davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The American Jewish world. [volume] (Minneapolis ;) 1915-current, 1920-09-10
An East End Tenement Dwelling
BY SAMUEL GORDON.

was Leah. Sorka had told him angri-
ly to shut his mouth. But Tzeeril
had listened eagerly, and that is why
she lies so patiently on that chair
bed of hers, her luminous eyes fixed
on the door, waiting, hoping-for
what, for whom?
The attic next door enjoys the dis
tinction of having a literary occu-
pant. It is a young man who lives
by teaching Hebrew and occasionally
getting stray article accepted by
one of the Yiddish papers. He has
four pupils who each pay him two
shillings a week. His other source of
income brings his weekly revenue up
to, say, IL shillings. Out of this he
pays four shillings for rent, and from
the remainder he saves enough to pay
for the Evening Glasses at the East
London Polytechnic. Starve? Oh,
dear no! Was it not to save His peo-
pie from starvation that God insti-
tuted so many fast-days in the Jew
ish Calendar?
We come to the aristocrats of the
tenement. This is, as everybody
knows, Meema D'voirah, Anglice,
Aunt Deborah. But everyone calls
her Meema D'voirah, even her own
children. She is person deserving
distinctly Of descriptive enlargement.
A buxom little woman, in early middle
age, with twinkling black eyes. I'm
doubtedly the most pre-eminent figure
in the street. There is not confine-
ment, not a wedding, not-God for
bid!-a funeral in which she does not,
next to the bride or the corpse, take
a leading part. She settles all the
quarrels among the neighbors. She
ought to know how to settle them,
for it is she who makes them.
She has five children, also hus-
band, Uncle David, who earns pre-
carious living at cap-making. With
her lives an unmarried sister, but
ton-hole hand. A cupboard of a
room, however, is set aside for two
"sing le-man" dodgers. These dodgers
change very frequently. Uncharitable
people say; that Aunt Deborah gives
them notice as. soon as she finds out
that they harbor no matrimonial in
tentions towards the sister.
But not even her worst enemy can
deny that Aunt Deborah is born
fnancier. AS Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer she would have redeemed any
insolvent country from national bank
The American Jewish world. [volume] (Minneapolis ;) 1915-current, 1920-09-10

a rickety grandmother to keep them
in check since their mother died. The
father is out from morning to night
with a barrow-load of bananas, jock
eyed on, whenever he pauses for
moment to flap his numbed arms, by
the policeman on the beat. But, new
ertheless, he manages to scratch
miraculous living for his hungry
brood. Over night the bananas serve
as mattress for the two eldest boys.
1t does them good; it makes them
mellow-the bananas, not the boys.
And he can trust them not to turn
their bed into a banquet. Not single
one of those bananas will be missing
in the morning. They are fine,
healthy little chaps, and they love
their father. When they grow up they
will earn plenty of money. There's
a good time coming for poor patient
Mendel Blaustein and the rickety old
grandmother-ifs she can hold out till
then.
Now draw deep breath and fol-
low me up to the garnet. Through the
chinks of the right-hand door issue
little clouds of steam. For here lives
Sorka, the washerwoman. The trades
union would consider her an arrant
blackleg, for she works at one-third
the regulation price, and glad to do it
at that. For how else is she to keep
a roof, even roof through which the
rain drips, over the head of her one
ewe-lamb, her little Tzeeril, who lies
so quiet and accomplishing on her
chair-bed, unable to move since some
thing happened to her back? And
yet, even amid that sordidness and
misery there stalks the ghost of ro-
nance. 1t is five years since Sorka
heard last from her daughter Leah
Leah with the golden hair and the
golden voice, who ran away with a
Christian. A year later she wrote
asking her mothers forgiveness, and
enclosing 10-pound note. But Sorka
made Tzeeril put the 1O-pound note in
an envelope and write a letter saying
that she had never had daughter
named Leah. Only once since then
has the shadow Of rumor about her
filtered through. The fshmonger over
the way had gone to relatives
wedding in Paris, and when he re-
turned he came to tell Sorka that he
had been taken to a splendid theatre
where a woman had sung, who-he
would stake his last bloater on it
The American Jewish world. [volume] (Minneapolis ;) 1915-current, 1920-09-10
Page Thvty-three

