The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-11-11


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 a 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 a
being stumbled down the hotel stairs
and darkened the room as he entered
the door. He sat down at the table,
called for g ham an BEANS" distracted
a mysterious looking, shining can from
beneath his outer garment, pressed it
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.
"Give US yer money fust," said the
cashier to the man with bulr 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 a timer" 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
gineral thing not NOR n twenty
"Do they all board with you?"
"Yes. More eats here than sleeps
here. They 90 around ali day gauging
with can and fills it full of beer that
they ketch from empty kegs, then come
here for beans, git drunk and then we
fire them over in the corner and let EN-
Sleep"
"Howmuch do you charge for beans?"
"All the dishes is five cents. Stews.
roasts, frys or anything, all is five cents;
but the bloats must pay up fore they
kin git the eatables. L must make up
these beds as some of the fellers comes
in as soon as it gifts dark"
He snatched lot of sugar mattings
and bags from the pile and laid them
along the floor.
"That's better'n sleeping in the parks
and gittin' robbed" he said as he
moved towards the door, which was
again being darkened by the approach
of three guests. Mechanically they paid
him the bed money and disappeared in
the dormitory. 1t was getting dark and
the young man in the close-ftting dus-
ter lit a lamp that had sugar bowl for
its base. For the first time the rer orter
old boards nailed together and resting
on two flour barrels answered the pur-
pose of the tea table. One old board
resting on two soap boxes served the
purposes of dining room chairs. There
was some mistake about the cutlery,
for there wasn't any and everything
had to be eaten with spoons, good solid
iron spoons. The finen was locked up
in the safe, which, on account of its
containing a combination lock, could
only be opened by the proprietor, who
is at present in Canada investigating
the extradition treaty. The crockery
is imported and bears the monogram
of the proprietor.
The day clerk spoke very highly of
his employer and the many acts of
benevolence he had bestowed upon
unfortunate workingmen.'
elbow much do you receive for your
labor?'
Three dollars month and board
and lodging"
Several tramps crowded into the hotel
and as business seemed imminent the
reporter withdrew, not, however, until
he had been invited to supper, which
unfortunately he was compelled to de-
cline. ~ Y Graphic.