New-York tribune., 1910-09-04

E0ssr thousand persons. taken all together,
make a sizable crowd -Four thousand per-
sons. standing with their arms stretched
out. 1ngers TO fingers, would very nearly
make q double line along one side of Cen
tral Park. from 18th to Il0sh street With
q population OF less than four thousand
many a town esteems itself a city. boast
ing mayor. city council. town hall. high
school, fire department. park system and
fountains. 4 New York City tenement house
holding that number of persons may he
counted GA To show some varied aspects
OF life. Not the ramslaclie. sunless. rah-
bit va-rens IN The Ehetto-eHtreme poverty
makes too much Of a dead level there-hut
3 model tenement. ia which there are light
and air and a chance 20 live-such tene-
-nent, shelterinE four thousand souls, is an
interesting community. Which is why the
rent collectors in the group of buildings
between e4th and e5th streets ana First
avenue and Avenue 4 feel that they learn
3 good deal about life in the course ef
their weekly peramhulatons up and down
tie stairpaI-s Of the seventeen connected
houses and into the tenants fats.
do they object To our calling for the
rent?" repeated the superintendent's wife
after the inquiring person who had peti-
toned 10 accompany her on a collecting
trip.
Never that 7 heard Of. You. know. If
they prefer they can pay in the office or
put the rent into our mail box. We never.
go into the fats unless were asked. bat
lots invite Us In. I'm old friends with
many OF the tenants. and not only collect
rent but consult with them how 10 make
their children's dresses, tell them how TO
doctor their babies and listen TO condolences
mornings work. The good tenants couldn't
object To our making the rounds, for this
method enables us Il spot the ones who
ere breaking the rules as to cleanliness,
and the good tenants want the buildings
kept Up Rent. please" she interrupted
herself TO say. as she rang the bell at her
first fat And how's your neuralgia this
morning. AIRS. Dussy?' she went on to the
plump. pale woman who came 10 the door,
with q big shawl around her head.
I'll amt no better" piped Mrs. Dussy
dolorously And Mrs Van Horn, nobody
needn't tell me that those people that live
over my head don't take IN boarders-
Long about II o'clock I hear a lot O folks
.ranpin' in. and they let down a bed here,
and they lei down 3 bed there''-AIrs. Dus-
ev's arms shot out with surprising energy
for a sick woman. 7 get such a start l
dent sleep all night. I went up and asked
'enn wouldn't they wear carpet slippers,
anyhow and the woman answered me real
pert that I might send EN- a few pairs if
! liked"
tn speak 10 them" said the collector
soothingly. But YOU know. Mrs. Dussy.
there are four in that family, and they've
got TO walk around"
They hadn't ought 10 keep a boardin'
house in q. foUr-room fiat" persisted Mrs
Dussy from the depths OF her shawl.
That's one Of the chronic complainers,
rnurInured the collector as she walked
away The people upstairs are Old ten
ants and all right. but IN ask them "a he
quiet as they can. Mrs Dussy's probably
got a touch Of nervous prostration. Now
III show you some one with a different
spirit This IS one Of our little mothers"
4 mite Of girl with curly red hair her
small form shrouded in a matronly blue
apron. opened the door az the next fat
The rooms looked neat as wax. and the
sunshine fell on a row Of blooming gerani- /
Ilrrs in The window.
Mamma gone 70 work. asked the col 4
lector
.'Yes'm. but here's the rent" said the /
four-foot high housekeeper.
And how's papa"
He's Just about the same. Mamma /
went 70 see him SUNDAY. and took him
some grapes" the child said
a wall sounded from the inner room, /
and she ran back. returning with z baby
in her arms. He's the best baby she
said proudly. But babies allus cry when
they wake up. VIII 7 take him in the
park today It's kinda cold"
But II YOU wrap him up well it won't
hurt him Nothing ike fresh air for
babies advised the collector The .
fathers dying m a hospital for consump-