1ngS average, considering Ills ISCDl0
health and slack time, about % shil-
lings per week. To this must be add
ed four and sixpence from the
dodgers and three shillings from the
sister. She pays IL shillings for rent,
four shillings to loan office, half-a-
crown to a traveller from whom she
has bought three pairs Of blankets,
and feeds, clothes and educates her
family.
To give you some idea how she
manages to tide over the week. On
Tuesday she borrows 10 shillings
from Mrs. Harris. On Wednesday she
loans another half-a-sovereign from
Mrs. Isaacs, out of which she re-
turns five shillings to Mrs. Harris. On
Thursday she borrows five shillings
from Mr.. Levy, the grocer, from
which she repays another two-and-
six to Mrs. Harris and gives Mrs.
Isaacs the same amount on account.
On Fridays she borrows II shillings
from Izzy Jacobs, the coleman, out
of which she settles the remainder of
her debts to Mrs. Harris and Mrs.
Isaacs respectively. With what is left
she buys provisions for the Sabbath
and takes her husbands neither gar
ments out of pawn. On Saturdays,
fortunately, no money is required-oh,
if only the whole week consisted of
Saturdays! On Sunday Uncle David
draws his wages, when there are any
to draw, and on Monday Aunt Debo-
rah has a splendid time to square her
weekly budget, with balance Of five
and-six on the wrong SIDE
Co xyo11 NOV IN, oiYo tbot IocYito
her financial finesse, she spends many
a sleepless night, and the busy brain
behind the twinkling eyes aches often
bad quarter of an hour listening to
her objurgations for not having been
born a millionaire. And what can
Uncle David do? The twopence she
has doled out to him for a packet of
woodbines he brings back intact at
night, and lays it silently on the table
as a peace-offering. But heaven be
praised! Sammy, the eldest, who has
just left school, has found a place at
five shillings week, and Aunt De-
borah dreams ambitious dreams. and
hopes that before long she will be
able to redeem the wedding-ripg, on
which she has already paid interest
for four years.
One more vignette. In another
room an old man sits pendulatine and
singsonging over volume of Gema-
rah. Enter a smart, well-set-up
young fellow in khaki. On his sleeve
he wears three wound stripes. Across
his chest is half. yard of party
colored ribbon, and inconspicuously
against it shows a cruciform piece of
metal
"Hullo, dad!" he saws in Yiddish
$50 you're back" replies the old man,
turning slowly. praised be the Lord
of the Universe. Now you'll bring
home some money again. Lame
Yoshka says he's kept your job open
for you"
At that moment he catches sight of
the piece of metal.
"Woe is mel" he exclaims, clapping
his hands to his eyes. "a tzeylem-a
tzeylem!" And he signifies his abhor-
renee in a manner more dramatic than
polite.
"Where's mother?" asks the young
man, quietly.
At that moment she rushes in.
The American Jewish world. [volume] (Minneapolis ;) 1915-current, 1920-09-10
THE AMERICAN JEWISH WORLD

sketches included IN one frame. Ine
frame is tenement dwelling, such
as, despite the invention of Garden
Cities, are still to be found by the
score East of Aldgate Pump.
Very few have the doubtful privi-
lege of penetrating into these grimy
walls, teeming with multitudinous life.
The only three regular visitors are
the Borough Sanitary Inspector, the
investigating officer of the Jewish
Board of Guardians, and the landlord
on his collecting rounds. For the lat
ter, it must be said, there is often
more round than collecting, despite
the fact that there is no lack of ten
ants. Most of these dwellings, are per-
feet caravanserais. Many of the oc-
cupants have been here for years and
years, but they have still not forgot
ten the clank of the bureaucratic
sabre. and have not learnt to fill in
stinctive lungs with the breath of
freedom. And so they have not got
rid of the elementary habit of all
hunted things-the habit of budding.
This particular tenement dwelling
consists of ten rooms. There are re-
ally not ten rooms, for the number
includes two attics and two cellars.
And yet, on an accurate census, this
dwelling would be found to harbor
every night not less than 38 living
souls If you are not too squeamish
you will accompany me to some of
these rooms.
The first one on the right of the
dingy passage is occupied by old Reb
Schachtel and his wife, A year ago
they celebrated their golden wedding.
That gives one the idea that they are
veritable Methuselahs. Not at all.
They are both still we'll under TO-
They were married at Is. Reb
Schachtel is a we'll known figure in the
neighborhood, and highly respected.
The sturdy greybeard rises at 6
o'clock. even in the depth of winter,
and with his bag, containing talith
and tephillin under his arm, makes
his way to the chevrah for morning
service The old couple are comfort
ably off-independent, in fact. They
receive monthly remittances from
their two sons in South Africa, and
their son-in-law, a fourishing ladies
tailor in Soho, allows them 10 shil-
lings week. An immense sensa-
ton was caused in the street little
while ago by the daughter from Soho
driving up in a taxi-cab and keeping
it waiting for half an hour while she
paid a somewhat long-deferred visit
to her parents.
Life is fond of teaching it's lessons
by contrast, and therefore the ad-
joining room is tenanted by newly
married couple. and the first baby has
just arrived. The Killicks started life
most auspiciously. The husband
earns good money at matzo factory.
But for the last six months he has
been troubled by an obstinate cough.
The change from the sitting bake
house to the chill night air without,
as he makes his way home, has told
on his chest. He attends the hospital
three times a week and drinks pints
of medicine. But, nevertheless, he
grows thinner day by day. More and
more frequently he notices specks of
blood on his handkerchief which he
carefully conceals from his wife. But
she, poor soul, suspects, and as she
passes old Reb Schachtel she asks
herself, with a sudden Tightening at
her heart. whether she and her Baruch
El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-08-28

