Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, March 14, 1875, Page 2

aarrative with the aesurance that it is, throngh- out, sn accurate representation of the facts, with no attempt at exeggeration. Some of the #tntements ere ugly, but all are trne, The read- er may, perbaps, be surprised at an apparent: pan: city of detail on some important points. Itshould be borne in mind that the narrator wasdebarred, by the ‘very naturo of his disguise, from access to. such: facts as ‘were anly in the possession of the authorities, whom he could not question. His equals and associates dared not tell what they imew, and any apccial inquisitiveness on tbe reporter's part would have betrayed him at ance, More detail would be a proof of inven- tion. Fea “2 GOOD-BYE. LAT THE COUNTY AGENT'S OFFICE. At abont 9 o'clock on a.certain March morning, in the year 1875, a very suspictous-looking indi- vidual might bave been seen wending his way along the most crowded portion of Clark street, Thus suspicious-looking individual was attired ——well, never mind how he was attired, Suffi- cient be it to state that his dress waa conspicu- soa only for its shabbiness. Nor was it any of theshebby-genteel sort. It was of the coarsest cloth, and very ragged at that, marking ont its wearer a8 one of the lowest of the tower order. The suspicious-looking individual . walked slowly, ssif having no particalar destination in view, bis roling idea being to steer clear of the police, A slouched hat tured down over his eyes added to the desperate character of his gen- eral appearance, which was one such as few peo- ple would like to.meot after dark on a lonely street. Yet bow deceitful are appearances! This vgly-looking pedestrinn was the writer hereof. In foil disguise, I was taking a turn upon the streets, preparatory toa certain expe- dition against the Cook County Poor-House. Ascid the passing throng upon the sidewalk I noticed acqusintancea from time to time, but easily escaped their observation. Once, how- ever, I experienced grest trepidation ; for, on turning upon a cross-street, I met face to facoa prominent journalist of this city. He bestowed a passing stare upon me, aud hastened on with- out recognition. After thet I felt easier, snd cocked my hat beck wifh brazen sssurance. Beaching . A LITTLE COZFEE-BOOTE On State street, I determined oz a bolder more, and therefcre entered and calted fora cup of eoffec, This shop was simply s narrow shanty with a tableon one side and s counter on the other, leaving a passage about feet wide be- tween them. A common cook-stove filed up the rear of the ebop, being sbout 10 feet to thé door. As I enteréd, a robust young man in poor clothes was. seated at the table, making a breakfast out of coffeo and pie, and I wiited until he bad finished, as there was room for only one at the table. When be was through, and before be left his chair, an animated discus- tion arose between him and the old man who Sept the shop in regard to the number or pieces cf pic that the formerhad eaten. The robust young man fixed the number at threo, while the old man claumed pay for five. At my suggestion tho matter was finaily eetiled by «splitting tho difference,” although I have to this dsyno doubt thatthe young man rea'ly did eat five pieces of pie. For my pert I could noi awallow any of tne old man’s dolicacies, and efi the coffee atter ons taste. Since then I havo diunk tea and coffee as much worse than that as that was inferizr to the average quality. At about11 o'clock I sauntered over the Adams etree’ bridge, and plodded up to THE COUNTY AGENT'S OFFICE on Canal street. My chief anxiety now lay in paseing the ordoal neccesary to become, ay one Quicht say, a “free and accepted” pauper. Henca, alibough the time for the “bus” to siart Ior the Poor-House was 1 o'clock, I deter- inined to be on band early. ate Fiom the moment when the County Agent’s oftice is opencd until the time for closing iis i- terior presenta a livcly and an interesting ecene. ‘The ottice is cno of ‘the great avenues of public charity. Here congregate daily all of that ciass of people who are either tomporarily distressed for lack of work, or wao, though sick and do- crerid, are yct too proud to go to the Poor-Houso. ‘There is never zany perceptible change in tke number, The Jong, low room 1s always jammed fall of people, standing in rows and waiting their turn. Almost without exception they are womon and childien, and as fast ay cue is supplied with ticket ane goes down in the besement to get her rations, while another takes her place. +. Standing with my back agaiust che wall, I had ample time and opportunity to inspect TRIS STEANOE AXSORTMENT OF HUMAN BIINGS— this panorama which developed with painful tardiness, Tho majority of the women were Trish, as might bo expected, abd their native coarseness 2nd vulgarity knew nu repression of place or circumatance. They laughed, cursed, aud prayed. They rehearsed their own woes, and decried the ailments of their neighbors. None 40 kind to tbe own children, none go in- tolerant to those of others. Many of them wero old topers, well known at the polico stations. Regular old *shouters” wore they, coming here ior “‘relief.” Tren there were pale and timid women, weak and wan from the ill-usage of yesss.. Ofventimes these would get eboved aside Ly some strapping Irichwoman. I noticed one soor widow—at least, I judged ber a widow from Eerepipe--ebo- cond octeren wet back ia the. line after being thrust out in this way, but was forced to go Mack to the end and begin over asain, entailing an additional two hours of weary EMA. waiting. THERE WAS A SPECIAL POLICEMAN present, nomivally to keep order. Really he - spent most of bis time in chafing with the younger. femsles, aud iu issuing in a loud yoice orceis which uo one could undeistand. “Come, you,” pointing towards some thiclly- pomnlates district in the room, “stand back there, will vou? ™ ‘ ‘Tho thictily-populated district blinked anxious- 'y from the speaker to each otber, and, not knowing who was addressed, stood fast. Handsome young ‘peeler.” greatly enraged: “You won't, won't you. I'll see whether you will or not,” pushwe his way through the crowd aud roughly shoving some ugly old woman to one vide. “Now, I guess you'll obey ordera af- ter this, hey!” ~ Yis, sur.” answers the ugly old woman ina weak voice full of awe, and immediately after- panda pushes her wsy back to her former po- sition, “Ab, Mary, how dedo? You're early to-day.” ‘This to # brazen-faced young woman, who enters &nd boldly crowds her way along with the help of a large basket. * All right, Jobnay, bow’s yourself?” andtben follows s conversation, interesting only to the participants, and remarkable only for its reckless mixture of profanity and ribaldry. There are 2 fow young girls here,—some of them modest, good-looking, and tastily dressed. ‘These generally shrink back upon tho benches placed along tho wall, and await in timid alleaco the lessening of the crowd. ‘J’o these this band- seme policeman is very kind, frequently stopring ashe and tapping them on the shoulder or under the chin, and making playfal remarse calculated to improve their apirits. “To the male * poition of the audience I must eny that this ofi- cial wasvery brucque, orcering them about with a hautear that was very becoming to his aristo- cratic appearance. The very brass buttons on Lis official coat glowered fiercely upon the poor devils who had presumed to intrude upon this sanctuary of charity. “You men, you great hullang Iazy-bones, what do you mesn’ bs coming here and begging fur focd? Why in tho devil doa't-you goto work end esrp something?” Such was the substance of tus policeman's remerts whenever he vouch- sed to ad‘rees the tattered ma'e applicants; and such was the eavaze query coatintally ex- pressed by his official buttous. “ - “Coma, make room for this lady, will you?” ssid he, now sod then, rudely jerking “some sickly or maimed wretch from s bench wheres he hed dared to find s moment's rest, and escorting with all the gruce of a ball-room a flaunting fo- minie'to the vacant sext. TRERS Was 4 YOUNG WOXAN— slender, meanly dressed—who wore a heavy teil over her face, and bore in her arms a baby only s few’ wooke old. She came in timdly, aud stood fur a long while lesning hopelessly against the railing. not mowing where to go or how to obotem tie food for which she had come. The er crowd ehoved past her, leaviog no gap, nud never coming to anend. So she stood there Sor hours, not knowing what to do or say, ctter- Jy bewildered by the, to her, wowonted throug. * Noone spoke a word to her. Several times ene eseayed to address the policeman or some clerk who happened to pass, but they ane snd all ignored her faint supplications, and there abe eiood iwhen JI left, etill leaning ‘weakly against the railing and clasping in hee arms her babe, which was, perhape, the only thread to bold her to this earthly existence. errs After waiting in the County-Agent's office au hour, J began to wonder when the announce- ment of the arrivalof the van for the Poor- TIE CHICAGO TRIBUNE: SUNDAY, MARCH 14, 1875.