New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-02-21
CHARITY'S INNS.
LODGINGS OUT OF THE STREETS.

,.sn,s a. n IL spasnodic and foolish in others IL
sometimes works TO the direct misfortune OF VI" 90,
seeks TO serve az other times 1t comp ,act
neoess,ties and apples the remedies WIN
and prudence Though 1t occasionally "o'' o,oner
directed 10 political effect or 70 selfish purposes a.
s"e'''e ~ ~, r,nv o,m-and that TO relieve dls
-, A. ba,ever form It may appear In ORDINARY ''os
.omnarafivefy few people are possessed OF 'no
oharitv tie only In years OF famine OF pes'''0u'
.rn,na,hv IL excited and purses are drawn uPo"' N
winter marked by no unusual Sickness UT "oN "
a., the moor makes no demand upon the many 'or q"
,..h e,,rcme cases OF suffering may he iounu
LII one wear az another, seasons OF
,,,h,,lness ard financial ease give mueh less pro"
,ronce n them Philanthropo oitzens quieuf ree We
,ho sress find or make work for the re" 'na' nc" IT.
ma, the e1actinS landlord, and provide temporary com
80 nm a, an income ia yielded sufficient TO meet day
ants The present Winter with lite excess OF '"oo'eiS
-. 800 Of poverty requires both the systematic
-. ., organised agencies and the careful exercise OF
,tvate cbarity Il is difficult TO determine no" pos' W
st,eet the latter, but look " Que feature VI io"'i
which has not vet received great atteuuo III 'n o"
NV INT which az the present time IL IN asu'"' way
irving fe hundred Of the worthy poor IN Ne" iorR'
viii suggest one method OF comforting without pauPei
,,g large Numbers who cause OF another nave
80, aonrivcd Of homes Az the close OF business hoafs
an the street and in the manufacturing and DniulhS
districts throughout the city thousands OF men, "o0"
and children who during the day drift about rom ouo
place TO another, vaiBy seeking employment Oh soo
kind are thrown upon their own resources Tor an even
ina meal and nights lodging. and without slNp"O
10 provide for either. they often struggle "'oH io
door IN door unti exhaustion Overcomes them ana 'ey
roll into some cold celar-way or deserted en'Iy Ut man
their WAY 10 the station-house iof HIHut
,aon Among these are numbered some OF the
vtpsi of humanity common thieves ana cuttnrod'S'
who have lost an Of shame and decency' ana 'o
otbs who are honest aud respectable driven by nara
Of
,rcrk N many cases without friends-miserable de
serted homelcss. Where can they cof Does charity
direct them 10 the lodgrgroom at the statonhousef
IT short narrow room, with single window az one
end Ont Of II opens another room of similar dimen'
s,ops which also boasts a single window In each OF
these on the floor low bunks collected IS 10 20
nltbv brutal men, some parity undressed, others with
hoota ana clothes still on The window is closed as
nightly as can well be- and at O'Clock IN the evening
such poisonous atmosphere has accumulated that II
seems almost impossible or any human creature TO live
mt In other rooms AT some OF The stations are found
like class Of women Old IN crime others whose
YEAR, are few but whose deeds are portrayed by Their
faces and are known TO every policeman All OF them
have long since east aside he last vesges OF virtue or
conness and they appear to have genuine contempt
for every BODY Nothing but fear restrain them and
they be,ray nrte that i the SIGHT s ckenng ~ the
male department 1t IL doubly 20 here The women are
very snabbly dressed for Summer much less for
Winter 10 tc these places that the officers of justice
br 60 look for the perpetatOr OF larceny, arson, or
murder. Day after day these Outcasts carry on this
wrctched work. and night after night assemble in these
vile dens 10 steep the sitting odors that emanate
from their own persons and rotten clothes These
places begsar description, and vet the miserable occu-
pants content, and pass more hours in sleep than
the majority Of those who surrounded with home
comforts In the various satonhouse lodgings OF the
city during the coolest Of Winter weather from 1000 10
1900 persons OF both may be counted in a single
night They think such quarters preferable 10 bed IN
the snow outside When morning comes these creatures
turn out in battaons few Of them knowing which way
70 90 for a cup OF coffee or piece OF bread weI-ngh
famishcd and having nothing bur theft or starvation
before them These people soon become known 10 the
xpuerous and are shunued no hand is open TO them,
and no heart shows pity.
Quite different are presented az the halfdozen
lodging houses which benevolent hands have thrown
open 10 the really deserving poor SO few are these
compared with the numerous and loDgesabished iusti
Of the kind u London, that little can be said for
them az experiments except that they 10 be under
good management and TO be supplying great want.
The lodging house OF tie Howard Relief Committee. at
No 40 Ieouard is the one most recently opened aud
most largely patrOnized In the week closing Feb.
nearly 1880 lOdgnts given and about 6000 meals
The character OF persons applying at this place has
already been described in THE TRIBUNE. The primary
Object was 70 provide comfortable lodgings bat large
proportion Of the applicants suffering
because deprived Of proper nourishment that it was
thought best TO feed Wei lodge them. One even
ing a reporter visited the building after 275 had re-
tired The several floors are supplied with straw
beds, Of which supported upon iron bedsteads
In each large stove, and the fires are under
the constant care OF Waterman The ventilation for
the whole buildings complete. Tnsurng a wholesome
atmosphere in each apartment The building IA thor
Ouehly cleaned and aired every day opportunity FOR
bathing If afforded 70 all who Will wash themselves
he u.Io l. and in
trast the home OF the poor in New York
Men from widely diverse walks Life make I'D the list
OF dodgers, large number being clerks teachers and
mechanics thrown out Of employment by the panic
while others day labOfers, without trades, unamb
tious and shiftess Discretion is exercised IN aotting
each applicant, his appearance and condition
serving guide. The best Of order pre-
walls, aud smoking noisy conversation
IL allowed There is little disposition TO hilarty among
the larger part Of the This experience with
which they little familiar. and, Notwithstanding the
bnd attention aud announcement they receive, they
betray feeling Of chagrin and disappointment 1t
CURES no great penetration 10 discern that they
passing through mental than pbysical distress.
II trey fail % set themselves right il will not be the
FAULT OF this Committee who giving personal aten
ton TO the work The food that ia furnished many of
The dodgers Is good and varied. Soups abundance or
good bread, and frequently vegetables served. 1t
IL the policy Of this Committee to lodge applicant
only so long s absolutely necessary the object not
beng TO promote paupensm, but to prevent it. The
name Of every is taken down each night, and the
number OF times he has lodged placed against it.
Another lodgng-house similar to this but on much
smaller scale, the in spriDgst under the charge
Of the Bowery Young Mems Christian Association in
conjunction with the City Mission. Ii accommodates
about 90 aud Is filed every night Neatness and gene
RAJ eooo order give the place homehke air This lodg
pshoose ought TO be greatly enlarged the demands OF
.ne poor 10 ths locality being very great and many Of
Vlslt 70 the Dormitory for Women. No. "A Ani,v.st