ment Of the interior. at Washington,
/ D. C.. OF which John Barton Payne is
Touches All Main Roads.
The connecting park highway
I touches every main transcontlnental
| trail including Yellowstone. yellow
stone-Glacier Bee Line Roosevelt, the
national parks and Pacific highways,
and the Old Trails road and the Rain
bow route, crossing and using them
in part TO make a continuous thor
oughfare. when considered with many
connecting auto roads running north
and south
National parks are natures silent
sentinels, reckoning the Wanderer, IN
Colorado. to behold the great granite
heights in Rocky Mountain park; IN
wyoming to marvel at petrifled Tor
ests and spouting geysers IN yellow
stone park: in Montana, 10 experience
unsurpassed alpine climbing in Gla-
cier park; passing through Idaho TO
washington. to witness Mount Raj
nier park with its snow-capped peak
buried in the clouds. in oregon, 10
long for passage on the rock 'phan-
tom ship" riding the lake waters
held in the collapsed top OF an eX-
tfnct volcano in Crater Lake park
in California TO be thrilled by an &C
tive volcano in Lassen park, NAM
moth waterfalls IN Yosemite park.
ana big trees in General Grant and
Seuuoia parks: in Arizona, 10 stand in
awe Of the Creators master stroke Of
erosion in fashioning the Grand Can
yon, and In passing through New Mex
leo to southwestern Colorado, TO be-
come entranced over the prehistoric
ruins Of cliff jewellers in Mesa Verde
park. Zion National park in Utah is
also included in the wonder group OF
federal Fairgrounds.
asee America FirEt.1
Director Mathers in the dedicarory |
ceremonies held at Denver, at the ]
outset Of the official tour. said TO the |
tourists and visitors representing /
practically every state in the union- /
More than ever before there ex- /
lists a real inclination among our peo- +
bic TO see America first Where for 4
years the lure OF Europe has caught /
their fancy. the eyes Of all those
countries are now directed to the
most spectacular world aggregation
Of scenic wonders. set apart for the /
enjoyment and recreation OF free
people.
parks is in private automobiles and 4
10 these are now being offered still \
further opportunities TO see these \
by the National Park-to-
Park Highway, connecting twelve ma
or parks in our national parks eys-
EN-, like a thread OF gold connect
ng Jewels Of the rarest beauty.
The official park-to-park tour
iedicating this remarkable route 10
he park traveller, IS an event Of in
ipiring interest. for he can IN one
tour experience variations
n climate ranging from the frigid
o the tropical, and oftimes in one
ark"
There VIII be convention at Den
-er. possibly in November, at which
ime the National Park TO Park High
he consideration OF a road program
El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-08-28
POOR LUBRICATION RESULTS
FROM CHEAP GREASE CUPS

Many automobile manufacturers
stillN insist upon fitting their cars
with the cheapest sort OF grease
cups which. in a very short time. be-
come useless. II requires more than
a giants finger strength 70 turn them
down and half the time simply turn
ing them down does not force grease
into the part. Where such cheap cups
are provided the owner gets disgust
ed with the Job Of greasing and lets
matters drop there, but the proper
thing 70 do Is TO get new workable
CUPS or some system OF lubrication
which will insure a supply Of lubri-
cant 10 the part.
El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-08-28

be better. Freight conditions also
are expected to be better. The indus
try as whole. though, will show no
reductions until a more stable con-
dition exists in those fields which
control the final selling price.
Factories making sch edules for
next year are acting with caution.
Some)have come out with anticipated
production figures which show g big
increase over this year; others are
satisfied with production equal to
this year; still others are planning
on lower production"
El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-08-28
The ROAD BOND ISSUES
VOTED BY Ell PASO


