A DRAMA OF POVERTY.

Evening Star, Issue 9582, 31 December 1894, Page 4 (Supplement)

A DRAMA OF POVERTY.

Very painful is the tragedy that haß been enacted in the Montrogue district of Paris (says the correspondent of the London 'Daily Telegraph,' writing on Octoberß). In a small apartment in the Rue Henri Regnault lived a married couple with their five children, the youngest a baby a few months old. Both husband and wife had been hard-working people, but of late the man - had been unable to find employment, and the woman's time had been completely absorbed by the care of her family. One article of furniture w*s sold and then another until little was left but the beds, and often it was impossible to procure a morsel of bread even for Iho famished children. The crisis came. The workman had no money for the quarter's rent a matter of 40f. Already there had been a sad scene between the husband and the wife, as the woman, in her despair, had told him that if he had shown more energy they would not have been reduced to such straits. The man had been pushed to the door, which had been bolted, and had been compelled to pass the night at the abode of a friend. When the wife went out the concierge informed her that, as they were not ready with the rent, which was due that morning, they .must leave the house at once* and a few hours a*t irwaw a a hum arrived with a notice of eviotioa. "So mnch the better,"' exclaimed the woman, as she read the paper." Like tbat it will soon be over." Then sin ascended the stairoase once more and returned to the miserable dwelling, from which the family was to be driven, with a small supply of oharooal obtained on credit. The children cried out for bread as she kindled the fire, and then they gathered near it for warmth. Their mother bade them lie on the ma'tresi and go to sleep. She then, too, took her plftce by their Bide, with the infant on her bosom. It was evening when the husband returned, < and after knocking .for gome time in vain .he went into the courtyard, aud looking through a window, be bad broken be beheld, to his horror, by-tbe light of the charcoal, hiswife and children lying inanimate on the couch. The man had been drinking, but the frirrible Bpeotaole sobered him at once, and h<> cried, out in despairing, tones for help. Neigh- • ■ /

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