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Home  »  The Battle with the Slum  »  Page 334

Jacob A. Riis 1849–1914. The Battle with the Slum. 1902.

Page 334

to the alley longest. Barney was the star boarder. As everything about the place was misnamed, the alley itself included, so was he. His real name was Michael, but the children called him Barney, and the name stuck. When they were at odds, as they usually were, they shouted “Barney Bluebeard!” after him, and ran away and hid in trembling delight as he shook his key-ring at them, and showed his teeth with the evil leer which he reserved specially for them. It was reported in the alley that