The 100000 worth Of bonds has
not yet been issued and it Is hoped
10 eXpend this money on state high
way 10. / from Fabens east 10 The
county line, 10 miles in length; on
state highway No. 80, from FL Paso
to the county line at Newman, 16
miles long, known as the Alamo
gordo road; on state highway No.
IS, between Socorro and san Eiizario,
four miles long, the road u Chihua-
hua- and on the Island road six
miles Ions. which is also a part Of
the road TO Chihuahua
State aid 10 the extent Of S155.000
also viii be available fer this work,
making the total amount available
Ss35.O0o. Work viii be commenced
on the projects as soon as labor, ma
terisl and supplies get on more
stable basis.
El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-08-28
AUTOMOBILE PRICES NOT likely
To DROP BEFORE FALL Of 1921

RFoTORISrS IN discussing the au-
lfl tomohile price question seem
TO be under the impression that
the temporary difficulties in which
some dealers and factories find
themselves, viii mean a general low
ering OF prices" says Rodney Bur
dett James in the August issue Of
Motor. Il do not believe the condi-
tons warrant any price reductions,
nor viii such reductions come for q
long time. certainly not earlier than
the fall OF 1921. The ratio OF supply
10 demand, though It has been al
tered since the spring OF this year,
has not been changed sufficiently to
warrant any change in car prices TO
the consumer
The general public must look to
the present situation as merely tenn
porary and as affecting the sutomo-
bile industry in the same way as the
wooden Industry and many others
have been affected. Present condi-
tions have no bearing on the future.
Some factroies have come out with
statements guaranteeing present
prices to hold vel into next year
The majority OF makers viii not
commit themselves owing to their
inability 70 Judge conditions months
hence Mary are Of The firm opinion
that their prices viii have to be in
creased rather than reduced.
El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-08-28

AT the time OF writing reports
coming in from dealers and facto-
riss show that two big problems are
hindering business These are ship
ping and bank credits. Factories
cannot get raw materials. or If they
El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-08-28

age cost Of $4,000 per mile, it repre-
sents approximately the cost Of con
struetion Of 1s5 miles OF road. II the
increase IS continued throughout the
prosecution Of the. present road build
ing program. it will represent the
cost Of approximately 1000 miles If
improved roads in Texas.
Wants Exemption.
Believing that road materials
have been and are now bearing a
greater proportion Of the transporta-
ton charges than any other COM
modify, in comparison with value Of
material and the risk incurred in its
transportation. and in anticipation OF
tn Increase being granted, the state
highway department is securing data
and VIII be prepared to file a brief
with the railroad commission setting
forth reasons why road materials
should be exempted from the pro-
posed increase"
El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-08-28

are well stocked and this is worked
I into finished products. these cannot
be shipped, with the result that there
I Is congestion at the factories. In the
case Of some accessory makers, tires
for instance, Il IS seen there is actual
necessity for closing the plants. in
order TO allow time TO move accumu-
lated material When automobile
factories cannot get their parts. the
parts factories naturally become
cloEged and at the same time car
production goes down. These condi-
tons actually exist in many cases.
On top Of this where some factories
are able TO make large shipments
the dealers taking the cars must have
sufficient funds to take up the
freight bills Of ladinE- Where he has
not sufficient funds OF his own. he
naturally turns TO the banks and in
cases where these refuse. the dealer
simply cannot accept the cars.
Prices May Decline
1T is quite true that prices Of
some raw materials have come down,
but opposed to these very slight re-
ductions are increases in other ma
terials. The total cost Of these ma
terials 10 the car builder has not
been lowered to any extent. and all
other factors bearing On cost have
not changd so as 70 warrant any
thing but a continuation Of present
price or an increase which some have
announced this past month.
There Is no doubt but that some
factories may start reducing prices
as early as next spring. depending.
Of course. upon the condition OF the
material market which is expected to
The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1920-02-02
OPPOSE PLAN TO
AID RUSSIAN TRADE
Statements of Business Men and
Ex-A. E. F. Officer Cried Down
by Sponsors of Association.

