Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-18

pipes his evening call. Hopewcll Av-
| thoroughfare. but Railroad Avenue has
almost as many shops. And besides.
Railroad Avenue has the post office and
general news stand. At the post
office. when the dusk OF evening is
settling down and there is II lull in the
noise OF the town. comes the stranger
, looking for an American paper. He
wants il to learn the language. mainly;
! often he wants 1t for such news as he
may CLEAN from the stray tidings OF
| his home. Chiefly he wants 1t TO learn
tho language OF this strange and beau
! uful country, this country of hope. this
! country where every man has an equal
chance, where a man may work and
love and live In peace
| ITALIAN COLONY Is
CHEERFUL. PLACE
From the post office tho men go to
! their rooms or their cots spread be-
meath the pines. Down towards the
, end OF Railroad Avenue. in the rear OF
one OF the hotels. lies n pretty plot OF
ground. Part of it is Eulch but the
Sulch sides are lined with leaves and
pine tags. and through the bottom runs
a little brook. On the little heights
, above many n tent is spread. and beds
lie upon the tags Here lives little
Italian colony. They cook their meals
on an open fire, aHu eat from their laps
or from table made of box and PLANK.
There is none more cheerful than these.
There Is none who seems to enjoy life
more. none who seems more to believe
in liopewell. When their day is done
they lie them down on the ground or
seek refuge on little cot. They are
far from the turbulent noise OF the
! town. and thy rest we'll. there be-
meath tho pine trees Tomorrow
who knows?-they may lie in more
lasting rest. For now and then there
comes from the plant a box, which is
sent on long journey. eastward, per-
haps to Suez. westward to where
The sun goes down beyond the Bar
barry Coast. No one outside Of the
town hears OF the box and It's occu-
pant, They go out. and the sun rises
again in the morning.
BEER GARDENS AND
CABARETS on EVERY HAND
Leaving the pine grove. and turning
north into Hopewell Avenue one comes
across all the Eaycty of the place
First. on the r!Eht-hnnd side. is a hotel
1t is very plain. There is no lobby.
one simply goes upstairs to room.
without bath or other comfort. a little
further along. on the same side OF the
street. is tented show. Further UP
the street. where cross avenue runs
! in, is n cabaret show. The cabaret is
n h,tIt
between the blocks. While men and
women dance and sing on the stage
and during the Changing of piano
that has seen better days. woman
comes down the aislcs and invites the
men 10 have another. She takes away
tho empty bottles. and, as fast as the
orders are given, brings the others
one needs a cool bottle now and then.
ana when girl with blonde rinslcts
curling about her ears and with A
voice that sounds like the call Of spring
pleads with one to have one more. there
! is another and newer thirst.
SO il is UP at the other corner Here
is another cabaret show, another bird
cage game. Here are more blonde
| haired girls. To the right is motion
! picture show. There are other picture
shows in town. all of them presenting
:
Rut this is but a periscopic view OF
the town. Behind all the glare and
glitter. behind the lesser things which
are visua liZed, there are inspiration
ana hope. The town may last and
grow into some permanent form. Ger
tainly IL VIII be as permanent as the
powder plant. from which il derives its
revenue and stay. Now there is no
sewerage. and history knows that the
. town without sewerage is doomed to
disease and discomfort. But, with that
wisdom which knows that no factory
is better than its people. that health
Is assured only by sanitation, the Du
Pont powder factory is constructing
sewers along Hopewell and Railroad
/ Avenues. The work is even now well
, under way. In a few weeks the sew
/ ers Will be in operation. Every home
and every hotel Will be provided with
water. and the characteristic inconven-
fences of a new town will have been
removed.
1t has been the policy Of the great
manufacturing plant to provide every
sanitary measure within it's own do
main, and the little town which lies
just beyond the factory's acreage will
be cared for in like manner. Just be-
Eond the gates OF the gun cotton fac
tory are houses in which employees
may live. Near TO them and in suf-
hcient number are bath houses. 1t is
J " rune OF the company that every man
must take shower at least three
times week. soap and towels are
provided Separate quarters are as
sicned 10 the negroes and the whites
No man may enter the private grounds
unless II Is proven that he is clean
ana 'rec from contaEion. If he :.
carly he may take a bath bo-
! enters. Always he may take shower
when ne leaves. It was interesting to
watch the men go 20 the bath houses
and then to see them. clean and smij.