Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-02-28

vain throughout the Sums or the OlO
world cities for something to COM
pare the double deckers with declared
that in their setting the separateness
and sacredness of home life were in
terfered with and evils bred, physical
and moral, that conduce to the corrup-
ton of the young That this is true
must be evident, Mr.. Marsh, to any
man who knows the construction Of
these houses. And as owner of one Of
them YOU must be more or less ia
mlliar with their evils, and plead
with you to help remove them as far as
possible"
There was moment of very embar-
RAISING silence, which Mi. Marsh final
~ broke by saying:
ITO be very frank with you, Gordon,
I must tell you I never have seen the
property you describe"
"Never saw it! And you are the
owner!'
"The lots came into my possession
just before went abroad five years
ago. My agent was instructed to put
up tenements on the lots. The actual
work was done while l was away. It
certainly does not sound very humane
or even businesslike, but the fact is l
have never been down to look after the
property. Davis is very prompt with
his remittances, and the tenements
have been good paying investments.
From his specifications and plans as
he submitted them from the contractor
l understood the buildings were sub
stantial, and they certainly have
proved a source Of steady and hand
some income. You say they are called
dumbbell tenements or double deck
ers?'
John Gordon sat still, looking at the
man in Wonderment mingled with in
dignation. That a business man with
the reputation Of Mr. Marsh could &C.
tually be guilty of such Indifference
and neglect was almost beyond belief.
1t was not until other events threw
light on the subject that Gordon fully
understood the shrinking that MI
Marsh had from contact with any form
of human degradation and misery
AS John Gordon remained silent Mr..
Marsh uttered short laugh and said
uncasily:
Il don't wonder you think it very
queer that l have never been down
there. OF course l have trusted Davis
implicitly. At the same time l have
of necessity been ignorant Of conditions.
You regard them as b,d:'
bad. They are simply beyond any
description. 1t is useless for me to at
tempt it, Mr.. Marsh Gordon spoke
with tremendous earnestness, for there
WAS one word that Marsh had dropped
that gave him hope. You said it did
not sound very humane to say YOU had
never seen that property. Win you go
with me and look at it? l cannot tell
you the facts. If l were to give them
to YOU as they are, am actually
afraid YOU would not believe me.
There are thousands Of business men
in this city who do not know the hGr-
rors that are congestcd in and around
Bowen street and Long avenue and
High lane. But if you have any heart
i'll you you cannot be 1,nmoved by the
sight down there. In the name of the
suffering babies and little children |
beg Of you. Mr.. Marsh. come with me
and see with your own eyes. You lost
little child once, Mr.. Marsh. | re-
member Lucia telling me, your first
born son. In the name of that sacred
memory will you take an interest in
the dying innocent children in your
own tencmrnts:'
In his sudden appeal to this long dis
tant but never forgotten experience
John Gordon made the one plea that
perhaps could have moved Philo Marsh
sufficiently to overcome his repugnance
to every form Of human suffering. He
remained silent a moment; then, lifting
his eyes to Gordon, he said gravely:
VERY we'll, I'll so with you. When
shall we go?''
Il will suit my time to your conven-
fence. would like to have you note
the conditions by day and night. can
go with you any time"
"say tomorrow afternoon and night,
then"
w al w l<AAC NAuACA Will NAlSo AL
drews at Hope House?" John Gordon
ventured to say.
Mr.. Marsh hesitated. "Why, yes,
will If it is customary"
Il know Miss Andrews will welcome
you. Tomorrow at 2, if that will suit
you, l will meet you here, and we can
inspect the tenements, take dinner at
and go out again for a look at night.
Thank YOU"
John Gordon spoke with quiet but
deep satisfaction. He had scored an
important point. How important he
did not know, but it was vital be-
ginning to any influence he might hope
to exert over the property owners.
As he started to 80 out, Mr.. Marsh
spoke slowly: 49,.
"About Luella7 There is no prospect
Of an agreement between your
mot any that l can see."
I'm sorry" The words were genu-
Inc, and John Gordon was touched by
them.
'"Thank you, Mr.. Marshr' he shook