--SIXTEEN PAGHS. Bouse would be made, ard it, in fe immen throng of people present, I might oof miss hear-. ing itrand thud be left bshind. Meanwhile I bad not found any people who seemed hkely. from their appearance, to be. my tellow~pas- séngers. I began to foel_verv inquisitive on* ‘this point. At last my curiosity received ‘A PARTIAL GRATIFICATION, Seated on 5 bench. ci to. shaetoye 93s a corpulent, opique Irish fema’e of great age, snd the vrailvional red features. e bad bere: tofore preserved =. meditative silence, even under a fire of quips ard coaree jesis froma bach of youngsters in the-neiebborbood. But, finally, ehe opeaed her Blog an_avwfal cavity, and said, ih | ‘Well, mither,” said.a cheerful woman who. sat next to ber, ‘‘An’ is it tirurd ve air 2”. Tbe ovnaue old lady turned not to reply, but exclaimed “Oh, deary, dear!” Not disconraged br this, the younger woman continued, still speaking in a kindly, sympathetic me = : at “It's bard it is, mither, fer old uns asthe’ likes of yez, to sit the blissed day a-waithing to be sarvad, hev 7" E Still no reply, , i Rae eer ie Mashaps. yez are goin’ te the coonthry ?” suggestively. : i {1 may here explain that the phrase ‘going into the country,” in the slang pariance, signifies going to the Poor-House.] The old Jady nodded her bead affirmativel, a adding, by way.of emphasis: Oh, deary, dear and relapsed into a eombre silence. - : “It’s a foin place out there, itis, mither, continued the younger, cheerfally, *‘plinty to ate, and foire, and bids to slape in as nate a8—— yis, Mrs. Alshovey, I'm a coomm',” and she rose and joined her friend, to whom she had ad- dresnied tne latter part of her remarks. — Soon after that a very docent-lookiog mau, soparently about 45 yeara of age, joined me, an we entered into 3 A CONVERSATION. He had been in the city, he said, three months, and had only succeeded in getting six hours of -work, Taeked him if he had any trade, and he replied in the negative. For several years past he bad subsieted by doing chores abont livery- stables, but now times were very dull, aud hs" bad found it impossible to get work.- He bad decided to go out to the Poor-Honse until warm weather, woen times would be easier. He ex- ressed great surpiise when I informed him that Fives slau bound for the same place, but imme- diately recovered on reflecting thst tho times were very hard. We soon became quite friendly, and found the interchange of our wretched ex- periences mutually agreeable. During the past few days I have become moro firmly convinced than ever that gicknces and mental anguish are only inyupportable when borne alone. Woo is phanionnzed when subjected to comparison, THE HOURS OF WAITING dragged heavily slong. ‘the stifling stmosphere, the coutinual pressure of the crowd, the monot- ouous ouzz of conversation, all tended to 1n- crease the torture of deferred expectation: I might have crowded my way out of -doors, and got some fresh air; butit must be remembered that I was clud in ragged clothes which were pe- cuharly sensitive to the prauks of the cold March wind. “And, besides, the weather, which in tho morning had been quite mid, was now growing perceptiblycoider. Decidedly, even the noisome smeil of the County Agent’a ofice was prefera- bie to the cutting blasts outside. I had been in- formed, on making apphicatizn to the propor ofticial, that the ‘bus wou'd leave at 2 o'clock. Two o'clock came, and the miuute-hsud of tho large timekeeper On tae wa'l woa again fraveliog wearily up-bilt towards tha hour-point, when 3 man bostied into the office and asked in a loud fone for the people who were going to tho Poor- ouse. DCIEDIATELY THERE WAS A STIR, Everbody looked towards everybody else. Sav- eral persons came pushing through the crowd, and eagerly presented themselves before tho new magnate. “Now, then,” cried the official apgrily, ‘ why don't you hurry up ? Ain't you got auy legs 2” ‘This was a joke, and all tie groveling wrozehes around him laughed in proper appreciation. “Well, come hore, you feller; what's your name ?” a “ Pathrick Ivan,” addressed, a grizzled long aud ragged overcoat ** Where-were you born “To Ireland.” “ How long bave you been in the city 2” “Iver sinve the yare eighteen-tifty-wan, bad Tack to it.” “ What do you do for aliving?” “<I bin a-preakin sthones, sur, on the rboad, fr “Never mind that, Laborer. Here! What's tho matter with you?” : “Tae docther sez its the loong consumpshia, Fesnonded the individnal old supe:numerary, in a anI——" “Consumption, All righ3; stand back, will you. Come forward, you feli-:.” ‘The same formula was gone through with in every case, the official, who afterwaids proved to be the ’bus driver, noting down the answers in alittle account-book. As fast as ons wns ac- cepted, he was told to go out and get into the wagon. _ Tt wss somewhat amusing to me, if not to the bons fide paugers, to nozce the airs of superion- ty which the crowd assumed towards the few who were bound forthe loor-Honse. ‘The peo- ple who made up the greater portion of the au- dience, were ignorant, poverty-stncken, and ragged, but yet they drowa wide lize of damark-- ation between themselves and paupers. They were only cominz here fora little “relate,” “you'd niver ae thim ia the workus, not thim, jazes.". And so thoy drew their tattered shawls and coats away from contact with us poor devils with lacerating frigidity. pease OVER THE HILLS TO THE POOR-HOUSE. A TRIP IN THE COUNTZ WAGON. ‘There were five of us in the party—four men and one woman, the latter being the corpulent and opaque Bibernian whom I had occasion to mention heretofore. The vebicle in which we wore to take our novel, and to moe ever-memor. able, ride was 8 common lumber-wagon, tbe ‘bus or “ Maria” usuatly davoted to that purpose hav- ing been. temporarily discarded on account. of the snow-drifts in the road. In the bottom of the wagon were several: wisps of hay, which were supposed to ense the rigor of our seats, while several old and tattered buffalo-robes were given us for covering. Jast before starting, my ignorance of etiquette Jed me into - ; 4 FRIGHTFUL ERROR, the enormity of which even yet canses my pulse to bound and my hair to elevate whenever I recur to it. As I stated beforo, the driver sent us each out to the wagon as fast aa be had gone through the formula of ques- tions. When I went oat, I found three men squeezed side by side in the back part of the wagon. ‘he old Irish woman ‘faced them, with her back against the wagon seat. By ordi- nary computation the wagon was nearly fall,there old woman. I supposed, of course, that there wore others to come, snd immediately concluded that I would aave room by riding with the driv- er. Accordingly I mounted upon the high seat inward satisfaction In a few minnzes ho emerged from the office, and the expression of his face and whole form on seeing mo—sball I ever forget it? For s moment he appeared stapefied—oppressed, as it wero, with an extraor- inary torpor. Then » change dame over his features. The blood, which had momentarily forsaken his pallid cheeks, returned.