Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1860-12-07
AN EVENING AT THE NEW YORK NEWS
ROY LODGING HOUSE.

uluOn SItet, anu 10 oh on0 oiAoh o'0iJ y
1t is long way up, to be sure, but to the
Christian or philanthropist, it would be
worth the journey to look at, were it six
times as high.
MrO Conner, the superintendent gave us
an opportunity of observing the boys, both
in the exercises and in their unrestrain-
ed freedom. We learned that although but
eight years have elapsed since the estab-
lishment of this institution, at least one
half of the expenses are now met by the
boys themselves, who pay six cents a night
for lodging, three for little closet where
they keep their scanty wardrobe, and of
which each one has his key; any trife
for supper if they are late; but if in sea-
son they get it gratis. All seemed to enter
heartily into the spirit of the exercises, es-
pecialy the singing, and some who could
scarcely keep their eyelids up, and showed
by their exposed condition how much they
needed warmth and rest, frightened at once
when the hymns commenced. One exceed
ingly small boy attracted our attention,
from his extreme minuteness; he seemed
better clad than most of them, and wore a
more independent look.
We asked Mr.. O'Connor if he was a news
boy. He said that he was not; but that
he had escaped from a very unhappy home,
and having been found by some boys, while
searching one night for place to sleep,
they had brought him here. Mrs. OCon-
nor had taken compassion on him, and
had even retained him about the premises
to run errands, &c. He was represented
as having great turn for music, and in
fact his voice was distinguishable above
all the rest. OConnor said he should
sing for us, after the exercise a song COM
posed expressly for him.
The majority Of the boys showed, by
looks and manner, a degree of character
and resolve which might be looked for in
vain throughout many better clothed and
cleaner assemblage. Generally appearing
in their shirt-sleeves, their hair short and
wiry, with features prematurely old, and
pinched to sharpness by driving against
the keen winds of hunger and poverty,
they were spectacle which full many a
proud array of our republican aristocrats
might contemplate, to the enlargement of
their charitable propensities. Seventy
beds are filled each night, and the remain
ing applicants are obliged to content them
selves with the benches. As many more
beds are being fitted up in room below,
being of better sort; the frame of iron,
painted green, with comfortable mattress
es; but as yet the bcdclothing is INSULT
cient for them. The boys delight in calling
this the Fifth Avenue hotel, and look for
ward to nights lodging in it as bright
spot in the future. The preparation requi-
site for the use of the clean and comfort
able little bed, is thorough bath, head
washing, and clean shirt. If the hair is
not clean, it is cut as short as possible the
first night of their initiation. 1t would
be well, in this connection, to state, that
the water arrangements are very imperfect.
The reservoir for cold water does not near
meet the demand upon it, and as for clean
illness, it is not to be had at all; although
with little management and inexpensive
apparatus, it could be easily obtained by
introducing the steam from the San office,
below. 1t is almost enough to keep the
boys away, when so severe penance
awaits their chapped and shivering bodies
as plunge into cold water, which is now
the case. The labor of the superintend-
ents department. would also be much les
sened by the introduction of warm water
Looking round upon these harmless boys,
we were struck by the :" rag-tag and bob
tall appearance of one who sat scratching
his head and yawning in corner. 1t
seems he had not been there much as yet,
and, in answer to our query, Mr.. O'Con-
nor laughed, and replied, He is a fellow
that | supposed never had anything to say,
but tonight / surprised him in the bath
room going through the motions of deep
tragedy. "Can't you draw him out" we
asked. Accordingly, after the usual romp
succeeding the evening meeting, Mr.. O Con-
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