44
THE POOR IN GREAT CITIES
housewives who take care of the halls and stairs, light the gas,
sweep the sidewalks, and show the rooms to new applicants, and
frequently receive the rent until the agent or landlord calls for it.
Sometimes the housekeeper deals directly with the landlord, who
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The Home of a Thousand People.
comes once or twice a month to look at his property and collect the
rent. The housekeeper is frequently a widow, who gets free rent in
exchange for her work, and by means of sewing or washing is able
to provide food and clothing for her children. It pays the land¬
lord to have one tenant rent free in order to have a clean house. If
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