New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-04-22
TWO MOTHERS.
Glimpse of Life's Seamy Side, as Told by
Tenement Visitors.

Hey. Mickey. hey! I tell We rum This was
the sound that greeted my ears as passed through
the broken and battered door that led to a dirty
III smelling hall" said tenement visitor. 1T was
necessary to pause that one might see the way as
the place dimly lighted. This was a rear tene-
mert the West Side in the location commonly
known Helrs Kitchen When able to see. I
started forward, then UP a winding flight of shaky
stairs. Part of the banister missing. but that
seemed TO count for little. In fact it an as
sistance to Mickey as he came noisily down for it
enabled him to jump to the floor below. There he
halted
Looking up. could see coming slowly down
ward staggering and careening, a red faced
woman. with hair tossed and tumbed. her clothing
dirty and her feet shoeIess. Within one hand she
held d heavy piece Of wood.
'Shure I'll bate i'm. if I but lay me hands
on his lazy body. He's no son of moine that he's
not. be a treatn' his good mother loke o. this.
Says he'll not get the bottle filed. does he? Shure
he will or tits some repairin that will have to be
done his wicked body.
Again came the voice from further up. shouting,
Run Mickey =. tell ye Her temper is that bad
she'll kill ye.'
foriorn little fellow in rags and atters on the floor
Upon reaching the landing. the mother of the
have heard the Alright. I greeted The woman.
Good morning. Mrs. B. What is this beautiful
All! ma am shure and it finds me in bad
shape. I'm that lame with rheuma tism. and those
terrible dizzy spells. they're me az in
Il was looking for Mrs Lynch, ana thought this
a good opportunity divert Mrs $ attention
from Mckee for the moment and therefore put
the question her. She at once wanted 10 know
II we're friend OF Mrs Lynch, and upon hear
ing that I had TO see Mrs. Lynch concerning
the done OF Work she replied that she
thought the woman would soon return. from an
ofice where she is employed at cleaning during the
early morning hours
Mrs B. then. in her poor. drunken way. asked
me 10 wait in rooms until Mrs Lynch returned.
This seemed a good way TO save poor Mickey from
her wrath
where the woman her husband and five chill iren
occupied two rooms. reeking with filth Every
hing available had been pawHed. There was little
more than a bed and crib. a table. stove and
fev,ehairs in the rooms. besides punches OF dirty
clio ing tossed here and there
Irs b said she ill., She finally became
drovysv and with the help or Mickey. who had
been called from below. she assisted TO the
nlisera bic bed a nd was finally lost In a stuPor.
"A bout this time Mrs. Lynch, widow OF Few
months only with a large family of young chill
dren 10 support. returned. She was oveTtoyed 10
learn that some new employment awaited her
There was no drink there in her poor dngy rooms.
that had been made as CHEEKY a loving mothers
hands could make them With all the poverty. they
were happy family LOOKING ever forward 10
prosperous days
From Mrs. Lynch l learned that her neighbur.
Mrs. B.. was fast drinking her NE away; The man
was once a hard worker, but through discourage
mental his W1fs'E WTonEdonES he was rapidly fol-