The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-07-26
The home of six hundred paupers at Easview.

side stands a single range, just large
enough for three huge copper cal
drons.
These are the only cooking faCili-
ties We have, for 500 inmates" Mr.
Macy explained the other day. when
showing a visitor over the institution.
You see We cannot give the people
much variety in diet when We have
nothing bu; these three kettles TO cook
their food in"
Still beyond this are other TWO story
buildings, all Of heavy masonry. none
Of modern construction. Without cX-
ception they seem to be dark. unsani-
tary, wholly inadequate for their pur-
pose. Everywhere is unprotected
woodwork
What would happen" Mr.. Macy was
asked, IF a fire should break out?"
That" he said gravely, lis the one
thing / most dread. every hour Of every
might. You have seen what a finder
box this whole place is? Well, keep In
mind, please. that including the kitchen
range, we have here in cold weather
just twenty-three separate fires going
in twenty-three heating plants. Also
remember that many of the inmates are
so old and feeble that they could not
possibly help themselves in time of need.
MANY are crippled; almost all Of
them Gre infrm. When ! accepted the
office of superintendent of the poor II
was with the distinct condition that
| under no circumstances would ! he re
sponsible for loss of life in case a fire
should break out here. If IL ever does
break out" He stopped short. The
| probable consequences were too serious
| to discuss.
For several months after Mr. Macy
went to EastView he found IL impus-
sible TO secure the services Of competent
internes in the hospital, so the visit
ing physician was compelled to do all
the work. Through personal effort the
superintendent now has "A staff which
includes resident physician and sew
eral specialists-gynecJlog obstetri-
clan, surgical practitioners, an eye man
and one of the best dentists in New
York. who spends half day each
week caring for the teeth of the
paupers, These men. nearly all OF
them eminent in THEM profession. are
giving their time and services because
they are public spirited.
Furthermore, Mr.. Macy now employs
stenographers, not provided by the
county, and pays them out of his own
lpOckct, and he has otherwise strength
ened his working force because a few
men and women who know what he Is
doing have gladly sent private sub
sCrptions in order to further the work.
At present Mr.. Macy is completing
plans for persuading the people OF
lWcstchester county to give authority
for selling the present poor farm and
purchasing another and larger farm. to
he equipped with safe modern buildings.
one thing that surprised Mr.. Macy
when he first went to Eastview was the
fact that n physical examination was
given to applicants for admttance.
They were simply taken in and as
signed places to sleep and eat" he said
IF one of them was so i'll as to attract
attention, attention was given. But II
Is a fact that there was no physical ex-
animation made to show whether or not
this woman or that man who came 'her'
was suffering from some disease. contag
ious. Infectious, or other. At present
every applicant on arriving is thor.
oughly examined by a medical man.
am told that this Is one of the few
almshouscs, IL not the only one. in tn,
United States where such precautior
Is taken"
The number OF inmates at Eastvlev
runs from about 425 in summer to nearl.
500 In winter. OF these one-fifth ar
women and four-fifths are men, whicl
seems to indicate greater thrift amOni
women with slender resources thar
among men correspondingly situated
Furthermore, almost all of the womer
are willing to do whatever tasks they
are asked to perform; but the men
with few exceptions, try to evade wori
- any kind. Their attitude Is illus
p tratod by one who was sent there by {
local ovcrscer in IA nearby TOWNSHIP
THIS man was requested To do some
: light task, and refused point blank,
. "Therc's no reason why You shouldn'
do It," Mr.. Mays assistant explained
"It is easy work ana Will save hirinl
an outside man to do It,"
) That's IL" sneered the paupel