The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1882-04-05
COMFORTS OF POLICE STATIONS.
How the Bed0uin of Civilization Maintains
Himself During Cold Weather.

Tramps are as nomadic as the Bedouin
Arabs but they scorn to burden themselves
with tents. Free from all ties and bonds.
they ore as Independent as millionaires, and,
like the gilded butterflies of fashion HE
themselves away to the green fields and
woods when the first warmth of summer
clasps the eager earth. They roam up and
down the country in leisurely, happy-go
lucky fashion, with no distinctive object
point before them nor any lengthening chain
behind them. When the summer wanes
and autumn begins to fade into winter they
return from seaside aud hillside TO the shell
terof the city TO whose streets their footsteps
arc familiar
From the time the leaves fab until they
bud forth again. tramps mQy be found IN
every quarter Of New York. The metropo-
lis is their favorlte winter resort, and III u
they can always contrive 10 cke out living,
or at least an existence, for the letter seems
20 De m 70 wiisci they ntl 'riiidd SIT
the day the tramp roams lazily through the
streets, begging for money when his eyes
fall upon one who promises to be yictimto
his persistency visiting basement doors.
where he obtains cold yictuals, and empty
ing beer kegs, whose dregs supply his crav-
ing for inebriation When not employed in
this industrial routine he may be found seat
ed on the benches in the public parks, gazing
about him with the listless air of one whose
mind has succeeded in banishing all care or
thought of the past, aud TO whose present
comes no disturbing thoughts of the future
At night the tramp either betakes himself
to the shelter of a station house or wanders
through the streets, entreating each passing
pedestrian to give him few pennies sstc
pay for nights lodging If luck is fav-
orable 10 him, he may not only obtain the
price of nights lodging but also enough
to buy of the vilest whiskey u quantity suf-
ficent to procure him the dull leaden sleep
OF drunkenness.
As evening is approaching there may
daily be seen outside the greater number of
the station houses in the city, long, patient
lines of men and women--for in the tramp
world women have attained the happiness
of equal rights--dressed in tattered, griniy
garments which seem to bo held together
merely by "reminiscences of bctterdays. They
stand there waiting sometimes for more than
an hour for the time TO arrive when the door
shall be opened and they can enter into the
enjoyment of warmth and shelter from rain
or snow. As the station house aoeommo-
dations for dodgers nre limited and the
number of would-be dodgers apparently UNI
limited, this waiting in line has become a
necessity for those who are penniless and
would sleep with u roof above them.
The quarters provided for them are not
of the most luxurious description, and gem
eral as is the rage for household decoration,
il has not yet obtained mn entrance to tho
lodging rooms of our station houses. The
walls are Of stone, with q coating of white
wash the floors are tagged, and at one side
runs long frame supporting number of
thick pine planls, placed atregular and very
close intervals. These planks are tho beds
on which the dodgers sleep. The aeeommo-
dations provided for men and women ara
similar At night the rooms are heated, and
the occupants can at least comfort them
selves with the reflection that they are better
of than many of their fellows who are COM
PEELED to walk the streets thai they may
keep their bodies from freezing. Not NIL
of those who succeed in gaining admittanes
to the dodgers rooms are fortunate enough
to obtain plank to sleep on. Especially in
evil weather. the doonnen permit larger
number of lodgors to enter the station house
than can find sleeping room. Tho late com
ers nre forced to sit upon the floor, and rest
their backs against the wall. Those who Sc
cure corner regard themselves as peculiar
ly favored by fortune. ~. 7. Star.