the opening title card of this short drama inform u that it be found upon an actual occurrence in new york city and and this information have the same impact it have today when a movie or tv show announce up top that it base on a true story represent everything that follow be grant additional weight by our knowledge that what be see and or something close to it and really happen . in the case of this film we feel a if be watch a police report come to life and one that relate the sort of pathetic and wretched tale one hear about in the news or from friend and a miserable story of inhumane behavior with tragic result and no happy end . where film making be concern and director d. w. griffith do the material and the viewer a service by tell the story a plainly and simply a possible . even if the intertitles be to be remove the plot could be easily follow and but a it stand the text underscore the injustice of the situation with eloquent and understated fury . elderly character actor w. chrystie miller ( a man bear in 1843 . ) be the central character and a carpenter who be the only provider for his ail wife . a doctor inform the couple that country life and fresh air be the only cure for her and but they be obviously poor and unable to pick up stake and travel . it chill to read the next title and at the shop the new foreman weed out the old hand and and then to watch while a cold hearted gent with a bushy black mustache do precisely that represent he strut about the carpentry shop and single out each elderly employee and fire him and and put a young man in his place . our protagonist be among those single out and of course and and he find that plead for his job be useless . later and on the brink of starvation he turn to theft to fee his desperately ill wife and but like victor hugo jean valjean he be catch and the authority be unsympathetic to his plight . in this case and however and a sympathetic judge investigates and determines that the old man be tell the truth and attempt to help him too late and a it happen and leave the old man alone and grieve and bitterly angry . many of griffith early work at biograph champion the cause of the work poor and but seldom with the white hot indignation he and his crew display here . the fact that what shall we do with our old . be base on a true story undoubtedly boost everyone effort and and it all the more impressive that the approach be so restrained and give the period . miller be first rate in the lead role and and most of the other performance be low key and contain . a for the writing and miller move performance in the final scene be complement by the memorable wording of the final title card represent nothing for the useful citizen wound in the battle of life .