‘ re- inforced, and a savage scowl darkened mau he changed suddenly into s farocious an ugly monster. Thunder and lightning played about his mouth and his nostiils, There wera a number of loiterers avout on the sidewalk, look- ing canously at the party as people do at the de- parture of trains from’ a railway station. To these people this enraged driver appealed with his eyes and by a pantomimic movement of hia hands—but be was not ret abletospeak., I ex- pect that there was something so sublimely dar- 10g in my insolont approcriation of his seat that be was utterly at a lose. Hig. facultics were doabtless benumbed, A lesser offense would probably have secured for me a bastinado from the whip which he twitched convalsively in bis band. it was the magnitode of the crime which alone saved me, Asit was, he sdvanced slowly x fow paces, and exclaimed in a voice husky with passion: ie Sa “What do you mean? Whoinh—il told you to get up there?” “‘N-no one, sir; but I thought there wonldn’t be r-room-—-". hid “See here, you G—di d——n pauper, I've just got a notion to lick bh—Il out of you. Get night so Ci teed of Gow mighty Trely, too.” ‘ery humbly and very quickly I obs: and slid down beside the lew womans No, you don't” shouted the drivor; ‘get out nyt a a A came up, Teaching over: seized me the shoulder, and flung me down upon the red of the three meu in the back part of the wagon. One of them had the rheomatism, and nis legs were awollen double their natural size. As I came down upon the members, he conld not rofrain from | a ACCRY OF Palm, So et © which, however, was speedily cut short by s look from the driver, a “Now, then, keep still will you?” he axclaim- being room, perhaps, for one more beside tho’ and awaited the coming of the lat:er with great |: his forehead. From 4 tolerably -good-looking’ ot, and, jnounting his seat, drove south on Canal street, 7. y No donbt, we creatures in the bottom’of the ‘wagon presented 4 curious specrac's to tne yass- et-by, 83 evervbody we met turved to look at.us. There was tho Old woman sitting in frout, ani gazmg impertorba'ly in the distance ; the three men crowdea togoiher in the back andi on top of them, over all a heap of ragged buffalo robes, showing only onr heads, No douot the specta-. cle was ludicrous ; for people almost invariably laughed, and some of: them mad@ jooular re~ marks, One would say: 5 “4 Anice-looking lot of citizens.” - - Thou he would laugh. -Another would say: “Ap gly-looking ao.” ae aie tee i , too, would lingh, .- Press etek will be remarked, wore tos ‘decidedly cineteot elfect, and yet ‘both created ect 2 ne ies peenilartty Lobsorved was, that those who were londest in their expressions of scorn svero the poorest clad, . The commentary is # sad oye jolted down Canal street a5 far as Adams, where we timed west, and stopped at No. 79. Tho driver condescended to inform us that +" Sq SICH WOMAN” was there whom we were to take on board. He then got down from his perc, and, aucending ihe steps, knocked at the door. House No. 79 was a plain frame two-story duilding, pataced brown, such a3 ate very common on the West Side. Its appearance was respectable, though not elegant. The most ekilled in tne physfogno- my of houses would pronounce its occupants moderately we!l-to-da—certuinly far above pov- erty. ‘bo question instantly arose ia my mind : Who is this sick woman who can be sent from such pleasant surroundings as these to the Cook County Poor-House? Doubtless abo is some oor Old creature to whom tne people of the house have kin iv given shelter for a few days, but whom they canaot give » permanent home. Or, perbaps, sho 1s a servant,—though it is not likely that people would ‘catsiga a faithful old domestic to tho cold charit.es of a poor-house. My reverie was broken 1 upon by tho voice of the driver, who appeared at the door, and aad: “Come here, two vf you men, and help carry oat the tick. woman. You youug feiler, you come!” | We shook the robes off from us, and got out of tue wagon. At the same moment a stout, well-dreased man, with a grizzly board, came to the door and becioned us to come in. evidentiv the master of the house. In the hall we founds very large and yery old woman, weighing at least.200 pounds, and aged about 90 years, She was seated in a chair, and was un- able to move. Sho evidently did not compre- hend what was goiag on, but sat with her head bent forward, occasionally groaning in a very weak aud sad voica, “Now, then, you young one, take hold of her foet. Wo did as directed. ‘fhe driver and the man with the grizzly beard litted the chair and we carried the poor old dying creaturo thus out to the wagon. A crowd of gaping schoolboys and neighbors stood around. Ons of the boys look- ed at ma vory snarply and eaid: “I dou’t believe you are sick, You don’t look soa bir.” Which shows that childcen’s wit ia wiser than many men's penetration. Auriving.at tue wagon it was a question how to get our burden into it,—she waa so bulky, and withal so sics, ly the daver climbod into the wagon, and said: ‘« Heave away, now, and we'll fetch her.” ‘We heaved,—that ja, the grizzls-bearded man and we two paupérs. In the immense muscular exertion propricties conid not be observed, and the old lady’s legs. wore ruthlessly exposed to the fearing crowd . Meanwhile’ a neatly-dressed lady stood near and carolezsiy loosed on. At Jast the old woman was dragged noc’s and heels into the wagon, where she tay an unconscious heap, Tke neitly-dressed lady then approached, and sad, with an attempted kindness in her tone: ‘ feller, and you other “* WELL, GOOD-BYE, MOTHER! You'll find things all vice and comfortable out thero, and we'll come and see you often, won't ire, husoand 2” : 3 “Oh yes, of course.” replied the prize bearded wn, impatiently, and added, “ Good- bye, mother.” ‘Then, without s kies or a pressure of the band, tho conple returaed to the honse, Good-bve motaer! Tha:’s right! Load ber Up and cart ber off to the PoorHouse. Who wants to hsve a ‘groaving old mother around, troubling us with her wants by day, and disturb- ing our sleep at nigat? What good is she, any way ? Can she cara money, oreven wash dishes ? No. ' Thea pack hes off, of coarse, us fast cs possible. It cortainly is qneer how long somo old peopia will paraist in hanging on’ after their uscfulnoss is past. “Why can’t they die at once, and pe done with it? Come, driver, Leavy, here 4s this old mo:her of ours, who's had the paral- ysis nearlya year. She's 4 legitimate county cberge, and we don’t. propose to have her on our hauds another day. So foad her up, wil! you? Sho’s over 90 veara old, and she can't trouble you long. especially if you know how to dict -her. Load hor np, f way. What's love, wast's a long life of patient toil, what’s a hoart full of tender dovotion? Did she watch ovor our young lives, nursing on when ill, soothing us when ead or: tired, kindly showing us our failiogs snd teach- ing us tho path of rectitude? Whac if sho did ? Sho can't do it now, aud hasn't done it for so many years that we've quite forgotten it. Come, hurry up, driver! Load her on yorr wagon snd. cart her off anywhere. Good-bye mother! ‘The uir was gradually getting co!dor, and 93 wo. turned northward on Halsted strect the breeze struck us smartly in the face. The very old lady (as I call her in distinction from the senile Hibernian, woo can be ranked simply as old) had been placed alongside of the oid ady,. and I, being the youngest, had been depntized to ait with my back to her so toat she might havo some-hing to lean against. I am inclined to thiak tant made ; NOT THE LEAST ODD * of the odd figurcs of that lumber-wagon, My feet-were cronded under ths wagon-seat, pro~ truding somswhat in fiont. Of latter ‘fact the driver took uadae advantage, and whiled away the tima bv treading on my extremities to his great in vard entisfastion, - The yery old lady was so very weal that she could not-even brace herself avatnst my back,-but lopped forward as far a8 ber corpulence wonid permit, Before a shoe store on Milwankee avonuo the driver stopped and descended from the wagon, Here'l was made happy by learning his name, which was familiarly pronounced by a bystander. It was ‘ Mike,” and vory