New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-04
GOSSIP OF THE BOROUGH
Changes in Brooklyn Population
Ballot Guards Weary.

Gilbert Evans. Of The Brooklyn Eagle IN
his address before the Municipal Club al its re-
cent dinner. introduced some interesting sta
tistics in reference 10 the changes in the popu-
ls+ion Of Brooklyn that have become evident IN
The last twenty-five years. He said that while
she population has increased 126 per cent the
.lponent racial elements now bear al alto
her different relation 10 one another than
twenty-five years ago. when we We're all
f1ys." said rhe speaker. two out Of every three
persons against whom brushed as We played
tag on the streets were American born. To-
day walking about, We meet hardly one in two
~ the native bOrn. Then one person in ten was
"a Jew; now one-siKth q Brooklyn is Jewish.
Then every eighth person was German; to-day
In te Then hut one in eighty was ltal-
ian to-day. one in nine Then one in fifty
scandinavian; now this population is almost the
same. Then one il nine was Irish born; now
one in eleven
The ballot guards al the Eagle Warehouse and
Storage Cornpany's building. in FUlton-st. re-
3oiced greatly when they learned that Senator
Raines had introduced bill AZ Albany provid-
ing for recount OF the votes cast in the last
election.
They have been on that one JOB since the cleo
ton last November They have sat there. day
after day. doing nothing az all but keep watch
OF a big pile Of ballOt boxes
IN three other places in the city policemen
and Municipal Ownership guards have main
There Is never Minute IN the day or night
that five men are not standing guard over The
boxes IN The Eagle Warehouse -Four Of these
are poiiceller. the other IS q Municipal Owner
ship man. They are locked IN the big ware
house and are stationed on the second floor 1ust
outside the heavy steel doors that bar in the
ballot boxes
Every eight hours new shift goes on duty.
tIld The i've watchers 90 of TO get little recre-
atOn or sleep There three shifts z day Of
I'VE men each, in addition 10 the roundsrneu
sefgeSnts ana captains who make frequent
VISITS 70 see that everything Is going right
Also there are several inspectors who make
dally visits and about chree men are used TO
watch The Hearst watchers. Altogether, IL IS
said, one hundred men are guarding the ballot
boxes Throughout the city
Some u the g-eTsone memories OF Rider
TIagga-d's She are recalled by the story
OF jonathan Reed. whose Will was offered for
probate recently. The people who avoid the
neighborhOod Of Evergreen Cemetery al night
would probably be Mortified 10 know that n
handsome mausoleum. beside a glass COW
cred coffin through which stared the face Of q
dead woman. there slept nightly al one time her
husband, who had sworn 70 her on her deathbed
never 70 leave her side in life or in eternitv
That husband was Jonathan Reed Bound by
the pledge. in that city OF the inaninate where
the spirits Of the departed are wont TO creep
through their blankets OF grave mould 10 glide
along the uneven ground between the CHASTITY
euers, this man laid himself down night after
night. the bedfeIlow OF a corpse.
In this mansion OF the dead. beside its tiny
rake IN the cemetery grounds Reed made his
nome be hung about the walls the pictures
of ms wife and small articles that she had worn.
He brought his food the plot about the tom
ana cooked II in the open air Inclemency OF
ne weather had no power 10 drive him from the
spot Winter and summer. snow. rain or sun
shine. he stayed. tending the mAusoleun and the
grounds about IL At first the superintendent OF
The GROUNDS thought that the old mans con-
stancy would weaken. but II did not So ar
last, he was forced 20 refuse 70 permit him In
the Clmetery after sunset But the old man
continued as firm ever in his devotion and
was always on hand al sunrise when the gates
were opened for 1he day. People came TO know,
the olc man. and many went 10 the cemetery 70
see him. The rlnaor that he was peculiar only
sdded 10 the superstitioUs in which thew
Aeld him Some persons used 20 follow him 20
him dust the wax flowers the oocrn or stand
as he did for hours. gazing down on the silent
features within.
HIS VIII provides that nearly al OF his money
shall be used for the care OF the tomb and that
no other corpse shall invade the privacy where
his body. constant his spirit in death as In
life. now rests beside the body Of his wife.
An extremely optimistic view % the prob
able future state OF the women OF Brooklyn was
oppressed by Frank Harvey Field. the well
known lawyer. educator and church worker, ar
q nssc.ng 81 the wxAhinx1on ASerns Rsaxsss