, 1874-03-08
WASHlNG70NIAN HOME.
Trouble Between Superintendent and
Clerk.
What the Former Has to Say About 1t.


The Executive Committee Must Decide.
All Chicaeoans have heard Of the Washing
tonian uomc-a kind Of limbo to which chronic
inebriates are consiSned, or consign Themselves,
in the hope OF acquiring distaste for the liquid
that produces temporary madness and permar
nent misfortune. 1t is very useful institution,
and is, as rule, well pattonized- The place Ii
situated on West Madison street, near Ashland
avenue, and is neither mean nor magnificent in
appearance. Its plain, two-story frame build
ing, having none Of that stereotyped gloom
which usually characteri2es q charitable or
reformatory concern. The blue devils
do not generally patroaize 3 comfortable
frame structure with yellow paint. aud the horse
cars running By the door. They generally take
up their abode in that hell upon earth called the
County House, or in the narrow cells OF the
Dridewoll or County Jail. In aho-t, the Home
looks like what it was, country tavern, where
tho traveller can have plain faro and sound sleep.
And the place is an inn on q peculiar ecale.
Some people assert that & chronic sot cannot
be redeemed. Tho pntrons Of the Homo in
sist that he can. Several very hard cases
hare gone there in sorrow and left
in ioy-not SO much for the leaving
as for the reformation which the staying brought.
now Some left and, although apparently cured
OF their gIuttonous THIRST stepped rhoir lips
onco more in the Lethean pool and we're forever
st,-for a relapse, mental or physical is even
worse than first attack. Uudcniaoly tue Homo
is thing OF interest, and it Ii worthy Of serious
chr mn rnfrf ffy1af1
succeed in saving only one poor soul from the
alcoholic cauliron which may bo called the doTil's
tea-kettle.
But in tho best OF mortal things there must
be daw. Where two or throe are gathered
together in the name Of Lord, or OF that charity
which ia His tr1est representative, there Is GER
tain 10 be more or less discussion The science
Of government becomes moro difficult as Tho
arena Of the governors becomes moro con-
t1acted. Disfae may manage the British En-
pre With master hand, but it is doubtful
whether the 2stute Benjamin would make su.-
cessful superintendent OF convaleacent drunk
ards.
PRESENT DIsSESs1oSs.
Especially when the coordinate branches Of .
government ara OF different sex is the work OF
governing hard. The Executive Committee ct
The Tashlngtonian Home il made up OF both
sexes. The Superintendent belongs to the sex
ct Adam. rhero havo been innumerable
superintendentss in the Home during its
tho inevitable demon Of dissipation,
and hare departed one ly one. Last April q
now venture was made. 4 Alr. Hager, lately
from Missouri, was placed in power. Ho got
along well enough for little time. but gradually
his management began 70 dissatisfy some Of the
ladies' Of the Executive Committee, and cold
uess resulted. This WAS not all.
THE CLERK
Of the establishment for many years has been .
Mr. Mcfarland. Ho thinks that he "krows
It.. \ -.~{%
rulers. Ergo, he always 1esists when things.
according to his ideas, so wrong. Mr. Hagar,
being tho uuerln4cndent, assumed the du-
ties Of his position with tho confidence
becoming superior officer. Mr. Mcfarland,
rating Ills experience above tho other GENTLE
mans rank. ventured to do things 10 his owo
way. The result was thrce-cornered row. Tho
Superintendent WAS blamed By the ladies and by
the Clerk. hr. Hager blamed both parties. Ho
is man Of gray hairs allied to nerve, aud is not
@ climax.
A meeting OF the Executive Committee was
called this afternoon at the Office OF Mr. h. c.
alorey, No. II South Clark street, for the pur-
pose Of adjusting the difficulty in some manner.
Previous to tho meeting q reporter Of TIE
TRIBUNE called upon the officers OF the
Homo and had o talk with them. He
saw 3ir. Bager first. Tho old gentleman
has fine head, and is evidently man OF some
nacy about neutralizes his bump Of beuevo-
lcnce, Which makes quite creditable display in
the frontal region of his Uranium. His room is
in the second story, and is bounded By several
sleeping apartments. Tho venerable man led
tho reporter into tho remotest Of these cham
bers, so that no outsider might hear remarks ON
either side. 4 couple Of ladies, who wero play
ing with sewing machines, looked awfuly Curl
GUS, but retained their places. A young man.
who must be a kind of sa1amander on account OF
IL, f,% fic{fo
from a damaged-loos1ng account-book, but said
nothing.
sir. finger majestica1iy wa.ed the reporter
to sest. The reporter heroically accepted the
courtesy.
uSDEn E1R2uSAT1oS.
SNOW, cir, - said Mr. e., '*what do you 8ish
to say? 2"
oh, several things" replied the upaba4,hed
JOURNALIST How arc you getting along here
:, heard yon had some trouble with Mac and
the lauies."
~ Sir" replied A1r. Hager, O. the trouble was |
none Of my makiue. l desire to say nothing
about this matter Just now, it you like it best"
The reporter said he did not like it best.
Very we'll, then," continued the superin-
tendent, II am tho successor OF score or
go Of predecessors, ali of whom hayo been
turned ont because Of their opposition
to outside modelling. desire to be allowed to |
run the place in the best interests OF the in-
mates :. | do not want to be unnecessarily OBJ !
strucsed."
CAUSE OF THE TROUBLE. |
"Who obssructs you, then 2" inquired The
TRIBUNE man.
u Why, the Indies of the Committee do not |
quite agree with my policy, nor do l with them. !
l can give no very satisfactory reason for their
discontent. Ny expenditures, I think, do not ]
always suit them. They think me, perhaps, e1-
traraSant. but want TO treat the people who |
aie do1niclled here as we'll as can be.'
What has Mae got TO do with the busi- /
ness :"
"We1l,' repliod Ir. H.. 'she's been in Office |
hero q long time, and thinks he knows it all. |
Last enmmer I took in an unfortunate person /
named Boyd, WHO was deep in dissipation. He |
did not have any money, but he gave nc hia |
fathers address in PENNSYLVANIA, and said that
Eie board would be paid if l wroto about him.
did write, and received no reply. Still kept !
him in, having pity for his foliorn state, but no
money came l employed him to paint up the !