The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-01-02


deny that the common people are an
ungrateful lot. You heal ten lepers,
and only one out of the ten will ever
thank you for it,
What difference does that make to
me if they're healed"
+ Heap of difference to them, though.
i suppose you know that even the poll
ticians don't get in Miss Andrews way
so much as the people themselves.
They don't know enough to make the
general good of greater concern than
their particular good. They're an un-
grateful lot, the people are"
= mot all of them. But even If they
were, / don't know as that is any
reason for letting them alone. Jesus
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.
! t'You're tired out. Not another word
tonight. Can't 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. 1 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.
81 coughed once or twice just to keep
In practice. And at o'clock 1 went
of again just as a reminder of getting
up time. But don't you worry. I'll be
all right when get used to it."
He laughed lightly and accompanied
Gordon part way down into the city,
leaving him at the point where the
Hone House district began. after exact
ing a promise from MIN that he would
take dinner with him at that evening.
John Gordon went at once to Hope
House and had a conference with Miss
Andrews.
'There is no reason why l should not
begin my work at once" Gordon said.
"The trouble is"-Miss Andrews spoke
with 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 / understand
-tThis is my life work." said Gordon
gravely.
at is a matter of both life and
death, Mr.. Gordon. But let us arrange
q definite programme" she added has
lily, as if disturbed by some idea for
eIgn to this conference. How would
you like tenement house tour to be-
gin with?'
81 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?'
81 hope So"
''Very we'll" She hesitated a mo-
ment. Suppose you go out with Ford.
He is making a report of the block west
OF Bowen street. You can help him."
For a week John Gordon and Ford,
the university student. made 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-
fion, 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 lettering
conditions? The people in the tene-
ments are victims to a 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 a 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 1 want" said
Gordon, wondering little at Miss An
sdrews' gravity, although she was al
ways calmly serious.