE HOMES.

A BLOCK OF TENEMENT HOUSE HOMES.
you don't know how missed the pulley lines
while We were In the Tyro" said young girl OF
the East Side, yesterday who had recently returned
from an eighteen months visit 10 the fatherland.
Il cannot tell you how much pleasure the lines
give me-" she added glanciug at the Tapping array
Of clean apparel and airing household articles
which swung from wehlike structure of hemp
canoping the tenement house back yards.
II know" she added. that IL seems funny TO you
to compare the view from rear tenement house
window in New-York with the beautiful landscape
of the Tyro but you have never these lines on
winters evening. when they are laden with snow
and glsten with reflections from lights that twinkle
in every window. Why, 1t Is Christmas every
night. Then our flower garden, and our tree In
the corner of the yard rustes it's leaves with the
slightest breeze and raAes US feel cool even when
room Is hot'
Ahe speaker. although Swiss by birth, was a
typical American girl. enthusiastic in her love for
this country. She is one Of large class of bread
winners. tidy in appearance and winsome In man
ner. who products of the public school SYSTEM
The house in which the conversation took place
was in thiekly populated German section, where.
for several blocks backyard garden are the rule
and not the exception. Many of these houses are
owned by German tailors, who usually live with
their families In apartments on the second floor.
Inc houses mainly of the four story variety,
and accommodate eight families. two on floor.
AS rule. they clean. we'll kept and In good
order.
Out of dozen or more of the gardens there was
only one TO which tenants OF the house had con-
trfbuted TO any important extent All the rest
owed their existence to landlords who had brought
with them from Europe love for flowers and
growing things. and WIG take sort OF Phiegmatiie
tenants. Houses Of this kind are In great demand,
and many OF the tenants have occupied their pres
s0s SG5 70 h {
not single 1gn dirty apartsnt Was fog1S nd Us
this fact hint for enlarged work in civic oeauti-
fying. for single tenement house garden gives
pleasure 20 a host OF people.
All OF the gardens were inclosed by low picket
fences. In size the plots averaged about hfteen
that are dear 70 Northern people because OF their
S 9ma s1a s ws ws1 6sSS akfe ca o
into circular and rian guiar beds outlined by cop
stood as an example OF what few pennies and
moderate amount Of labor could accomplish IN
q S snfde ha Sc aS oa %es aRa
plants which had sprung from former sowings.
usual barren tenement house yard
There was slight variation in the gardens, Morn
efforts In the way OF treilise. and the IKE. Pc
freest where there had been the least gardening
They are such grateful flowers" the young
when the dew IL on them" Scarlet geraniums ana
crimson petunias not infrequentiy hobnobbed in
as is the case the East Side. no bloom is discour
where in profusion. and served as sort OF peace
maker In bringing some degree OF harmony out OF
and ladyslippers and celandine and znnias and eli
the other "posies' that the great-grandmOthers or
the present generation used 10 cherish and mingle
One Esrden, which showed little more orig1-
bordered with dwarf sunhowers. and at each cor
ST eys & P9s there was 0% 0np9nieS
stood pot OF seranlums.
Ams, Saout Ss Ssepon H the o
was display OF thrifty house plants