happily named waa he. Ibeheve I shail instinctively shrink from every mau named “Mike” whom I may heresfte meot. For the time being I contented m:self by soliloquizing: * Mise, you're a rafian. Mike, ou're & ecoundrel, Miko, you deserve to be ung.” Ithink {repeated ‘these words over a hondred times dunng our transit.” I afterwards oe to rhyming, and produced such rare exotica Mike, you're s raMan ; ‘Mike, you're a tough "amt And various others eqaally as snperb. Mike kept us waiting 'n front of tho shoe-store about a quarter of an hour, when he emerged aud dispersed the crovdof ‘small bays who bad gathered about the wagon; after which we pro- A few blocks furtner on we stopped at a grocery 80re, Where Mize purchased * A CAN OF OYSTERS. Can it be, I mused, that we are to bave oysters for supper? And then [dwelt with » Hogenng regrox unon the fair, fat bivalves which are so numerous near the corner of Clark and Madison strects. Couaidering the subject in the caim light of reason, I spaedily became convinced that the can of oysters in whioh - Mike had invested was not intended for onr carnal gratification, And atill I was sorry. . After several more pauses, we finally started off in good earnest, and slowly edged away from the great city. No §teat comfort came from tho. open fialds,—rather discomfort 3 for there wag now No protection from tne bleak March wind whict swept across the prairie. We wore, bo- fore, a wretched-looking party. We vow becsme an undoubtedly wretched party., . The very old. lady every vow and then groaned wealdy, but ut- tered no word., The old lady by ber aide neither groaned nor spoke, but stared impurturbably at the receding city, ag if taking a Fetrospect of her life, and as little afectod by one as by the other ‘The men in the beck part of tha .Wagon were huddled together, aad bad sunk down as if con- solidated by tho jolting of the vehicle. Truly, a strange company, in a stranga conveyance, bound fora strangé déstination, on a Btraggely' cold, weird wintry afternoon. The only thing and natural in’ the neighborhood was the and be was detestable. Past the toll- ia . paat distant villages, past occasional farni-’ oases, past suburban cities, whose broad boule- vards, noble churches, and elegant pleasure grounds were yet creatures‘ of the rea! estate dealer's imagination, we went, or, more cor- rectly sipesiane, we ambulated, dince the driver never allowed his borees to indalze in any ‘such excess a3 atrot. Finally we turued off upon an unfrequented road, and. after being blockaded half au hour by a team abead of ‘us, which had been stuck in a.suow-bank, we drove up ta the County Poor-House. - hs. _—.—.. THE. FIRST NIGHT.. RECEPTION AT THE POO3-HOUSE. Grouped in doorways and about the yard, as we came np, were various human figures, whose slender forms denoted the preyings of misfor- tune and. want, ayd whose garments: fluttered about mn’ ribbons.of tatters: They had crept cut of thelr tenements to iritness the daily arrival of He waa | the ‘‘'bus,” the. sole hnk connecting them the world, It was very cold. The air was laden, with forebodings of snow. : Attempting to. rise, in order to got -outiof ‘the wagon. I found my limbs stiffened.with exld,-ao that I could éearce-’ Jp stand unsupported. I assisted the driver, however, in letting the very old lady down from the wagon. after which, I, too, dismounted. My three'male’ comrades were shiveringty standing near, in readiness for further inatractions. Tho: driver gaid notliing to us, Sut continuéd unload- ing the wagon of ita stock of groceries. Under the pressure of circumstances, I thought myself ‘Justified in addressing the driver. Accordingly, I stepped forward and aid: very humbly: “Te you please. sir, |. B |, .. WHERE ARE WE TO Go ? If Mike bad allowed his better feelings to pre- dominate for only that one time, ‘snd had beon Laambe evongh to give me the desired informs- tion, I could have formyven.2!l bis previous bru- talities. But ho didnot. He ree ead io even to lift-hie bi ad I thin! that. Lely considering that we thinly-clad wretches were needlessly shivering there in the cold weavber. Fioally a bretander said to mo in alow tone that ‘the olo man” would be around directly, sand woald show -us where to go. Infact, aftera moment, ‘the ole maa” appeared. His actions denoted that bs was in authority, and yet his appearance was mean. I was considerably puzzled 10 understand what bis position at the Poor-Hoase was, aud I afterwards learued that ho was one- of a detestable class known as e BOSS PAUPERS, a of which mora anon. He approached leisurely, and. after stanng’at us ccns2cutively from head to foot, removed a pipe from his mouth, and said : “ You come with mo.” 3 : Now, when I first ssw this man T was favorably impressed with his appearauce. HBis--oatward look was -that of “a, re- spectable, quiat, elderly gentleman in reduced circumstances, Besides, {was naturally floased with him, for be came to me in the role of a Savior, te guide mv weak and benumbed simbs into a haven of warmth. But that stare with which he greeted us was so stony, and yet so contemptuous, that I began to chaage ms mind., We started along at his bidding, single file, io the direction of ono of the largo teuement build- ings, bat we had scarcely takeu a dozen steps when the o'd man who led us stopped. He de- liveracely turned around, and. without any ex- planation, stood gaziag at the driver of the wagon, who wae still engaged in unloading. Now this old man kuow that we fozr shivering wretches were suffering fram cold and exposure. And set he deliberately kept us waiving tuero in the snow for neatly ten minutes, while be did nothing but look unconceraodir at the wagon, apparently entirely oblivious of onrexisteuce. lam convinced that he did this from pure aod un- aduherated malic®, merely ta exhibit bas an- thoriry., To those readers who sre sitting by thou comfortable fire-sides, aud who have never been exoosed in their garments to s throe-Lours’ jo.ting over a rough road ona bittor cold day, this may appear a trifling matzer. Doubtless it Was not an indictable crime. But to us, for tha time being, it was a sorious thing. It was a cruel and wanton aggravasive of our suffering ; and yet it was onfy ono of a sertes of patty tyrannies to which {, with the hundreds of other paupers, were constantly subjected. Finally, afte: having given us ample proof of our subjection, the ola maa knocked the ashes out of bis pipe and lei urely proceéded. Wo tailed after him. and, entering a large two-story frame baildiug, found gurselves IN THE MIDSE OF PAUPERDOM. It was s Jarye, lonz, low room where we were, each side being hued thickly wita cots, leaving Spaesage down the middie about 16 2... in width. At the foot of cortain beds were little wooden benches, upon which,1a variousattitudes, were coated the inmates. Some werealso lounging upon the bads, whils etullothers were strolling np and down the room or clustering abont the sivve. Without excepti:n, they were tattered, wretch- ed, and listless. There was very little conversa- tion, although our arrival waa doubtizes the only new topic atforded by the day. Some .of them looked curiously at us, but very many did not lift their eyes trom the ficor. Our gaide conduct~ ed us to the far extremity of tho room, where he was'joinsd by a shagyy-headed old chap with an uouatural tlerconess in his expression. Yhe latter fetched from some remote corner a lontern, as dusk had already settled upon the place, and a slate was likewigo produced, upon which he ecrawled the answers to certain ques- tions, similar tothe formula which had peen tired at us in the County Agent's oltico. THE FIERCE OLD MAN waa terse rather than argumentative. Thus: “ What ia the matter with yo1?" with a violent jerk in bis tone, as if springing an ambuscade upon the unsuspecting interrogated. “Jistho favur I've had fer the list thra months, to be shure, an’ the docther ——” - “Suut up! next!” and the poor wretch was pasted back with the words ratiliug in his nroat. ‘The ceremony haying been performed as to all of us, we were hailed by our guide, and pushed out of the fazid