Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-12

his constant hight to obtain elbow room.
daily puts his own life and the lives of
many others in jeopardy by using the fire
escapes which reaches to his window for
almost many domestic purposes as the
mind Of man knows.
Utter Disregard Of Law and Life.
He does this, too. with his eyes open. He
knows that scores OF persons have been
burned to death In their rooms within the
past few years, because when the cry OF
fire arose and they rushed to escape they
found their sole means of egresS to safety
the fire escapes-blocked. rendered use
less by their own and their neig hbOrS
hands. He knows that he may awaken
some night to find his own fat on fire. and
he knows that this minute his own fire
escape is choked with stuff he or his fam
lily has put on 1t. He knows that all this
Is against the law-that the tenement house
inspector for his district may arrest and
hale him before magistrate any day He
knows that in every his action Is
highly criminal-almost murderous-and
yet what is his excuse when some one calls
his attention to his filtration with death
and his utter neglect of the principle of the
brotherhood OF man! Simply TINS: But
need the space"
And what little space it is. Dimen-
sions, about by 3 feet, with an opening
for a stairway in the bottom of the iron
grating But cover over the hole with
piece OF sheet iron or stout board-and
what magic has been wrought that 1t IS
made to hold so much ana serve such
veried uses!
Fire Escape for Fresh-Air Treatment
A mother who has several small children
and is compelled to do her own housework
took the youngest child, who was ailing, to
a physician.
What the baby needs IS fresh air. and
plenty of it. Take her out In the morning
and keep her out all day. was the pre-
scrption.
The mother explained why she would be
unable to follow directions.
'rhen.' said the physician. put her out
on the fire escape and let her take her air
ings there
On returning to her little fat the mother
had the opening in the hire escape covered
a mattress was placed over the iron graf
ing the child was placed upon it, given
its toys and left to its own devlses until
the noon hour. And after lunch out upon
the fire escape went the child once more,
remaining there till the sun started to go
down. .
their arings the fire escapes, ana, as
was the case with the child just told about,
they gain and keep good health In TINS
manner.
Fire Escape Nursery.
Not only babies are placed upon the fire
escapes while their mothers attend to
household duties: boys and girls who are
able to walk have their nurseries on the
fire escapes, and play there all day long.
the bars of the sides being close enough to-
gether and sufficiently high to make these
outlawed aerial Fairgrounds perfectly safe
for youngsters who are still too dependent
upon others to be allowed to take their
chances alone in the great playground OF
New York boys and girls-the asphalted
street
A settlement worker in the lower East
Side recently went a tour of tnspec-
ton among the people connected with her
school. Arriving at the door or an ltaiian
family she knocked, and receiving no re-
Spouse, decided to venture in. since the door
war atar and she was fearful that the
little home had been broken into. She
found the rooms in good order, no one was
In view; and she was on the point Of leav-
ing when the Growing of a baby and
child's laughter sounded just back OF her.
She was startled for an instant; then,
laughing heartily herself. she walked over
to the window opening upon the rear court.
and there, on the fire escape. were the TWO
young children of the household. wnere.
according to the older. the mother had put
them about two hours before. on starting
out to deliver a batch of clothing she had
finished making for her employer, ms
mother had placed the four year-old
daughter in charge of the baby. and at the
time the visitor discovered their where
abouts. the two were enjoying a romp on
the old quilt which had been spread for
them over the iron bars.
Used as a Bed.
Parents and other grown-ups not only
recognize the benefit which children derive
by getting fresh air on the fire escape;
they likewise avail themselves OF the same
opportunity almost under the noses of the
scant one hundred inspectors who are kept
so busy looking after structural and SAM
tary violations OF the tenement law that
they do not always have time to give the
necessary attention to the fire escapes.
In hot weather the fire escape becomes
sleeping place by night, in the day time
chair Is put on 1t and the occupant en-