New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-17
CITY "P|T|ES THE BLIND"
How New York Translates Its
Sympathy Into Cash.
PAID AT ANNUAL R0LLCALL
The Grave and the Gay Are
Blended in the Life Stories
of These Pensioners.

The little blind street that leads from
First avenue down past the Bellevue Hos
pltal buildings to the ferry house of the
Department OF Charities was crowded
the other morning with persons who could
not see Though they did not know It,
the fact that they couldn't see their sur
roundings in that particular spot was one
more misfortune added to the many that
they already had to bear. For when the
Tribune man turned into that short block
he took the first full free breath he had
dared draw in several minutes walking
Block after block he had hoped along
muddy crosswalks, straddled broken
pavements, escaped puddles and pools in
the roadway by unbelievable feats of
agility, while with each step a new odor,
more potent than the last, assailed him
from garbage can. doorway or gutter.
The buildings he passed were not all the
same size, but they were alike dirty, dis
NAL and dilapidated. The foot of East
18th street was a different story.
II was immaculate as to pavement and
cutters The buildings were spick and
span. In them were housed many depart
ments Of the city government There was
dispensary, a training school for male
nurses, another for women, a mortuary.
and away down at the end Of them all
the Bureau of Dependent Adults. To this
building went the intruder, over a pave
ment perfect in its conveXity and between
rows OF property trees encircled by ire
proachable iron palings. There he found
Angus Thorne, the superintendent
A SMILE IN HIS HAN DsHAKE.
Mr. Thorne is a young man whose voice
and smile belle his name. TO the blind
his speech must bring a sense of comfort
and security. They can feel the smile in
his handshake. He was glad to tell why
iss sightless citizens were standing in
line outside his office.
Every year, at this time" he said.
the city gives to each Of these people
sum of money. In most cases it's the
only thing they have to depend on TO
prolong their existence i'm a world they
will never see. We know just how every
man and woman Out there lives. His
home has been visited, all his possible
sources Of income have been learned, and
when ne comes mere 10 receive tne CltN
dole we know that he needs it and can
give il to him without fear that there is
some one else who needs it more.
They're not all here this morning.
either There are eighty-nine more who.
for one reason or another. can't come
here 10 get the $50 that is dus each one.
and so next week our agents will go TO
their homes with the few dollars that
mean warmth and food this winter.
That old negro YOU see back there
leaning against the fence is the Oldest
peusiorer on the list. He's nearing une
hundred and he hasn't seen human
face for forty years. His wife is dead,
and he has no children 20 neip him now.
During the Civil War he served with the
18th Rhode Island Infantry, and the gov
eminent pays him 80 a month for the
service he gave then. But ii isn't enough.
Ten years ago he came TO Us for help. and
he's been back every year since. His
pension and the help he gets here are all
he has 10 live on.