The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1906-05-03
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THE LITTLE CROSS STREET
Sad Story II Had to Tell Of the Work
Of the Corner Saloon Upon the
Community.

and the town was still.
That's putting II charitably," the
little cross street replied. las a mat
ter OF fact, I'm to be retired. I'm no
good Pm in the way. I'm what you
might call a street beggar. so the
board OF works Is going TO shove me
on the map"
The little cross street had an empty.
lonely voice.
Once" Il said. when We all we're
new, was as likely a street as any Ina
town, There wasn't a street In all
the town that had more ambition. But
ran crosswise 10 the current Of
things was built that way, and
could no more change my nature than
Iou can stop the tide Of traffic that
will how through you In the morning.
You see what l have come 10. To-
morrow the city will turn me over to
the factory yonder. my name will be
forgotten, and that1l be .ae end OF
wasted existence"
Don't say that" the avenue an
swersd. "You have done a great deal
af good In your time. I'm sure. Every
street can't be an avenue. you know.
Ancient Rome was alt avenues. and
look what became OF her. Washington
has more avenues than streets"
But might have been great" cried
the little street. Many a famous thor
oughfare IL no wider than | am. Look
al Broadway In New York. Look At
the Strand In London. In the begin
ming were they any better than ~
Did they have any more right to At
tention than I hadf"
MY dear little street Arab. said
the avenue. IT isn't any special credit
TO those streets that they are great.
They happened 10 be needed. that's
all. They happened 10 be useful 90 the
life os the world II you knew what
burdens they have TO bear. perhaps
you wouldn't envy them. Think OF the
thousand little services you have bees
allowed TO 90. and then be glad.
Wasn't there a block OF tenement
houses down your way oncef-
Yes" said the little street, but it
was RACED long ago TO make room for
the factory ! don't like 10 remember
the houses. but III never forget the
children that lived IN them. They
used TO play on my pavement Il was
the only playground they had"
children" unused the avenue.
That's SOY I've never known. Their
mothers think they might got hurt
Were your children happyi"
Indeed they were. My the fun
they hadi Tipcst. marbles. skipping
rope-from one summer TO the next
there was something doing. In that
one block there were 50 happy boys
and girls. and that isn't counting the
babies that sat on the sidewalk.
loved the babies best Of ALL Some
times Il was pretty cold for them TO
be out in the thin clothing they had
TO wear; but | tried to keep sunny and
warm for their sake. and they were
happy"
they are gone nowr asked the
avenue.
Gone, every one OF them. We
might still be happy together: sbut a
man came along and built a saloon on
one OF my corners. and that was the
beginning OF the end.
Il dreaded that saloon. used 70
trip men up when they started In. but
they went on In. Men who had liked
90 eft on the doorstep evenings, with
their children laughing around them.
took to spending their time In the bar
room. Late at hight they would stag
ger out and go home. Then I would
hear sounds OF blows and weep ng.
and the police wagon would come.
Sometimes. instead OF going home. a
man would fail and sleep In a gutter.
with the curhstone for pillow. And
the ohildfen.-they paid for II all.
My little folk went thinner clad.
Most OF the boys were away all day AZ
work, and saw them only at night.
when they stood under the saloon light
smoking cigarettes The saloon drew
them all, men and boys. Aud many a
little girl I've seen go in through the
swinging doors with a Tin pail In her
hand.
After awhile \ black wagon began
10 stop in front OF the houses. For a
long time after II was gone the chill
dren would forget to play. And every
time the black wagon passed | missed
a little form and baby voice loved.
"Then a band OF men came. one day
four OF Ave years after the saloon was
built, and broke down the door OF one
OF the houses. A woman screamed.
and children cried, and the men threw
the woman's furniture out and nailed
n bar across the door. That night a
whole family OF my little folk slept
under the stars. and the next day they
went away.
'One by one the others left or were
taken away; and by and by the houses
had no windowpanes. and tramps slept
there. Last OF all to go was the "a
loon man, and | threw him on his face
as he went"
The little cross street sighed dustily
| III ftrsl