Perth Amboy evening news., 1910-07-19
PITIFUL TALE
BRINGS TEARS
To LISTENERS
Funds Being Raised to Send
Hyman SmiIovicz to
His Relatives.
CASE AR0USES SYMPATHY
AT POLICE STATION

Unable physically to work, weak
from starvation and exposure, and
weary from the taunts and jears of
his neighbors, Hyman Smilovicz, the
youth whose father several months
ago brought him to local railroad
station under the impression that he
was about to take him to Europe tnd
then when the train arrived, grabbed
the satchel out of his sons hand and
swung aboard the last car, Is going
to Join his mother and sisters In
Chicago. Leo Schwartz and several
other persons interested in the
youths welfare are today taking up
a collection to defray the expense
of ticket to that city.
Smilovicz Is about twenty-five
years old; he Is not sure of his ex-
act age, but he believes it reaches
twenty-five. For the past six or
eight months, since his father, a
former Hall avenue barber, deserted
him, leaving him alone and penni-
less on railroad station staring
aghast at fastly disappearing train,
he has been living in. the rear of a
Hall avenue tenement cellar, subsid-
ing on what little he could earn. by
the use of his weak limbs. When
his strength gave out, neighbors oc-
/ casionally threw him a crust, once
in a while he received something a
little more substantial
1t will be remembered that the
elder Smilivicz, before leaving the
to Chicago, there to be cared for by
1ot- y
Promising to take his son to Europe,
he brought him to the railroad sta
tion one day. wait here until /
get tickets for New York." he told
his son as he approached the ticket
office window. He only purchased
one ticket, however.
When the train arrived, the faith
or suggested that they wait until
1t was about to pull out before
boarding Suddenly, when the train
wheels began to reyolve, the elder
Smilovicz darted down the steps and
swung aboard the last coach, leaving
with mouth agape on the platform
his son, whom he will probably new
Ter see again.
Weak and faltering, the youth, for
although man In years, he is small
of stature and boyish in his actions
appeared at police headquarters last
night in response to summons from
the police. He showed plainly In his
| thin face and emaciated form the
| lack of nourishment SO necessary to
one of his age. Cheekbones show.
| ing through the tightly stretched
skin, his eyes protruding, hair mat
ted, unshorn and unkempt, Smilovicz
presented a picture of misery, priva-
| tion and want His clothes were
! ragged, his shoes torn and he wore
no collar to conceal his lean and
bony throat.
To the police and others in police
headquarters he told pitiful story
of his inability to obtain work be-
cause Of poor health, how since his
father deserted him, he has lived or
what he could find. Neighbors and
their children, he said, taunt him
and make his existence so miserable
that he spends most Of his time alone
| in the rear of the dark cellar he calls
hons, venturing out only at night
when there are few about.
So touched with his recital were
his auditors, that several contri-
buted quarters or half dollars. II
was not necessary for one to be 8
student of nature to see the thank
fulness displayed in the ever rolling
protruding eyes, or the sigh of con-
tent that escaped him when he saw
that at last he would be able to buy
a meal.
Smilovicz believes that II he can
reach his mother IN Chicago and re-
ceive few weeks treatment, he will
be strong enough to work Before
he stumbled out Of police head
quarters, he was told to re-appear
tonight to receive a ticket to Chi
cago. Leo Schwartz, of Market
street, and others are taking up the