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

in this City Who Go not Know the hor-
rors that are congested in and around
Bowen street and Long avenue and
High lane But if you have any heart
in YOU YOU cannot be unmoved by the
sight down there. In the name OF the
suffering babies and little children l
beg Of you. Mr. Marsh, come with me
and see with your own eyes. You lost
q little child once, Mr.. Marsh. re-
member Luella telling me, your first
born son. In the name Of that sacred
memory will you take an interest IN
the dying innocent children in your
own tencmcnts?'
In his sudden appeal to this long dis
tant but never forgotten experience
John Gordon made the one plea that
perhaps could have moved Philo Marsh
sufficiently TO overcome his repugnance
to every form Of human suffering. He
remained silent moment; then, lifting
his eyes to Gordon, lie said gravely:
Very well, III go with you. When
shall VIC go:"
81 will suit my time to your conven-
ience. I would like to have you note
the conditions by day and night. I can
sc with you any tinle.'
"say tomorrow afternoon and night,
then"
"Will you take dinner with Miss An
drews at Hope House?" John Gordon
ycntured to say.
Mr.. Marsh hcsitated. "Why, yes, I
will if it is customary
II know Miss Andrews will welcome
you. Tomorrow at ., if that will suit
you, I will meet you here, and we can
inspect the tenements, take dinner ct 6
and go out again for look at night.
Thank YOU
John Gordon spoke with quiet but
deep satisfaction. He had scored an
important point. How important he
did not know, but it was a vital be-
ginning to any influence be might hope
to exert over the property owners.
AS he started to so out, Mr.. Marsh
spoke slowly:
about Lueila? There is no prospect
Of an agreement between you:'
'Not any that can see"
I'm sorry" The words were gcnu-
ine and John Gordon was touched by
them.
THANK you, Mr. Marsh." He shook
hands firmly and went out with tear
in his eye, but it was not the same as
that which the interview with his own
father had provoked.
Thank God. lie seems to have q
heart, at least!' John Gordon ex-
claimed as he went down into his Ge-
henna again.
Between . and o'clock the next day
Mr. Marsh and John Gordon were in
Bowen street and standing in front Of
the building on lot 81, known as the
ssdumbbell tenement" which, accord
ing to one famous tenement house COM
mission, sis the one hopeless form of
tenement construction. 1t cannot be
we'll ventilated; it cannot be well light
ed; it is not safe in case Of fire; direct
| light is only possible for the rooms at
front and rear. The middle rooms
must borrow what light they can from
dark Railways, the shallow shafts and
the rear rooms Their air must pass
through other rooms or tiny shafts, and
cannot but be contaminated before it
reaches them" (New York tenement
| commission, 1S94D
John Gordon could not help noticing
the shrinking manner of Mr.. Marsh.
The man seemed to be under an indu-
ence that could not be fear or even
compassion. It was rather mingling
Of disgust and physical dread.
sShall we so in?" John Gordon said,
looking at his companion curiousiy.
..Wait moment" cried Marsh. i
want to look at the street"
The two men stood still, and the older
for the first time in his life saw sight
that he had never dreamed could ex-
ist in a civilized city that was at least
ronainally Christian.
It. would be impossible to picture
Bowea street by means Of a photo
graph. No skill of tie photographer
or artist could reproduce the scene, and
human language is as weak IS the
brush Or camera to tell the story.
The street sWarmed with children.
It was midsummer and the day itself
was hot, but not one Of the hottest Of
| the season. There was not tree ar
shrub or flower, not 4 bit Of grass, not
even a weed to relieve the dull, sicken-
inc look Of sun smitten brick and wood
and stone.
In front Of every other house stood
garbage box, or what had once been
one. The majority Of these boxes We're
rotting heaps Of boards without covers,
overhowirg With wet stuff composed Of
decaying vegetables, the sWeepings
from the tables Of the people and the
litter Of paper, tin cans and refuse that
had not been disturbed by inspectors or
garbage Wagons for several weeks.
There was not whole piece of side
walk on either side of the street Pieces
Of rotting plank stood on end or lay
partly over the alleys, in some cases
thrust down between the decaying tim
bers, sticking above the regular level,
q hidecus menace, q miserable object
lesson, out Of hundreds more, OF the
mournful fact Of municipal incon2pe-
NJ f
l