The Children of the Poor   By: Jacob A. Riis (1849-1914)

[Illustration]

THE CHILDREN OF THE POOR

BY JACOB A. RIIS AUTHOR OF "HOW THE OTHER HALF LIVES"

ILLUSTRATED

NEW YORK CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS 1908

COPYRIGHT, 1892, BY CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS

PREFACE

To my little ones, who, as I lay down my pen, come rushing in from the autumn fields, their hands filled with flowers "for the poor children," I inscribe this book. May the love that shines in their eager eyes never grow cold within them; then they shall yet grow up to give a helping hand in working out this problem which so plagues the world to day. As to their father's share, it has been a very small and simple one, and now it is done. Other hands may carry forward the work. My aim has been to gather the facts for them to build upon. I said it in "How the Other Half Lives," and now, in sending this volume to the printer, I can add nothing. The two books are one. Each supplements the other. Ours is an age of facts. It wants facts, not theories, and facts I have endeavored to set down in these pages. The reader may differ with me as to the application of them. He may be right and I wrong. But we shall not quarrel as to the facts themselves, I think. A false prophet in our day could do less harm than a careless reporter. That name I hope I shall not deserve.

To lay aside a work that has been so long a part of one's life, is like losing a friend. But for the one lost I have gained many. They have been much to me. The friendship and counsel of Dr. Roger S. Tracy, of the Bureau of Vital Statistics, have lightened my labors as nothing else could save the presence and the sympathy of the best and dearest friend of all, my wife. To Major Willard Bullard, the most efficient chief of the Sanitary Police; Rabbi Adolph M. Radin; Mr. A. S. Solomons, of the Baron de Hirsch Relief Committee; Dr. Annie Sturges Daniel; Mr. L. W. Holste, of the Children's Aid Society; Colonel George T. Balch, of the Board of Education; Mr. A. S. Fairchild, and to Dr. Max L. Margolis, my thanks are due and here given. Jew and Gentile, we have sought the truth together. Our reward must be in the consciousness that we have sought it faithfully and according to our light.

J. A. R.

RICHMOND HILL, LONG ISLAND,

October 1, 1892.

CONTENTS

PAGE

CHAPTER I. THE PROBLEM OF THE CHILDREN, 1

CHAPTER II. THE ITALIAN SLUM CHILDREN, 10

CHAPTER III. IN THE GREAT EAST SIDE TREADMILL, 35

CHAPTER IV. TONY AND HIS TRIBE, 58

CHAPTER V. THE STORY OF KID MCDUFF'S GIRL, 87

CHAPTER VI. THE LITTLE TOILERS, 92

CHAPTER VII. THE TRUANTS OF OUR STREETS, 118

CHAPTER VIII. WHAT IT IS THAT MAKES BOYS BAD, 129

CHAPTER IX. LITTLE MARY ELLEN'S LEGACY, 142

CHAPTER X. THE STORY OF THE FRESH AIR FUND, 153

CHAPTER XI. THE KINDERGARTENS AND NURSERIES, 174

CHAPTER XII. THE INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS, 187

CHAPTER XIII. THE BOYS' CLUBS, 215

CHAPTER XIV. THE OUTCAST AND THE HOMELESS, 245

CHAPTER XV. PUTTING A PREMIUM ON PAUPERISM, 277

CHAPTER XVI. THE VERDICT OF THE POTTERS FIELD, 286

REGISTER OF CHILDREN'S CHARITIES, 291

LISTS OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Saluting the Flag, Frontispiece

PAGE

The Mott Street Barracks, 16

An Italian Home under a Dump, 25

A Child of the Dump, 28

Pietro Learning to Make an Englis' Letter, 32

"Slept in the Cellar Four Years," 41

A Synagogue School in a Hester Street Tenement, 46

The Backstairs to Learning, 48

Class of Melammedim Learning English, 50