Mower County transcript., 1903-05-27

mot all or them. But even II they
were, l don't know as 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
wearily. Gordon instantly noted it.
You're tired out. Not another word
tonight. can't l do anything for you:
No? You will call me if you need me"
Eyes, Of course. You know where
your old room is. Just make yourself
at 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 clubroom near by, where
Barton had bachelor quarters at table,
and John Gordon noted with concern
the face of Barton, which showed
marks of wakefulness.
II coughed once or twice just to keep
in practice. And at 6 o'clock l went
off again just as reminder of getting
up time. But don't you worry. I'll be
all right when l get used to it."
He laughed lightly and accompanied
Gordon part way down into the city,
leaving him at 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 1 should not
begin my work at once" Gordon said.
'"The trouble is"-Miss Andrews spoke
with a slight smile" you are not like
the average resident. More than half
of my people during the last ten years
have left me to enter their life work.
Now l understand"-
'This is my life work." said Gordon
gravely>
'It is a matter of both life and
death, Mr.. Gordon. But let us arrange
q definite programme" she added has
tily, as if disturbed by some idea for
eign to this conference. How would
you like tenement house tour to be-
gin with?"
II will do whatever you suggest.
am sure that, whatever it is, it will be
just the right thing to do"
Here is obedience for you! Will
you always be as tractable?'
Il hope So"
"Very WELL" She hesitated a mo-
ment. Suppose you go out with Ford.
He is making report of the block west
Of Bowen street. You can help him."
For a week John Gordon and Ford,
the university student, made a special
study Of a block of tenements in the
Hope House district. Ford took kodak
pictures of alleys and back yards and
stairways and groups of tenement chill
dren and inanimate groups of garbage
and sitting narrow courts and displays
Of soiled and tattered wash and every
thing else except the smells, as Gordon
said, and he and Ford took them with
out the aid Of camera. Gordon tabu-
lated statistics, birth and death rate,
density, nationality. disease, occupa-
tion, religion and absence of it, number
Of people in single rooms. quality of
food used, drink and drunkenness, sa-
looms in block and their revenue, TO-
gether 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 some conclusions.
"What can be done about bettering
conditions? The people in the tene-
ments are victims to 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 a volume con-
tanning list of property owners in
Hope House neighborhood. 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 do
that But am sure you want all the
facts"
''That is just what want" said
Gordon, wondering 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 book
in his hands and went into the hall to
answer a summons.
John Gordon opened the volume and
began to run down the names in the
list. He was alone at 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 falsehood
that there was no tie of friendship in
his work, that he stood alone in the
struggle for humanity.
Name after name OF agents or firms
or companies having control of the
property around Hope House had been
read by him, and he had not reached
the block he had been studying, for his
interest deepened every moment as he
recognized familiar names. familiar in
the CGtn...p ;,, 4! So. ~ W:rl