The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-03-25

and a COW. These are directly under
a room which has been added to the
old brick bakery, that is in q terrible
state of decay and threatens to fall
down. If it does as it is liable to do
at any time, it will certainly result in
the death or injury of the tenants. I'll
! the plumbing is in direct violation Of a
distinct city ordinance which ma.,eS it
:! an offense to put in piping without
traps, revents and catch basins to ac-
cumulate material that clogs the sewer
connections. The overcrowding is SIM
ply indescribable.
In both these tenements that you
own and control there is less than 200
square feet Of floor area for families
Of from FIVE to seven, living in three
! and two rooms. There are SIX bed
rooms in No. II that are absolutely
dark and that in spite Of the ordinance
which provides that every room CT a
tenement or lodging house must have
window space equal to at least one
tenth Of it's floor area. These rooms
not only do not have one-tenth window
space, but they do not have any at all.
They are simply dark rooms, the only
light and air that ever enter them be-
ing what can get in through the door,
which in many cases opens on middle
room, which in turn has no light Or
air except what can enter through
shaft between the front and rear tcne-
ments only six feet wide and into
which the tenants throw their garbage
because the boxes in front are broken
and overfowing. Father, these human
beings are rotting in these inhuman
surroundings, and no language can
convey the awful horror OF child life,
the cruel torture of mother life COM
PEELED to give birth to children, to
nurse sick babies, to prepare meals, 10
en6eavor to obtain sleep or rest, in
the heart Of overpowering doors, all IN
less space and with less light and air
than a human being would grant to
suffering dumb animal. Father, the
property owners of tenement buildings
in this city are paying less attention to
| immortal creatures made in Gods im-
age than they pay to- sick cats or i'm
ported toy dogs or blooded race horses.
And, Oh, father, for the sake Of all
this tortured life, Of these children
born without Fairgrounds, Of these
mothers who struggle to keep decent
and these girls who so down to ruin
under the stress of the inhuman crowd
ing, will you not do something? You
can do it. The old buildings can be
destroyed. They never can be repaired.
They are simply alive with vernlin
and disease. But new buildings, COW
ering the legal space on the lot, could
be put up and be made to pay better
than the old ones. You could save the
lives of children for the future. You
could
care you lecturing at me:' Rufus
Gordon suddenly interrupted, his fat
fabby face white with passion. Il
know my own business, and will at
tend to itp'
John Gordon took a step nearer and
gazed with painful intentness into his
fathers face.
"Then do you mean to say, father,
that you will not raise finger to right
these great wrongs? Will you not
II will attend to my affairs as !
think best and without any meddling
from any onev'
ssBut, father, all this has nothing to
do with our difference Of opinion as to
my choice Of a career. 1t is simply an
appeal in the name OF common hui
marty. Will you not do this much at
least? Will you go down to Bowen
street and see things for YOURSELF"
'I will not! Ny agent attends to all
the business.
"Have you ever been there? Have
you ever looked at the misery with your
own eyes,"
:It is none Of your business" Rufus
Gordon started up in his chair and
confronted his son. This time the mans
cheeks had a deep red spot on them,
and his fingers twitched nervously. The
stoop Of his shoulders, the wrinkles
about his eyes, the whole pose and atti-
tude, revealed to John Gordon even
more than during that memorable in
teryiew when his father had refused
to give his sanction to lis sons choice
the aging Of vital forces that once had
seemed incapable Of weakness.
John Gordon clinched his hand and
repressed the words that trembled on
his lips. If he spoke, he knew be would
say too much. After all, was he his
fathers judge? Yet il the property
owners refused to act what redress,
what hope for the future? 1t was
horrible commercial system that per-
mitted, with the municipal authorities
sanction or Indifference, the brutal VIC
| lation Of ordinances that were on the
statute books, but never executed, spit
upon by officers and citizens alike,
mockery to all decent government.
For minute father and son faced
each other silently. Then John Gordon
turned and without another word went
away, but as he walked down the
steps Of the massive stone building his
heart was sore within him.
"S1y own father! My own father
he repeated over and over, and tears
dimmed his eyes and sobs choked his
throat as he said the words.
| Nevertheless, with that fxity Of pur-
pose which always ignored private
feelings in the face of public duty, he
considered his morning task only just
begun. He must see Mr.. Marsh, and
he walked straightway to his ohce,
which was near by.
Mr.. Marsh had just come, and when
John Gordon appeared at the door OF
his private Office he greeted his visitor
heartily, saying as he motioned Cor
don to a chair: Glad to see you.
Where have you been lately: Been on
the point OF dropping you note ask
ing YOU to come and dine. You and
Luella haven't Quarreled, have you!