Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-08-05
SOCIETY GIRLS TEST.
Sociological Students Expert
 ence of Tenement Life.
BIRDsEYE VIEW, YET RARE TREAT
Miss Nora Williamson, Who Spent a Night In q Vacant New York Flat, Sought a Closer Knowledge of the
 Lower Half, Whom she Is Study

Ms
 Sought a Closer Knowledge of the
 Lower Half. Whom she Is study
 1ng.
 Because she wanted to see fife from the viewpoint of the masses Miss Nora Williamson, New York society girl and a student of sociology. recently spent Saturday night in tenement house lat. says the New York World. Tt was only birds eye view that I enjoyed she said, ''and I must con- fess 1t was sufficient Yet it was rare treat, an experience would advise any one to undergo who is interested in the way the lower half lives.
 T hunted up a vacant fiat next to the top floor of house up four dark, narrow flights of stairs. Saturday night, about o'clock. found me as- cending the dark, rickety stairway to my quarters, where I came face to face with man. His face was cov- cred with. dark stubby growth of beard, and his ragged clothes hung in loose folds over his stopped body as he leaned there heavily against the rail-
 At first thought he was sick, but a strong beery odor convinced me that he was afflicted in another way. He nodded to me as hurried on my way. The door was closed. A fear swept over me, my heart fell and so at the same instant did my hand upon the knob, and to my great relief the door was not locked. entered into kitch- en. On either side was small room which judge even in the brightest time of day to be in semidarkness. The ceilings were low, and the walls were painted dirty bluish green. The air was stifiing, and hurriediy raised the windows. Whiffs from nearby livery stable poured in, but with them came music.
 'The tenement dwellers seemed fond of music. The better off class had rickety pianos, while those less well to do had graphophones, accordions, zith- CTS, jewsharps, triangles or mouth or gans. Oh, yes, had almost forgotten the cats, which added their quota to the assorted sounds. To get the full benefit of the evening concert I climbed out on fire escape. The back yard was a network of ciotheslines from which hung half washed garments. On the pavement could see perhaps dozen persons, and could get an occasional ascending whtff of the beer that they were enjoying. The light from inside the house shone upon them.
 "A man began to count, One, two, three, four married men die before single; one, two three, and then he spread out in a drunken sleep. Some of the other men rolled him out of their way into corner.
 began preparing for the night. open ed my suit case and pulled out blan- ket, which was to be my bed, and then lay down with an attempt to sleep. As time wore on began to fear that an attempt was all 1t was to be, for as morning came the music increased. An old Latin hymn next rent the air. looked out of the window which open ed into the court and saw at the bot tom the figure of woman. Then my eyes wandered to the room across and lQ LLG LlGAA OA d NAACA 04AA AktOA LAA[ window curtain. A chill ran through me- I had read of the Mafia, and had heard that the black hand was their sign.
 "I slammed down the window and had hardly reached my blanket when there came a scream from the floor above, then a crash, scufle and a heavy thud right by my door. could hear excited voices of men and wom- en. Then the distinct voice of woman cried: Haul me to Bellevuel Police, police! He's thrown me head over me heels and broken me bones. Haul me to Bellevue!
 "'Who did? asked another voice.
 Me husband, was the reply.
 "Naw, I ain't her husband,' came a voice of disgust. T ain't never seen her before
 "The wife of the accused man next appeared and told how the drunken woman had entered their flat, tipping over the lamp, and of how her husband had thrown her out.
 Maybe, then, didn't wish to be safely out of it all, for even sum- moned police officer had refused to give his aid It was all I could do to keep from bolting out of the door and down into the street. But held my peace, and in short time the tenement was again quiet except for the music and poker chips
 "The next thing knew heard a hard knock on the door. I Jumped half in fright and half in wonder at my early caller. Then came the very familiar voice of my sister. Mother had sent her with the auto to bring me home We hurried on out, leaving behind us the tenants to sleep off the effects of their night of revelry as best they could. But carried with me a better knowledge of the people am studying-which was the sole pur- v0an nf my visit v