The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1880-11-27
A New York Hotel for Tramps.

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visited the place. The proprietor, who
by the way. is an ex-tramp, displayed
considerable forethought in the selec
ton of his caravansary, which is in the
heart of the business portion of the city
and but a stones throw from the City
Hall. Just before dusk the reporter
reached the place indicated, and with
some difficulty CROPPED his way dowr
two lights of stairs to long, narrow
sub-cellar Of an immense building. the
upper portion of which is used for vari
Gus mechanical purposes. The sight
presented near the doorled the reporter
to think that % fall cleaning" was in
progress, whitewash buckets and un.
planned boards almost impeding his en-.
trance.
:. Undergoing internal improve.
ments?" he queried of seedy, lank
object with unkempt hair, shaggy beard
and close-ftting buster, that lay out.
stretched upon the dining table, hall
asleep.
."Kinder, jist whitewashin' bit,'
drawled out the fellow, without making
the least effort to move. Not wishing
to disturb him, the reporter glanced at
the interior, or rather so much of it as
was discernible, it being totally dark at
the farther end of the 'shotel." On the
right was what might be accepted as an
apology for kitchen. Two iron frames,
in which smouldered few embers of
wood, composed the cooking apparatus.
Near by on the floor were four empty
tomato cans, one "spider," a broken
kettle and stewing pot. In butter
tub, half filed with dirty water. were
piled a lot of crockery, while on the
counter, which was made of two boards
held up on either end by two props,
was pan of what appeared in the dark
ness to be beans. A questionable ham,
bearing the marks of several fingers, re-
posed innOcently on saucer alongside
of four loaves of bread near the other
end of the counter. There was no
elevator in the rear" or if there were
it was INSTRUCTED from view by stack
of mysterious looking bags and sugar
mattings.
"What do you intend doing with all
those bags?" asked the reporter.
The tramp shook himself and sat
upright or as near to it as he could.
''Them's the BEDS" he answered; I'VE
fixes them in the night"
8 You don't charge anything to sleep
on them, do youp"
Eyes, we does. We charge er fl
pence to sleep here"
A sound resembling buzz-saw
wrestling with a lignum-vite knot
emanated from a dark corner thus far
unnoticed. 1t proved to be the snoring
of wearied traveller at rest, who pre-
sented the appearance of bag of rags
in coal bin. This corner undoubtedly
was the receptacle of the combined
pickings, stealings. findables, presenta-
bles and changeables of the entire pro-
fession. 1t was here in this corner that
the reisende pooled their tissues. Were
it not for the fact that tramps never
steal, the reporter would certainly have
thought that burglary had been COM
mitted on junk shop. Rags, shoes,
hats, paper collars, bill posters, tin
cans, umbrella frames and hundred
other articles reposed here in indescrib-
able confusion and in the midst of this
mound of rubbish lay undisturbed this
gunny bagged snorer.
While regarding this strange sight
being stumbled down the " hoter' stairs
and darkened the room as he entered
the door. He sat down at the table,
called for ham an BEANS" distracted
a mysterious looking, shining can from
beneath his outer garment, pressed il
to his lips and for long time endeav-
ored to see what fastened the bottom to
the can. The object that lay on the
table dragged its form slowly towards
the lunch counter, alongside of the pan
already described. 1910
'.Give us yer money fust," said the
cashier to the man with bull s-eye nose.
as he held the plate firmly In his hand.
Think I'm goin ter give yer er
funny racket, here's yer money! an
swered the tramp as he threw a nickle
at the cashier.
How many dodgers do you enter |
tain at time?' asked the reporter of |
The Charge d'Affaires as he deposited |
the cash in the safe.
"Cool weather comm now, we has
over er hundred some nights, but as a
5ineral thing not morn twenty"
''Do they all board with you?''
Yes. More eats here. than sleeps
here. They go around all day gauging
With can and fills it full of beer that
hey ketch from empty kegs, then come
here for beans, git drunk and then we
ire them over in the corner and let EN-
'leep."
"Howmuch do you charge for beans?"
"All the dishes is five cents. Stews,
casts, frys or anything, all is FIVE cents;
tut the bloats must pay up fore they
lin git the eatables. I must make ND
hese beds as some of the fellers comes
n as soon as it gifts dark
lie snatched lot of sugar mattings
nd bags from the pile and laid them
long the floor. lFFl -
That's better'n sleeping in the parks
nd gittin' robbed" he said as he
moved towards the door, which was
gain being darkened by the approach
I three guests. Mechanically they paid
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