air of the room into the nippiug atmosvhere-withoat. Crossing to a frame build ing opposite, We found ourselves in & room which I concluded to be the ‘“latchen,” as there was a large coois-etove in the middle, and a sink in one coruer. : “SUPPER FOR FOUR,” . exhorted the ald mau, and relapsed into his na- tive sombreness. Visious of samptuously-Iaden cloths marble floors, and suble-imed attendants flashed across my brain at these words. Of course, I did not expect anything of this description, aud yet I thought of them, I thought of the 5-o’clock re- past at Brown's, leisurely enjoyed, with a chosen friend upon either :hand. -Whet spectres of luscious roast and fowl, mterepersed with dusty, Jong-necked bottles, rosa tauntinglv out of the yaaished psat! Shapes and forms of long-for- gotten dinners, why come ye here to twit mo with my-present misery? A sauint-ayed German in the capacity of head- waiter rose sleepily out of adarx corner in the kitchen, and disappeared in ad adjoining apart- mout, He returned immediately, dringing in bis naude s burden undistinguishable until brought within the meagre radiance of the candle, which stood on along pine table extending scross one side of the kitcuen. I then discovered that it was bread. There wero four pieces, or rather chunks, which he threw down at-regular mter- vala upon’ the not-over-clean table. Truly, thought J, here isabundance, Hero js libarality. Each cnunk of bread was at least 2 inches thick, and from 6 to 8 inches square. ‘The noise of the bread descending upon the table was like that which would be produced by so many stones. I waited. “ Bat,” said the “ boss pauper.” ‘i My companions fell to witha zest. I attack od my chuné of bread flercely, but with no par-, ceptible diminution of ita proportions. The squint-oyed man agaio advanced upon us, bearing four tin cups, which he set before us. Ilooked at my tin cup. It was batcered and rusty, and it was filled with a dark fluid from which which steam arose. = A Ir WAS TEA. i I lifted the cup and tasted. I sat the cup down Upon the table. I did nat drink any more tea. Can I doscribe thie peculiar taste of that laxury which the generous-hearted people of Cook County set bofore its paupers ?_ I fear not, aud yetIwill try. ‘Take a sip of it. On entoring Your mouth it tastes very much hike warm water. wallow it. Aa‘it goes dawn your throat you experience 2 sensation such: as might follow if you were kicked by a ‘mule or had swallowed a amail dose of chain lightuing. I canuotdeacribe it more particolarly, except to any that tho aavor romsins and abides with you a long timo. For ay part, I cau taste that tea to this moment, uch was Our supper. As soon as the first man was through—it happened to be me—tho “* boss pauper” signriled that we were to follow bit. Too poor fellows who had eagerly devoured their bread ond tea looked sadly around, but had not evon the courage of Oliver Twist to ask tor “more.” We arose and followed the magaate, who led us acrosa the yard to atill an- other building: Hore, mounting ’2 flight of rickoty stair, we entered a room on the vecond door, swarming ‘with human beings. Passing throuzh, we’came into another room, also crowded, and thence entered s third apart- meat, lerger than either of the othera, and pro- Porticnately populated. ‘These rooms were all arranged similar to the one we had been in be- fore suvper. A line of beds extended slong both efdes, leaving « narrow passuge in the middie. I¢ was now quite dark, and navigation was only rendered possible by’ meaus of a Jan- tero, huug against the wall, and emstting s light which was cectainly dim, though not rehgions. At tne extreme end of the room, piled up in one carner, were A NUMBER OF BED-TICKS, “Take thosa down!.” said the mandatorial pauper. We pulled down the ticks, one after the other, until only one was left. ; “Two of yon men sleep here,” said the “boss,” pointing tone remaining tick; “and,” added he, ‘you other two sleep here,” marking Out ® precinct upon the floor with his foot, - .From the pile we disengaged a tick, a Tagged quilt, and a aheet, yellow and rank. With these ‘We made our bed, after whica the old man’ left us to ourselves. Shortly afterward the ringing of a deil announced the hour of retiring—8 o'clock. One by one the dusky forms that had been moving about the room sank out of sight, dom the Isutern was oxt.aguisued, sod pans wagasiear. I took off my shoes a:d coat, told~ ed: the “Istter into a pillow. and got into bod, first talking care to throat the sheet ag far from meas pesible, Somobow I ;re~ ferred-to lie.upon the tick, and I-even bad an in-, ‘atiactive predilection for the edze, The large Toom Was veiled in blackness, uot even the raft~ ers over Lead being vistble. I could not slesp on account of the horrib y fet.d amoll; 89, after a while, softly arose and opéned’a ‘window near by, dottiog in arushof ‘pure air, Then I re- tarned to’ my dismal couch. By and by { heart strange noisos all over the room,—faist groan. ings and remote’ wranghings. I listened, but could not conjecture whence they proceeded. Rapid foot-falla were beard ov the floor. Occa~ s.onully s distinct noise, like some light boiy tumbling from the ceiling. Thon something black ran across my bed, aud I felt reassured,— for it was only the rats. : ——— PAUPER EXPERIENCE. THE AWAKENING. At 6 o'clock or the following morning some- thing kicked me. It was the old “boss pauper,” who ejacalated roughly : “Git up, ye lazv popper!” Thalf rose, and looked around. For the first time I bud » clear view of the room which waa tobe (in theory) my future: home. Looming over me with a terrible ecowl upon his wrinkled features, was the ‘*boss pauper.” Seeing that I was awake, he shoox his fist at me, and turned upon his heel. The long, low room presented a curious spectacle, Human shapes were scat- tered about in all stages of the toilet—naked- ness, deshabille, and full dress. Some were dis- entangling themselves from the tattered drapery of their couches; others were sitting up in bed, and gazing sround in stupefac~ tion, as if surprised at finding them- selves alive nother day; still others wero arranging their rags about their meagre forms as carefully as if they were belles prepar- ing for the ball-room. I noticed one poor old man ats cot in my vicinity, attempting to shave. He had brought out froma wooden box under his bed s razor, minus » handle, a bit of soap, aud leather strap. The poor fellow had no looking-glass, and was obliged to proceed slowly and with very great pains. The other paupers eyed him enviously, and one of them tuld me that the old man was a “RIGGELER BLOATED "BISTICRAT.” These wore his very words, and bs was in ear- neat, too. Ifound ont afterwards that Pauper- dom has its social distinctions. its petty ruléa of etiquette, ag well as the ourside world. Each ward hasits cliques, who associate only with each other as fer as possible. Each clique has i(s lead- ing spir.ts, and all of thesa mizbty leadere of fashion bow down before the *'oo3s pauper.” He 1 turn fieks the dast in the presence of the Under-Wardeo, wh? is ruled ever by the Warden. The Warden himself to tue mass of the paupera |. is a8 1oacces-1ble as the Czar is to his Cossacks. Thus is sustained tue mighty fabric of society. MY TOILET was simple, aa I bad ovly to put on mycoat, bat, and shoes, This done, I bethougat me of abla~ tions, but conld see no signa of the necessary uteneds, On inquiry 1 lcacned that there was a trough in the baro-yard for watering cattle, waoere iymates were allowed to wash, if thay chose. Iaccordingly madé a descent, and dis- covered, atter luving mv face and bands, that a coat-sleeve is, atter all. s very cynvenicnt towel. At 8 o'clock the ringing of a ball announced that BESEFAST WAS READY, but I was not yet permitted to satisfy either my curiosity oc my appetite. I was told by a brothor- pauper that‘at every meal there wera tiueo tables, owing tothe paucity of accommodations. ‘The first bell was the signal for eome of the other wards; our wacd was summoned by the second bell;’ while the third was for stragglora audchildren. Long before the