Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-10-04
DrOll DOings.
FREE LopeERs IN Nsw YORK PARKS.

Under the trees in Madison Square, New
York at midnight the other night, there
were at least 800 dodgers. Only half a
dozen were awake. The others were sleep.
ing in almost every conceivable posture.
The few who had early in the evening
secured shares of the curved benches around
the fountain were the only ones able to
stretch out at full length, and these rested
their heads on their crossed arms. or leaned
upon an elbow, or were fiat upon their backs.
They are not all tramps," said police
man. Some of them have homes, but prefer
| To sleep out in the air. One young man that
| happen to know has nice home. but he
has some ailment of the lungs or chest that
he believes is relieved by sleeping out Of
doors. Others would be less comfortable in
the hot and crowded quarters where they
live than they are here. We find out about
them when we make raids and bundle them
all off to the station. We cannot hold those
who have homes to go to. The others, form
ing the great majority, are simply vagrants,
who live by begging and stealing, though
some of them tell me they work once in a
while, long enough to get clothes and money
for a spree, and then they tramp again. On
some nights, every seat in every park is
occupied The police do not stay on duty at
night. but We are supposed to keep the
tramps away, We let 'em alone though,
unless they get noisy. They fight once in a
while. but most of the trouble is made by
bands of young roughs who roam through
the parks from dark till midnight"
IF decent man should fall asleep in one
of these parks would he be safe?''
"well, he would, bur his valuables
wouldn't. Sometimes a gentleman comes
crawling through the park late at night full
of wine after dinner or a party, and drops
on bench and falls asleep. Then they go
through him. / have known man to be
robbed of his watch, money, rings. coat. vest.
hat, and shoes, and have to make his way
home in that condition in the morning. Gen.
orally, though, the tramps are not so cruel.
They often take gentleman's silk hat and
leave him their own in exchange"
But said the policeman, II must go and
drive those fellows away from Delmonico's.
The tramps go to Dclmonico's when they get
chilly, because there's grating there and the
heat comes up through it, There was a nice
young fellow there last night. He had no
coat. but his shirt was clean and good. He
said his father turned him ont of doors be-
cause he played pool, and he pawned his coat
for the price of a meal"
There were about 500 dodgers in Union
square, and the plashing fountain, the en-
powered paths, and the sleepers, under the
wizard touch of the electric light, made the
scene remind one of the fairy tale of those
who slumbered in the company of the Beauty
in the Wood.
The Prince who broke the spell in the City
Hall park half an hour later was policeman
with club two feet long. The reporter had
been walking on -the piazza between the
grass and the City Hall, and had not noticed
lodger. The park was as quiet as grave
yard. But when this guardian, whose voice
was like the roar of fire trumpet banged
his club and said "Out with YOU, or I'll bag
the lot of you" the paths suddenly swarmed
with shambling, stretching, yawning figures,
some at a dog trot and some limping-like
rheumatics.