News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1903-02-04

| There is no direct sunlight in any of
these rooms, that open on the court.
All light and air must enter either
where we did or come in from the
top"
He uttered the word in time to pre-
vent Mr.. Marsh from stumbling over a
rejection in the shape of Il raised plat
form built out from the side WALL
shortening the distance between the
main wallis of the court. The use of
the platform was, as he afterward
learned to furnish a little additional
room for hanging out clothes, which
were suspended above the platform on
series of racks.
The floor of the court or passageway
between the two wings of the dumb
bell'' was slippery with filth of every
description. In the semidarkness which
| prevailed in spite of the suns glare
outside could be seen pale, tired wo-
men with sallow, dirty faces, peering
out from doorway and window. The
heat was sitting, as not a breath blew
in at either end of the passage, and the
odor was overpOwering.
Mr.. Marsh hesitated.
Il don't know that care to go in,"
he said almost in tone of fear.
TOO late to back out now, Mr..
Marsh. Come! 1t will do you good.
| Make you more contented with your
home on the boulevard" John Gordon
said grimly.
He greeted the group of women in
| the doorway, and they returned his
greeting civilly enough, for he was
wearing his regular inspectors badge,
authorized by the board of health, and
besides all that he had already in the
course of his brief study made friends
in the block.
Almost the first step they took from
the doorway plunged them into dark
ness. Gordon had hold of Mr.. Marsh's
arm and was silent until they came to
the first flight of stairs at the end of
the passage.
"Have to be a little careful here
sir" be cautioned. This is an old
part, joining your part from the rear
1t was on the lot when your agent
| looked over the space, and he built up
to the limit and a little more. In fact,
he broke six distinct ordinances in
using up the space that ought to have
been left open between the new build
ing and the old. But that was nothing
to him., for it added six feet to the
double decker, and that meant twelve
| additional bedrooms. Have care here.
Some of the stair treads are broken"
Mr. Marsh uttered an ejaculation,
and Gordon stopped.
81 feel i'll. | don't believe l can go
. or, Gordon. This is terrible. 1t is
I past belief that human beings can live
in such conditions"
"They don't all live, sir. Some of
them die. But it's almost as bad to
die in here as to live. You ought to
see q funeral in one of these tene-
ments"
"God forbidr' exclaimed Mr.. Marsh
emphatically. Honestly, Gordon, it
may seem absurd to you, but | am
growing sick from the awful stencil
here. | doubt my ability to go on"
Gordon made no answer. After
moment Mr. Marsh said feebly:
"All right. I'll try to stand it."
Without any reply John Gordon, still
keeping his hand on his companions
arm, began to go up the stairs Under
their feet they could feel the Shiny
filth that had accumulated for weeks.
Half way up something passed them
going down. 1t was Il little girl about
o uoorc old co rry-iy1,r in bor ,,,e,S
baby. In the dim light which filtered
through the hall at the top of the fight
the two men could hardly make out
this child of the tenements, burdened
long years before the time with Il hui
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 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 a beautiful world
mat NIOu udS ulduG. uSIe are trees
and flowers and clear water and per-
fumed zephyrs and grass dotted with
bloom. But oh, for you. little sister,
who shall reveal it's beauty. who shall
discover to you its glory, o child Of the
tenements, in the great city by the,
lakes?
At The top of the stairs John Gordon
paused 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 a number of persons, most
ly 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 dnubly int cradle by
the smoke from the chinDCys of the !
rear tenements GA the adjoining lot, !
which drifted into the corridor and |
swept into every doorway.
Good afternoon, Mrs. Caylor How
is the little boStoday?" r-w -'-
Poorly, sir. win you so in and see