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

y
man responsibility, robbed Of play
ground and childhood and thrust into a
world of suffering and discomfort. Poor
mournful creature, a woman in gravity
and a child in years, bending your
dirty face over the gasping little sister
in your slim arms, sitting on the steps
late into the night with the bundle that
may actually die in your arms, and no
one but yourself feel much grief If it
does. Child of the tenements, you do
not know it, but it is beautiful world
that God has made. There are trees
and flowers end clear water and per-
fumed zephyrs and grass dotted with
bloom. But oh, for you, little sister,
who shall reveal its beauty, who shall
discover to you its glory, o child Of the
tenenents. in the great city by the
lakes?
At the top Of the stairs John Gordon
paused a moment and then turned to
the left and led his companion along
to a doorway opening on corridor
looking out on the airshaft. A railing
ran around this corridor, and leaning
over it were number Of persons, most
" women, some Of them holding ba
bies, others doing some kind Of work
One woman at the end Of the corridor
was preparing some dish for supper
The stencil that rose from the court
below was made doubly intolerable BY
the smoke from the chimneys Of the
rear tenements on the adjoining. lot,
which drifted into the corridor and
swept into every doorway.
Good afternoon, Mrs. Caylor. How
is the little boy today?"
Poorly, sir. Will you so in and see
him?" Then she glanced suspiciously
at Mr.. Marsh and added: "But you
can't do anything for him. Better
leave MIN be-
"This is Mr.. Marsh, Mrs. Caylor. .He
is the owner Of the building. BE wants
to see some Of the rooms. We can go
| in?"
The woman's face lighted up just
for q second, then all died out to that
dull Indifference which has long ago
lost all hope Of anything better farther
on.
81 don't care" she answered with
sullen indifference.
John Gordon at once turned into the
room, and Mr.. Marsh reluctantly fol-
lowed. There were, two windows, but
both opened on the corridor Gordon
walked across to an opening and
turned to beckon to Mr.. Marsh, who
had stopped.
'sI want you to see specimen Of a
dark bedroom, Mr.. Marsh. You don't
need to visit more than one. But it IS
worth knowing that there are hun
dreds more like this one.''
Mr. Marsh came across to Gordon,s 8
side.
. ssThis is more terrible than ever
dreamed" he said in whisper.
Nothing when you get used to it,
sir. Let's step in. There isn't much to
see."'
They entered the room, which was
absolutely dark except for the light
that entered through the room they
had just left. Gordon felt his way un-
til his hand touched something, and
then he said gently:
"Louie, how are you today"
'tNot very well. That you, Mr.. Cor
don?"
Eyes. I've brought you something.
Here. Catch on, little man.
sIt's fner' the thin eager voice ex-
claimed. "Don't tell mother. Shell
lake it away"
'No, no, Louie. She won't The doc
tor will let you have it." John Gordon
said reassuringly, and then he was 81
lent. MIR. Marsh was close by, and
both men stood still moment.
In the stiffness a distinct rustling
sound could be heard. It was like the
rustling Of tissue paper Or the scratch
ing Of small mice
"What's that?' Mr.. Marsh asked
"Wait minute; I'll show you," Cor
don answered quietly. "Shut your
eyes, Louis. I'm going to light q
match"
He struck the match and held it up.
The pale light revealed in the few
seconds that the match burned a bro
ken bedstead and. a ragged, filthy mat
tress on which lay child about ten
years old. The walls Of the room had
once been papered before the double
decker had been constructed so that
some Of it had blocked up the win
dows that had once opened on the rear
lot. This paper low hung IL festoons
and strings all over the ceiling, and
Mr.. Marsh, looking in horror at the
sight, in that brief moment, not too
brief to tell one whole story Of the
tenement house hell, saw countless
swarms Of bugs and vermin crawling
over the paper. It was that that had
made the noise.
The match fickered and went out
There was moment Of silence, broken
by Gordon, who said cheerfully:
call right, Louis! Keep up good
heart. I'll Try to get in and see you
tomorrow"
THANK you, Mr.. Gordon"
MIR. Marsh pulled at Gordon's arm.
'For Gods sake, Gordon, let's get
out Of here. I'm growing sick. SHAH
faint"
"Come out into the fresh air" Cor
don said ironically.
They went out into the corridor, and
Mr.. Marsh in his eagerness to get out
CT the building did not even stop to
reply to several Of the women who had
learned from Mrs. Caylor that he
owned the double decker and crowded
up to complain about the garbage boxes
and the drainpipes. While Gordon
was talking with Mrs. Caylor aoout
Louis, Mr.. Marsh went down, hurried
as fast as he dared through the lower
court, and when John Gordon came OUT
he found him seated on the outer steps,
deathly pale and actually sick.
Gordon grinly eyed him.