second pel! was struck s crowd of hungry expactante ga:herad in frontof the building which contained the dwing-rocm, and waited sbiverinely until the. doors suould be thrown opon. Wishing to see how tue childreo wera fed, i waited until the third bell. McauwhileI was lncky enough to Rain admittance to ‘TUE KITCHEN, where I could keep warm, and sea how mst tera were cunducted. There were five menia the kitchen, to-wit: the cook, the head waiter and his ag-istant, and two dish-washers, The dining-room adjoined the kitcher, and the door was open. Peering in, could see the long lines of meu, bas on, greedily snatching at the sorry food set before them, As soon ag the secoud batch of eaters bad vacated the dining-room, the waiters carried in fargo baskets, iuto which, after clearing away the tin caps aad pla.ters, they swept the ramnants of bread. ‘Tnese were carried out of doors ana emptied 12 barrels. Looting from 2s window, L eawW a swarm of little boya bazziog abont the barrels and fishing out chunks of bread from the di-gasting mess. They were evidently too hun- gry to wait until breakfast-time. ‘Ihe bare pine-board taples having been thus partially cleared, the waiters went in with aud filthy brooms, and swept off upon the floor ‘what crumbs were still remaining... Meanwhile THE DISH-WASHERS in the kitchen had not becn idle, One of them pued the tin platters and caps 1ntoa tub of warm. water, and, without rinsing or ruboing, threw ther out rapidly into the sink. His azsistant- picked them up, hardly touched them with a dirty pillow-sace of ticking, which was supposed to anawer fora towel, and flung them over on thelongtsble. The waiters then isdled out of a: Jarge pan snough molasses to cover the bottom of the piaiters, and these were speedily transferrei into tho dining-room. A chunk of bread was torown upon the tabies be- side each plate, a large dish-pan of coffeu was placed in the centre, and breakfast was ready. went in and sat down, but my appetite was gone. I bad eaten of: the forbidden fru, and knew too much about how that moat was pre- pared, Still, Lcoutd not bat admire the reliah with which my companions made their matutinal onslaught. CHILDREN— THE poor, little, ignorant waifsa—were even worse off thau we. Shere were abont thirty of them, filling two tables, and it was pitiful to see they manifestations of hunger. How they rushed into their seute, climbiog and tumbling over each other hike little wolves, clamoring aud crying, grabbing st the scanty mur- sels before them, and choking themselves with inordinate mouthfuls. There was this dif- ference between the children’s food and that of the men: the former bad all the crusts and stals ends of bread. A trifling differeace, per- bays, but, wheu it is considered the meal con- sisted of no-:hing but bread with a little molsa- seg, the fact pecomes mare important. x I went away from that me.1quite discontented with the lot of a pauper. I thinis, to-day, that I would rather dio than become an inmate of the Cook Couuty Poor-House. 5 After breakfast there was nothing for us to do but to return to our ward, which we did, without’ exception. HeretoforeI bad nat found many opportunities for conversing with my fellow-pau- pers.” I now found that it was not necessary for me to moke any first advances. Having disposed of their morning rapast, tha inmates turned st once to the new-comers for such bite of gossip or news asthey might haye bronght from the city. cae “HOW ARE TOIMES Now IN cnrcacay 2" was generally the firat question. On my replying that times were very bard, tho questioner would generally neave a sigh and remark : ~ % “Och, its a harrod place te live in, is that same town, an’ dacent foulks can’t airn a livin’ nohow.” Iwas very soon impressed with a singnlar co- incidence. -It was that, at about the same point in every converuatiou, wuen we had me quite friendly and soziabie like, my tete-n-tete would invariably mausge to inquire carelesaly whether I @ “ wee bito” tubbacky” with me. I always replied in the negative, and soon’ afterwards my companion would withdraw. [ began to suspect that this extreme friendliness manifested towards me on such limited acquaint- ance by my fellow-pauzers was. affected in the hope of obtaining some of the aforemen- tioned luxury. And this suspicion wes con- firmed by the subsequent coolness with which Iwas treated by nearly every one of tne disap, pointed applicants. Among tbe bunodred or more occupants of Ward D, where I was located, there were many YERY QUEER PEOPLE. - It would certainly be very queer it there were not. The dregs of humanity were they, with few excaptions, gathered ‘from the gutter, not from the shop. Possibly not vicious. or crim inal, they’ were yet of the lowest type of crea- tion. ‘The prevailing nationa ity wag Irish, with a slight sprinkling of German. Ignorance, drink, aud superannuation were what brought them there. The majosity wore ola. Some had been shifted upon the county by their cnildren, and these were generally supplied with tobacco aad clothing from home. Some were Bick, some idiotic, some downright insane. There was vot One man in ten tho bad his wits plainly about hm. Nearly all were more or lees *crauky,” having bean made so by recent-sesociation and habits of living, even if they bad never been so before coming to the Poor-Hotse, There was one young man who went by the appeliatioa of * Gutter Suipe.” voor Snipe had seon the worst of hard usage, and.,ouly a very small part of bis seuses had been left: in kim, He ‘was forever on tho wing—alwava walaiog sreatlessly op and doxn, ap.and duwa, His dress had-neen shockingly neglected by the. authcrities, His razged woolen shirt was open in front. His ivsaficieut trousers were grea ly alienated from his shoes, exposing a long stratca of bare Jeg. He bad no stockings, and bis shoes were superabundautly ventilated. In bis perogrinations Snipe uever noticed or spoke to anybody. but could frequently te heard mur- miriug.to himself words of undiatingnishable unport, Once in.a.whils he would suddenly start and rnn, or rather-Jesp, down the room, but would 1mmejistely resume his former pace. It was this habit of running which had given him his sobriquet. Scipo was no doubt insano, bnt he was peaceabie. He and I got to be regu Jar old crootes, sworn friends, during my pauper experionce. > Another oddity in our ward was a young man called : 4 “LOONY.” He was not really iosane, but ‘only foolish. Never, since he has been in the Poor-Housa, hee he been known to utter a word. He sat for hours, im fact all day, ,in one positimn near the stove sucking his thumb, and trying to look wise. Loony ‘was ulgo harmless, abd also was he shamefully treated by the autuorities, Hehad a qneer habit of picking up bits of paper and chips from the floor, and curofally hoarding them up in his pockets, perhaps tlinkiog iv bis weak braia that they were treasures of inestimable valce. On the morning after my arnvel, Loony was sitting io his customary ptace with bis chin ugou bis hands, yazing out of a window upon the un- broken white sea of- prairie, when the, “boss pauper” happened to observe him. The “‘boss’” name, Thad by this time ascertained, was O’Brien, O’Brien chanced to look towards Loony, and saw the iastter’s distended coat- Docket. Now. he knaw perfectly well the poor ‘boy's weakneas, and he kuew what was in the pocket. But with the malevolence whicn scemed & part of this ofd man’s natare, be stepped across to Loony, and without a word kno-led him down. Then he rilled his pockets roughly, ‘at the same tume calling tne attention of all the paupers to the trembling wretch. i “Loox here, will ye? Here's a nice rate’ nest!” cried he, as he emptied ou: the bita of paper and chips. And ali the panpers grove ed sround and ecnoed: ‘ Ob, what a nice rate’ nest itis!” THE DINNER-HOUR was 2 o'clock, being thus fasnionably Iste be- cause it was the lagt meal in the day. Paupers don’t eat supper in winter-time. The dinner this day was looked forward to with pleasing anticipation. ‘there was an unvonted stir and comment in our ward previous to the ringing of the -bell, All were eager. and more or less excited. Why? It was bean-soup day. Oncein tivo wees the grand event comes off and there is a consequont eciat. Sicx meo donned ther rags and crawled down totaste of this rare luxury. A very inteilizent- ing Swede, who was confined with inflamm3- watism, and who could scarcely’ move without shrieking with pain, borrowed a crutch and hobbled down-staira and across the yard to the diniog- cones. Again I waited until the third table, as I pre- ferred to avoid tha crowd, TRE BEAN-SOUP was made in the basement of the main building, and was thence carried in 8 wash-tub across the yard to the kitchen. It was then Iadled ont iato huge pang and placed oa tho dining-tabies, where again it ig sub-iadied into the vacions tin platters, Tentered the kitchen while the second-tabie men were at work, and, while I was watchiag the tranaier of the bean-soup from the tub to the pang, 1 heard a scuffle in the din- ing-room. Looking io, I saw two pacpers fight- ing.’ They were desperately engaged. beating each other with fists, platrers, etc., aud were with difficulty separated by the cook. I learned afterwards that the cesus belli was 8 dispute as to which shonld be eerved first with the beau- soup. Lixe dogs ctrugeliog for a bone these mea fought over a dish of taiuned soup, snd one of them gaehed the other's head with a dipper. Is any moral necessary? I teow not. Ihave already cesoribed how the bean-soup was served up. It was my good fortune to be initiated also into THE MEAT-EROLOGY QF TRE KITCHEN. ‘The meat, which waa baef bo.led to the verge of dissolution, was brought into the kitchen in a large wooden trough. ‘The mest, while lying in the trough, strongly resembled garbage. ‘Sos of the cooks plowed it up vigorously with his hands a few minutes, kneadiag it lovingly every ' little while, as if the feeling of it was pleasant tohis slovenly cuticie. Then he tore off tne larger portions of gristla and threw them aside, at the same time palling: ths larger chunks of meat apart. en this was done, he trey the mest into 3 paso, aod handed it to his assiatan:, who went into the dining-room. and deposited a piece Le- side esch platter. This, with the inevitable ses- ment of bread and the basin of soup. constituted the banquet to obtain hich dying men crawled Upon taéir hands and knees, T tasted some of the soup. It undoubtedly possessed a beauy flavor, but, in order to thor- oaghly assure myself that it was the bous fide article, I fisbed assiduously about my platter io tha hope of netting a bean. Vain ex- portation! My efforte were unrewarded. ‘ben waited until the big pan of soun in the middle of the tzble should be depleted, when, 1 felt sure, Iwould strigs a lode of thems. Troe enough, shen the big pan had been emptied of its con- tenia, .there I found clingiug to the allavial bot- tom, like animalcal#, about s handful of beans. ‘be great epocn of the day having been passed, I returned with my. fallow-paupers to ourward. The weather was very cold, and I did not care to remaia out-of-dsors, The inhabitants of our mode? Poor-Houss, I found, were graciously allowed by the authori- ties to recreate as mucd as they chose, provided they kept in their own ward, aud made no noise. ‘Thos, I soon found that there were FOUR VERY POFULAR KINDS OF AMUSEMENTS in which the inmates indulged, viz.: sitting, standing, lyiog, and walking. Almost everyholy: took part in one or the other of thess pleasant pastimes; and, mdeed, gome of the mora ‘ver- satile indulged in all st-various times. And’ yet. they did not appear to onioy themselves ex~ traordioarily, as they shout they ware prop- erly aeasbdle of the insifable beneficence of the authorities. And right bere I am reminded of the faci that during my sojourn in the Poor- House, I never heard one heatty laugh, or saw one smiling countenance. I imagine see tne fotlowing in fnture proceedings of tha County Board: rs ‘MB. UnsrmMaN, AND GENTLEMEN OF THE Boagp: I rise to call youruttention to an {mportant, and, I may say, romaskable tact, de iB, as it were, our um- mediate attention, "It bas reported, "and, al- though our source of information ts quito reliable, still, gentlemen, I can scarcely credit my own senses when Thear the statement,—it bas been reported, I say, that the inmates of the County Poar-House, nob withstanding the bl showered upon them bj Providence and this honourable Board, obstinately. and maliciously refuse tolaogh. In view of, and witha desire to counteract thia strocions ingratitude, I bog. leave to offer the following r. solution: «Warneas, Tt having been reported to us that the inmates of the Poor-House have combined against their suthorities and benefactors by persistently refus- ing to laugh; ana “Wenn ia the opinion of this Board, mach action on the part af dependent paugers is highly reprebensi- ble and should be promptly punished eee “ Ba it reaalved, That from this date or until further” notice evory inmate of the County Poor-House shall be compelled to laugh at least three times each diy, at Such periods as the resident authorities may see fif;'on Hoppage of trend for three day for oar aa ta of for 78 for . vibes of this rule,” snd erery jqReferred to the Committes on Public Char. ites. 4 STERN FACTS, . ALOK aT THE DanEER arpEg, T have heretofore dwelt exclasively upon what’ may be termed the lighter aide of. panper-life. In- Docent readers may be somewhat startled by the assertion, and I confess that, viewed from an or- dinary standpoint, soms of the facts aleady recit~ ed may seem gloomy enongh, but they are of tri- fling import when compared with the statements” which I have yet to make. It.ehould. he borna in mind that was for three days an inmate of the Poor-House,—that I passed among the Paupera as ong of themselves; 'so that there waa Apparently no bar to our conversation, And yet, pauper as Iwas, I met a universal hesi- tancy At disclosing facta which might reflect Unplessantly upon the authorities. While not suspecting any sinister motives on my part, they yet were reluctant to go into Particulars, At firet I was entirely at a loss to account for this reticence, but a hiot from oue of ty fellow- Paapen, pognem i ea casually applied for in- formation, let ia s’flood of Light, . his tangled bea-d with his sageey eo “fone his forehead suggeatively, and said: YP DON'T PAY to talk about what you ace in this here Place.” I concluded then, and I have had no occasion to change my opinion since, that thero was a sys- tem of espionage among the inmates; and no Goubt the authorities had pienty of chances to make things unpleasant for’ inmates. who were too talkative... Nevertheless, being determined to “+ snow all about ic.” I persevered, and succeeded in gath- ering many important facts, < W88 as inmates wht took inco my confidence, bat whom I shall tot -sisted greatly by one of the name or describe, as auch publiciy would Goubilass, entail pon Bie. the whole catalorng of petty tyranuies and cruelties practived in the charitable institution. B a From information covtributed by him and by every otaer pape with who-a I bad any conver. sation, I dadace the foiiowing % GENERAL FACT: ‘The whole theory of the’ institution, managed, is to kill off tha people as fact posarbly be done without direct butchery, Asis evident, there ara maty ways of without beng hoid responsible by the criminal, code. Amanmay be kilied by starvation 5 noglect, by exposure, by sseriss of pe:ty tor. tares. think Ican show that each of thers methods ts pareued in our: County Poor-House with great success, by the author. BS now S cn Aflling ‘There is a rule daily enforced ties which declares every man able-bodied wha is not confined to bis bed sith sickness, Any such arbitrary dietinction as that 19 endentiy unjust, to usenohsrshertorm. There are Many iomates who are far gone in consumption, mn yet they are able to git up and walk aroand, though vot equal to hard manqal isbor. Ther are othera whose feet or limbs ary Swol'en with rheumatism. These can sg manage to move around f little, ‘ot who would consider them able-bodied? ‘Thea there are people afilicted with tumors, intennit- tent fever, and