Opposition TO the formation of the
American Commercial Association
to Promote Trade with Russia" at a
meeting in the Hotel Knickerbocker
today, voiced by a former officer in
the A. f. f. and several business
men, was cried down by sponsors
OF the proposed organization, led by
Dudley Field Malone, who said he
represented the Lehigh Machine Co,
OF LchiEhton, Pa, the president of
which. Emerson p. jennings, presided
at the gathering.
The opponents advised those pres
ent "to watch their steps and pro-
coed With caution" These were the
sentiments Of a man giving his name
as Capt. Roseblack, formerly OF the
American forces, who had seen SER
vice in Russia. A. r. Gormully, of
the Ajax Rubber Committee also
cautioned against the hasty organiza-
ton OF the proposed body. w. b.
Brewster of the Combustion Control
Co, said the assemblage was vast
ing it's time in a useless petty novel
ment." He declared that the organ
ization was contemplated by a few
for their own personal agfigrandi2e-
ment.
The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1920-02-02
DECREASE OF 1878
IN NEW FLU CASES;
PNEUMONIA DROPS
Death Rate Only Half That of
1913 Epidemic, DR.. Cope
land Reports.
cheat" STRIKE HALTED.
Firemen and Engineers Delay
Walkout on Plea of Health
Commissioner.

In the twenty-four-hOur period
ending at 10 A. NJ. to-day the number
Of new cases OF influenza reported 70
tho Health Department was 2.s73 and
the number of new cases Of pneu-
monla 524. There were "a deaths from
the "1u" and 100 deaths from. pneu-
monia.
Compared with yesterdays figures
the new cases Of influenza showed IA
decrease Of 1878. new cases OF pneu-
monia a fall Of 1ll. deaths from "ru"
a drop OF 10 and deaths from pneu-
monia a decrease Of II.
While the apparent improvement
may be in some part the drop that
has come invariably in Monday fig
ures." Health Commissioner Cope
land said, there is no getting away
from the fact that the death rate this
year Is only one-half that OF the cpl
demic OF 1918"
Following are tho pew cases re-
ported for the twenty -four hours
ending at 10 o'clock this morning:
The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1920-02-02
SING SING GUARDS
IN Vain HUNT FOR
ESCAPED BANDITS
Both Men Were Members of
Brooklyn's Notorious "Green
Auto Gang"

Fortymen under Major Lewis Dawes
wafaen OF Sing Sing. to-day sys-
tematically searched the prison grounds
for the two men who disappeared
yesterday afternoon between noon
and sos q. NJ. Early this afternoon
no trace of them had been found.
Major Lawes Is convinced, he says.
thrt the prisoners did not get outside
the inclosure. but the alarm has been
spread In all directions and the po-
lice OF many cities are watching.
The convlcts were Alfred Fried
lander, sentenced FOR eighteen years,
and Percival McDonough. sentenced
for forty. as former members Of the
Green Auto Gang that held up and
robbed passengers and crews or
trolley cars near Flushing and Ja-
maica.
The convicts, possibly as part OF
plot, disappeared between noon and
supper yesterday They were not
missed until the prisoners were
marched to their cells after several
hours OF liberty in the yard. Nothing
has been found to indicate whether
they are hiding somewhere within the
walls. as prisoners have been known
to do for days. or have scaled the
wall and escaped.
This is the FIRST escape-if such It
proves TO be-durlng the administra-
ton Of the now Warden. He said to-
day he did not believe that the men
had got out OF the prison inclosure. He
thought they were hiding somewhere
about the yards or shops, waiting n
chance for a dash.
The Hudson is frozen over at Os-
sinlng, and it is believed Fricdl1n-
der and McDonouGh might have
scaled the 1O-foot wall and crossed the
ice TO the west shore.
Friedlander's homo was at No. 22l4
Pitkin Avenue. Brooklyn, and Nc
Donough's at No. 2577 on the same
street. They were two OF six men
who held up trolleys.
The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1920-02-02
SLAPS MAN WITH
HANDBAG IN COURT
Another Woman Throws Arms
About Prisoner as He Is Led Away
Two Charged With Assault.

Dora Consuelo Landro, sixteen years
old, No. 1JS West G2d Street, appeared
IN the West side Court to-day against
Alfred Hunt. No. 1876 West 61st Street.
and Charles Reese of Buffalo. She
charged the two with assault, saying
that Hunt had seized her on the street
In front OF No. As West Goth Street.
carried her away in an automobile and
kept her over night in his room. She
also implicated two other men besides
Hunt and Reese.
Hunt and Reese were held in $4,000
bail each on the assault charges
Then they and third man. Nicholas
Desdner, No. PA l4th Avenue, Astoria
were held on a burglary charge on the
complaint OF Mrs. Reta Blair, formerly
Of No. 50 West 62d Street who said
she rented room to the three there
until they carried away $500 worth OF
her belongings. She slapped Hunt on
the check with her handbag as she left
| the courtroom, Another woman, as Ia
was being led away. threw both arms
about his neck and cried
"Oh, Whitley, what have you done?'