Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1874-04-04

| tnat uaN, ana at nlSnt went creeping tC
my room like condemned criminal
hungry and faint. When came down
the next morning, my landlady was wait
ing for me. 81 had been thinking,
she said, that perhaps you intended
giving up your room, and if so should
like to know it." | acknowledged had
some thought of so doing, and might as
well leave that day.
Again I tried the razor strops, but
they would not sell. Weak and dis
couraged, [ returned to my employer
he thought perhaps | was not adapted
to that particular business | thought
SO too. Finding 1 had no money, he
handed me tcn-ccnt stamp, and the
nearest baker sold one loaf of bread
more than he otherwise would.
After quite an extended experience
among them, l am forced to say that
many of the concerns who make great
promises to agents are what might
be termed humbugs.
And now the shades of eve began to
come slowly down. How shall 1 de
scribe the feeling of utter desolation
that began to come over me?-no money,
no friends, no home. | envied the
brute beasts, the truck horse with his
dray, as he contentedly wended his way
to his. stable up town-even the dog
that followed behind; then came feel
ing of angry rebellion against the laws
of society and of God, followed by one
of despair. Oh the misery of that long
night, walking, walking. | could not
stop long to rest-the policemen seemed
to be everywhere present, and loiterers
and closely watched. When you see
short item in the newspapers to the eff
feet that stranger, name supposed to
be SO and 50, last night committed sui
eide, probable cause poverty, do you
ever think of the hopes formed, only to
be broken, the yearnings, the longings,
the expectations never realized, the
long continued mental agony that pre-
ceded the last desperate, fatal, mad re-
solve? | have never seriously thought
of ending my own life, but l can easily
see how people of a certain tempera-
ment and disposition can be brought to
take such step.
l next tried the book business, and
the first day was fortunate enough to
sell one; that night procured lodging,
but the next day was not successful,
and, of course, out again and so time
passed on-sometimes with shelter at
night, but oftener without sometimes
going whole day with absolutely moth
ing to eat And now cold weather had
begun to set in, and it was not until
nature bad become completely exhaust
ed | could manage to sleep i'll some
unfinished building in process of cree
ton, or covered wagon in the street
and then the sleep got under such cir
cumstances was not of that refreshing
kind that you are accustomed to, read
cr; besides, there was the continual fear
of being molested in my wagon by po-
licemen in my house, by those having
charge of it. One night, in a new build
ing on Hudson street, had Just com
posed myself in a corner of an upstairs
room for little rest, when | heard the
heavy tramp of man hurriedly ap-
preaching; in moment he angrily ap-
peared at my door with big club in
bis hand, and | was ANONYMOUSLY OK
PEELED. But in my nightly wanderings
soon found on arriving at what | con
tire ment that they we've preoccupicd by
some poor unfortunate like myself in
deed. if it were not so, | should hardly
have courage to pen this sketch, for |
should consider that my being reduced
so low must be owing to some fault or
deficiency peculiarly my own. I had
been informed by a fellow cosmopolitan
that lodgings were furnished at the sta
ton houses gratuitously to homeless
wanderers but there was something in
thcE idea that made me recoil from
the trial. But one night, when
the sleet was coming down, ha'f rain,
half snow, | concluded any shelter
preferable, and walking into station
house on the east side, / made known
to the officer in attendance what would
like He remarked that it was rather q
late hour to come for lodging, but told
him that in my ignorance l did not
know that it made any difference he
then inquired my name, age, occupa-
ton, and where was born, my answers
to which were all recorded in a book.
He then turned me over to the door
kee per, IL rough, surly fellow, who con
Quoted me to the den. One glance was
enough for me to decide not to accept
the prof. red hospitality, but l begged
the doorman to allow me moment for
observation. To give an adequate de
scription of the scene, | am not able
nothing less than the pen of Dante or
the pencil of Dore could do the subject
justice. The stencil and mixture of
stenches that rose on the air, the gibes
and b'asphe mics, prayers and curses
from many of the half drunk or crazy
inmates, the occupation of one OF two
i'll the corner picking the vermin from
their bodies, and the general appear
ance of extreme filth, the yells and
means of the women in the next room
all these made an impression on me
which | shall not soon forget.
On the street l again met the police
man who had directed my way to this
place he kindly loaned me quarter.
Lately | have staid for Il few nights at
a place iu the lower part of the city,
which is maintained for the aid of the
by the munificence of we'll
known citizen of this city.
At the present moment | imagine my
prospects for the future are little
brighter than they have been. pray
it may not be only imaginatio2. And
in closing | lave only to say Young
man, un'ess you ara possessed of money
en- ngr t. b, independent, or have a
positive g, gagement with responsible
trm, don't come to the great city. |
arrive at this conclusion not only from
my own experience, but from that of