File:Beauty for ashes (1914) (14761036466).jpg

Identifier: beautyforashes01baco (find matches)
Title: Beauty for ashes
Year: 1914 (1910s)
Authors: Bacon, Albion Fellows, 1865-1933
Subjects: Working class Tenement houses Poor
Publisher: New York, Dodd, Mead and company
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: The Library of Congress

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my children? And that is the only fair way toconsider the question. What would we do, if any ofus had such a fate? If we had to be crowded andstifled in dark rooms, to breathe foul air and chok-ing odours, to fight filth, to endure noise, to drinkpolluted water, to be seized upon by disease? Ah, if that were our baby that sickened and wastedand moaned and died! Would we join with thoseof the sullen brow who are destructive, because,as they tell us, wrathfuUy, theyd like to git evenwith the landlord? Or would we be one of thelarger number who give up the struggle, hopelessly,overcome by that deadliest of all inhibitions of thepoor, Whats the use ? We hear that often in thetenements. Whats the use to be careful of drop-ping ashes and garbage on the stairs, or throwingsuds on the walk, when the other tenants do it ? Whats the use to scrub, when the grime wontcome out, and the soot keeps pouring in? Whatsthe use to take keer of a house when the landlordwont fix the locks or steps or roof?
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s THE POOR 149 New-comers to a tenement must be of strong fibreif they resist such pressure. In this connection onerecalls the most frequent objection made to housingreform, that the poor would misuse and wouldnt appreciate conveniences if they had them. Achorus of those whose model tenements are now bless-ing the poor will contradict this statement. In anyplace and to any extent that it might be true, it is astartling comment upon our civilisation and the se-verest condemnation of us who have not taught themwhat is proper and decent. I trust that those friends of the poor who objectto the use of the word slum, because it is sucha reproach to the poor, who cant help living there,will be satisfied with these statements. The slum isnot a reproach to the poor, but to the landlords, tothe public, to us. Let us call things by their rightnames, and place the blame where it belongs, andit will hasten the day of the deliverance of thepoor. It has been my dearest hope to win for the poor aclos

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