October, 1871

I have been through many cold and hungry nights, sleeping in ditches, in carts, on sidewalks. I have starved and I have fought others. I have experienced the worst living conditions known to man: tenements. I have crowded with numerous strangers, lived with unbearable stenches and deplorable sanitation systems. But I have not once begged. Never will I beg. There is little hope now that I will ever be able to marry Elisabeth, beautiful, sweet Elisabeth. Only today have I finally allowed myself to live in the police lodgings. These lodgings are even worse than the tenements.

There is only one living being left that cares about my existence here. That is the dog I have found that has endured all of this with me. And the police will not allow him to come in with me. I can not be more miserable.

Jacob Riis