New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-08-22
HER EFFORTS AT REFORM.
She Meant Well but No One Would Co.
operate with Her.

They had been riding on a Columbus-ave. car
which Il being a rush hour. was carrying about
thres times as many people as it was designed 10
carry The girls crisp white pique was crushed.
and her temper rutHed. and she venting her
wrath on the man.
It's shameful she said. THE way public abuses
are allowed 70 flourish AMI in most cases it's
4ust because there's nobody willing take the
trouble to lead reform. Reform would be simple
enough. II We had few with energy and
initiative. But you're all so horribly inert"
The man laughed little. Yes. we're lazy.
he agreed u admit that l. for one. would rather
stand z good many things than make fuss Ny
only excuse Is that on the rare occasions when I
have made q fuss nobody seem inclined 10 fad
in with the procession. However why don't you
Try? Pick OUT some real active abuse. you know,
and begin crusade against Il
I'D IKE IL Try IT," said the girl dehantly. just
10 rrove 10 you that reforming isn't such difficult
business as your smile seems TO imply.
few days later the girl CHANGED TO read an arti-
rIe about hres in the course OF which article the
writer referred to the way fat dwellers are con-
sfsntly breaking the law which forblds any OBJ
strucuon Of IRE escapes.
7 wonder II our escapes are clear" she reflect
ed Yrs never occurred 70 ne 10 notice. but
we i've On the sixth floor it's rather important 70
know"
she went 70 her bedroom window. The fire
escape ran from the dining room, and across the
angle OF the court she had a clear view OF II.
6cZz 70 the ground On their own landing were
number Of rugs. put out 70 air. The landing De-
low that contained 4 mixed collection OF objects
chiid's playhouse large cage with parrot IN Il,
and covered box. presumably used as cupboard
The next landing was occux5ed by q fourishins
garden. consisting Of oleazGerz and palms IN pots
On the escape az the third floor was clothesline.
tied across and across IN some intricate fashion.
and pinned full Of articles OF wear
TIE girl called her family. ana dscoursed elo-
ouentlv Of the danger Of the situation. Why"
she said might &c burning up and we couldn't
possibly get down that fire escape without break
irg our necks. And 70 think that the landlord
lives the third aOor that's where all that rope
il tied"
We'll. well. Peggy" said her father soothingly.
we've lived in this house Two years. and there's
been a FIRE here"
Don't make e fuss about II, Peggy her mother
begged as she took IN the rugs. You know how
people resent interference, and I'd hate 70 nave
trouble ith the neghbors
The girl made some cutting remarks about the poi
icy OF lasseZ faire, and the evils tor WEIGH II v S
responsible but the family looked so scared thai
she let the subject drop She thought about H.
though and the more she thought the more
seemed 10 her thar she had duty 70 perform
After careful consideration she sat down. without
saying anything to anybody. and wrote d !e''et -
the Fire Commissioner She addressed Il 20 MN
the City Hall where. she supposed ne was 70
be found along with the rest OF the municipal gov
srnment
She waited week. There was no response
Then she reflected that II you want 70 accom-
plish a thing you should not send you should CO.
The next day she tourneye6 down TO the City Hal
On me steps of that building she encountered
gray haired policeman. whose fatherly aspect en-
couraged her TO ask him where she cou4o mo
the Fire Commissioner
Sure" nc said lat his headquarters on sixty
seveuth-st And phwat does ysz want WIG NM
The girl explained.
''Yez don't want the Fire Commissioner salo Ine
officer pityrgly Go 10 the police station IN your
G-Llt-
distrtct-yez live On Seventh-aVe- near 1 -
dred-aad- sixteenrh-st-? "Then u wud De the wan
vest OF T~ird on
and make a complaint They'll SING an Object -
ysnk OF them t'Ings In a hurry.
The girl thanked him. and took an uptown ca.
There seemed something disreputable about gong
10 police station but 1t proved 10 be quiet
enough with nobody II it but a bored looking SER
geant. She drew breath or reieI-
IT want to complain about the condition OF the
arescapes," she began glibly. "at No - Seventh
We only 20 as Ear as Lenox." said the sergeant
You want the station OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
: hfth-st.. Amsterdam
The girl took q crossrown car rejecting upon
the STUPIDITY Of policemen didn't know the city
precincts BY the time she reached the right sta
ton house che was hot and tired 70 care much
What happened but still IL was rather oisconcernns
to nd that she had eluncered IL on patcn i,, Q.
knew where she was she was standing at the bar.
e an b assd b sssFsss 81 for Shooting
lhe girl never remembered how she goS e, Of
Promised 10 send officer right over 10 give
these tenants scare" She went homo Keeling Inat
her mission vas accomplished
3 Sat that officer never came
= After week had passed tho girl wrote another
letter the Fire Comnlissionar-direcungi 1t to Six
y-ssYenfh-st.- this time she got response II
Plated TINT ner COMPLAINT should have been made
70 TIE Tenement House Department and added that
ser letter had been forwarded there And from the
eItaeD8nnt House Department came an onicer that
afternoon. The girl happened 20 pc out at the time
- MS visit, but when she got home she was at
.'l.c= Of the excitement he had left behind
{lih Al the door OF their fat her mother met her
VII a scared look
tegsy.'' she whispered, when they were safely
Inside tic door. ARE you responsible for thlsY'
Tia girl TO the window. Yes. thu firo escape