HOW THE OTHER HALF LIVES

GOTHAM COURT.

HOW THE OTHER HALF LIVES

STUDIES AMONG THE TENEMENTSOF NEW YORK

BY

JACOB A. RIIS

WITH ILLUSTRATIONS CHIEFLY FROM PHOTOGRAPHSTAKEN BY THE AUTHOR

NEW YORK
CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS
1890

Copyright, 1890, by
CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS

TROW’S
PRINTING AND BOOKBINDING COMPANY,
NEW YORK.

PREFACE.

The belief that every man’s experience ought to be worth somethingto the community from which he drew it, no matter what that experiencemay be, so long as it was gleaned along the line of some decent, honestwork, made me begin this book. With the result before him, the readercan judge for himself now whether or not I was right. Right or wrong,the many and exacting duties of a newspaper man’s life would hardlyhave allowed me to bring it to an end but for frequent friendly liftsgiven me by willing hands. To the President of the Board of Health, Mr.Charles G. Wilson, and to Chief Inspector Byrnes of the Police Force Iam indebted for much kindness. The patient friendship of Dr. Roger S.Tracy, the Registrar of Vital Statistics, has done for me what I nevercould have done for myself; for I know nothing of tables, statisticsand percentages, while there is nothing about them that he does notknow. Most of all, I owe in this, as in all things else, to the womanlysympathy and the loving companionship of my dear wife, ever my chiefhelper, my wisest counsellor, and my gentlest critic.

J. A. R.

CONTENTS.