huadreds of other complaints, These, accoriing to the Poor-House code, ar able-bodied people. Weil, 16 may be asked, what of it ? . _ WHAT ABE THEY REQUIRED To DO? They are reqnired to milk the cows, feed tha hogs, wash aiehes, run errands, sweep, carry heavy burdens, harness teams. and all gorta at such chores in winter, exposing them to the cold weather in thia habiliments. No wouder they die off at the rate of fifteen or twenty a week, Now, let us come to In the first Pisce there ane 6 first place there are two physicis; Dis. Cunningham and Lavier, who 3 hired by the county, and who are supposed to Give their time and attention to tke caro’ of the sics in (ne Poor-Honse and in, sane lum. One of thceo men, Dr Lawler, resides in the Asvium, and has ikereg large dispensary, supposed to contain all the onasnary: drugs fur compounding medicines, The Asylum 13 not 50 paces from the Poor Honse;_ yat, I will venture to savy, that vos oxy in ten of the inmates of the latter instituti-n koow that the physician lives within speaki distance, and has a orug-store at bis immediacs command. Tue uniform impression ia that tha “ Ductur” lives in the city, and that all the ined. icines are sant from there. Threo times a week the “Doctor ”—that ig, Lawler—puts in am appearance to inspect ths new arrivals, ag almost everybody who enters the Poor-House has some ailment. Scating himself ata table, tho sick oues file up, of each of mhom be simply asks the questions: ‘What is voye name?” *Whatis the matter with you?” rapidly notes down the replies, and calls for the next man, without even loosing up to see whether thespplieant for medicine ia well or 112, black o white, male or female. After this is is never lesa than two days, often three days, and some. times four days, before the med-cines arrirg from the dispensary—distant about 20 yards As cew inmates are coming to the Poor-Hony nearly overy day, it frequently bap.ens that thay have to watt twd days before sceing the Doctor, making five or e1x days in all that they go with out medicine. Sometimes the meaicine comes too late, asin the casa of an inmato week be fore last. The poor dovil was quite sick whan he entered the institation, Two das after hig arrival he was prescribed for; one day Ister be prow impatient and died ; the next diy he way aried, and on the day following his medicing arrived. Drugs are very delicate substances to hat especially when they are to be made up into prot scriptions whereou deosnd the life or death of ® fellov-creamure. Perhaps the Poor-House Practitioner 18 unacquainted with this fact. Is may be mildly attributed to bis ignoranca in this regard if'a patient happens to DIE FHOM AN OVERDOSE. Of conrae the mere fact.of his haviog taken ap inmate's word for hia complaint ahontd not be brougat into consideration. If an inmate don't Know enough to tell just what kind of sickness he 18 afficted with, why, the iamate is to bisma for his own death. It canuot be expect ed that a semi-official physician shoud raise his hesd to look at every the ed pauper who bothers him for medicina But when yon come to talk about mixing pre scriptions, that is where the physician is re sponsible, although we can allow a large margin of charity for hie ignorance of the facc thst very great care is required. Hence, tha ave-aze cit izen will doubtless blame Dr. Lawler for A LITTLE AFFAIR hich happened in Ward D fow wosks go One of the inmates, & negro, by the way, we taken siok, and, after the naaal formala 2nd de- lay, secured his medicine and took it, Taat wes in the eveuing. On the following morning tis colored invalid was discovered to be very mith worse. Ia fact, he became nearly senseless, Then followed a very iuteresting and novel ex- periment. The ** Doctor,” tae’ “bors panger," and anotier official camo up into the ward, and they dragged that eccentric African out of his bed; they daag snow on his back aud face ; they rolled him on a barrel; they walked bim up aud Sowa the ward, waan—would you believe it ?— the fellow actually had the ingratitude to die right ghere while they were walking him up and down, up and down. The theory held by the Poor-Honse anthoritiss in regard to sbie-bodied men is certainiy homor- ous. Stil more rollicking, however, is tueir theory.in regard to sick meo. A man ts able bodied until he is confined to bis bed; yet a man confined to. hi i his. bed iy not ‘necessatily sick. Such is the logical deduction of the odiciale, If every man lying abed were to be, accounted sick, the officisis hold that there would be an end of all well men, for what maa would work or go down to bis mesls if he could escape the former and have tie ister brougat up to him?’ Cunning officials! Wie councilors! Hence the rule that NO MEALS WERE TO BE BROUGHT TO SICK XZ. That was s stunner, no doact. Very fow mea could go long without eating. Bat stay! ‘Ins regalation may possibly be evaded. Somo lazy devils may lie abed and indice their ocighbors to bring thom f.04,—s few craste of bread, per haps. ‘That will never do. The strong ara of authority muat be sgain interposad. Honce ths crowuing master-p! the acme of regulr tioos! It was established only a short ume Ago, and its operation has becn peautifal, sublime. The Tale is, thet no inmates shall under any consideration supply a sick man with food. Do you see all the niceties ?- An inmate Tsy share his crust with bis neighbor on the bench, but not with-bis neighdor on the bed. 0; noble rule: O, perfection of rules ! Bat, if you ara & naturally inqasttive resder, you mav inquire, What becomes of the men sho are really sick in bed? How simple! Why, THRY DIE, OF COURSE. The authorities can calculate very closely how soon @ man will die after being deonved of food ‘They send around, let us say, on the sacoud day, and have him carried over to the bospital for form's sake. The next day the fellow has to be carcied out agaia—to Potter's Field. ‘Yhis may be calléd the starvation process, aud & very nice aad refined process 1t is. [ vas assured that three cases of this kind have oo curred in Ward D within the past month. Per- ‘haps O'Brien, the *‘ boss pauper,” will remember one of them, althcugh, to be sure, when men ara dropping off all about us, like the decedeuca of autumnal foliage, one cannot be expected to remember avy particular case, Sill this one had’ its listle features of aramatic excel:enct which should recommend it to Sis memory. was that of a atarving wretch in the smal] room adjoining Ward D. Hoe lay in a dazed stupor Tor nearly two days. scarcely moving, aad never Speaking. One afternoon, however, this maa parually lifted himself up from’ bis oot, and weakly aaked tor a drink of wacor. U’Bries bimself happened to be passing at the momen) and contemptuously told the man to “ shut up’ This request was complied with. The msa re sumed bis former posture without another wurd. About an hour afterwards some oue discov that he was dead. Whether old man O'Brien may be taken as ® sample of “boss paupers” Ido not know. F had no opportunity of judging the others per -sonally. As fur him 1 can aay that he ws one of = THE MOST DETESTABLE BCOUNDRELS Thave ever met. Meanaess, cunning, and innats ferocity were expressed on hisface. He g! aver puMering hike a hungry gearmand ore br elicacies. A new arrival, very sic! f to bias dear thit the medicines prescribed would not come. ‘Never mind!” replied O'Drien, ‘ we'll find! place to bury ve.” Ee . Adjoining’ Ward D, is 6S THE CALABOOSE, ws - where are confined all offenders the rules of the instizntion. Several of the cells aro coo” erally occupied by inmates who have heen dsived insane by the brutal trestment they’ have re ceived. On tho third afcernson of my stay ss the Poor-Honse a innatic, who bad heretorcro peaceably lived in the ward along witb the sane men, suddenly seized an iron bar from one of tho cote, and strack an old man over ths bead, ia flicting a dangerous aud horrible gash. Se was put in the calsboose, wheres he rornained anti bis frantic mood left bim, shen he was loos roam among the inmates as before. Such ix the custom. _ ry I¢ may not be considered in tho light ef a