The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-09-11
By Common Consent Willow Tree Alley Is
Given This Unenvied Distinction, and
It's Police Record Bears Out
the Designation.
the Designation.
A HOUSE OF CONTRASTS.

This gentleman explained the officer
to Laura, has been told that you
people in Willow Tree are the worst
in the city. He wants TO know IL you
have ever done anything in your lives
that wasn't wicked How come you
say We all is de wussest people?Y in
CURED Laura, Indignantly. Of the police
man. "Doan you know dem niggers up
in Louise Alley am heap sigh wusser
den we is?" Cant be, Laura" said
the officer cheerfully. But never mind
about how bad you are, what we want
to know is how good you are"
Il jes tell you one thing" said the
old negress, when eny OF us gets sick
an dies, we doan ask nobody outside
de alley to help us pay de expenses, an
you policemens knows dat"
That's So" cOrroborated the officer.
They certainly do pay doctors TO treat
the poorer members of the fraternity.
and when one dies they all chip in
much did it cost you to bury Chapman,
l4auraE he continued. Laura debated
for a minute.
''F1fty-three dollars she decided.
but we all had nine kerrages sides de
hearse an one hack full Oh flowers"
Eliteh Chapman explained the
officer swiftly. hung May %, 1902. for
killing Ida Burch- 1t was a big affair"
Laura's Guests. -...-..
Laura was evidently not accustomed
to dilate upon the good points Of her
neighbors and herself By patient
questioning she was induced to explain
how funerals and other extraordinary
occasions for expense are financed. IL
seems that when death occurs some
one starts a collection promptly. The
women coming home from day out
at washing or other work are approacb-
ed and cheerfully contribute a. large
part Of their days earning. The Young
bucks give up whatever they have pictx-
ed up around town that dav. The man
ner In which the money is earned does
not. OF course. figure in the ethics of
the case. During a single bour those
wretched people will make up a sum
OF $40 or $50 Out Of this amount the
undertaken is paid on the spot. II there
Is not enough money to satisfy him. a
second collection will be made. II there
Is surplus, it goes for beer which is
dispensed at the house of mourning.
Acting upon suggestion from the Of
hcer, Laura invited her guests inside the
house. 1t is decidedly better than the
average. The room on the ground floor
apparently is combination of kitchen
ana parlor. There was in the way OF
furniture a wood stove and a smoking
Kerosene lamp. Moreover, a chair was
produced from the yard in which the
reporter sat. and wrote notes on the ton
OF the stove. This move aroused Laura's
suspicious.
What's he dom dat for?" she asked
Why explained the policeman to her
ne Is going 10 put in the paper how
good you all are ! have told him that
IT, Il ~ L
time for number Of years guess I
had better not tell him and ne
enumerated some two or three offenses
OF which Laura is accused by the DoIice
W ny doan you hush2" said Laura
apparently greatly scandalized. "Doan
you put dat in de paper boss, " she said to
ne reporter. He knows ! done quit
all that scandl us carryln' on"
Willowites Clannish.
But Laura's appearance IS against her
She is very black, and her face bears wit
ness Of the many fights I'm which she
has played star roles. Her nose. natur-
ally nat. has been beaten well back on
plane with her face. She has a cunning
look. and decidedly shifting eyes.
Another queen Of the alley visited was
Lou Blackburn. living beyond the
chapel. It was she and the Herbert yVo-
man who started the recent riot in which
Policeman Fletcher Of the Fourth pre-
cintc was badly mobbed. Lou weighs
more than 300 pounds. When she has
been disorderly and the police decide 10
run her in, her scheme for resistance
IS Ike Brer Rabbits. She recIines at
ful length on the pavement and refuses
to move. 1t takes the combined efforts
Of four strong policemen TO lift her and
carry her 70 the wagon
Rachel Meiner and Martha Booker
were the next on the visiting list. These
two with the Blackburn and Herbert
women and Laura Hopkins are the
most celebrated Of the rulers Of The
alley.
They were one and all Informed that
the sentiment Of the police was to the
effect that their quarter was the very
worst IN town, and asked how about
it2" Like Laura, they seemed stunned
by the suggestion that there was any
thing in their lives to redeem them from
utter condemnation. By means OF re-
peated suggestions there were elected
many facts that deserve attention.
The Willowites are as clannish as the
Doones Of Bagworthy. Like the Doones
they resent strongly the intrusion OF a
stranger into their settlement But