, 1879-01-12
FREE LODGINGS.

AI.D JUNAS' lS5l1ItEiOS.
Very few people are aware of the fact that in
this city there is charitable institution, free
lodging~house, where seycnty-hve poor, home
less men sleep every night; where there nre
stoves and coal enough; where there is
light, and warmth, and safety: where
no man is allowed to go to
bed complaining Of hunger; where each
1odger is fed ia the morning with good food and
plenty Of it. And yet there is just such IN iu~
stitution. On the first day oi the new year Aid.
Jonas opened the night retreat. It is unneces~
sary to comment upon the extent Of the patron
age. With the kindly help of q few charitable
people, and lately with the valuable assistance
OF Aid. DAILY, the ]odglne-house has become an
institution OF uncalculable comfort to many an
unfortunate wayfarer, and Of credit to the North
Division OF the city 1t is worthy to be pointed
out to the citizsns of the West and South Divis~
ions. There are persons cynical enough to ac-
credit to AID. Jonas and AID. Daly motives
other than those Of philanthropy in
the establishing and supporting Of
such an institution. Such iEslnuations
need no ,efutation. The house speoks for itself.
Let any one visit the house as reporter Of TIE
TRIBUNE did last night, and draw his own con-
clusiOnS
The reporter saw on the main floor OF the
building at the northeast corner Of Wells and
Indiana street, room about stventy-tivc feet
feet deep and twenty -Gve.widc. Near the centre,
OIL the north side OF the room, was 4 large stove,
wbicn sent out cheerful glow. There was an
other stove. = coOk-stove. near tue rear OF the
room. and it too contained rouslng fire. Lamps
arranged along the walls gave plenty oI light.
Along the walls from front to rear were what
might, for want OF better term, be called
bins, ''-one continuous bin on each side.
These were filed with hay, aud the
hay covered with comforters. III these
bins the men lay side-by-sidc. Some were unde-
one Ind feather pillow all to h1mselt. Some
Law with their hats on, others with their bats.
coats, aud boots of. They ull looked respect
abic, and as clean as men out OF employment
word was spuken, and the TWO men who stay up
ali night-one to receive and register applicants,
and the other to tend to the Elcn and the tires
say that during the night not the least disturb
:lzcc is heard. All applicants are received, and
their names, occupations, ages. and marital re-
opening of the room only one married
man has lodged there, and there
has been an average OF seventy men. The in
telligcnt aud respectable appearance Of the
was in them an absence OF low, cunning,
drunken. and thieEish looks. They evidently
had been accustomed to tho comforts OF life
Many OF them wore garments indicative OF the
shabby gcntcel," Dut the majority looheu
like unfortunate hnnd-workers who could lind
no work aud had nowhere else to 90 except the
uolice-station. There never has been any
grumhling. The men accept the charities with
tacit ti,ankfulnrss aud gratitude. In the morn
ing each man is given quart cup filled with
har}ey-soup. uud liberal allowance of beef ana
bread. Not one Of them goes away hungry
As before stated, the charity speaks Tor ltsell.
It is growing in usefulness, and the knowledge
of TINT usefuiulness is spreading accordingly
- E<.S- <ou- rntFf1 f1f
house rested upon Aid. jonas shoulders. Aid.
DAILY has Interested himself greatly, aud has
done u.ucf to secure supply of coal and food,
Other citizens have begun to take an interest in
tie Charity. Yesterday Mr.. Sol A. Smith,
President OF tile Merchants Savings, Loan E
Trust Company, contributed s25. Other
subscriptions arc needed, and no narn' would be
done we're similar houses established in the
other divisions OF tue city TneY remove tne
temptation to steal enough for nights loos-
5rr