The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1884-11-07
AN UNCOLLECTED CLAIM.
A sKETcH OF LIFE AT THE NATION.
AL CAPITAL.
Ebe story of n Poor Old Wan who
bHaunts thc Corridors of wash
ingtOn Hotels.

Ebe story Of n Poor Old Wan who
Haunts thc Corridors of wash
ingtOn Hotels.
Although the old gentleman's coat
was threadbare, his shoes sadly in need |
Of repairs and his tall hat had lost its |
gloss, he elevated his feet Just as high as
any one else on the table of the reading |
room at downtown hotel last night, |
and told the reporter who took seat be- /
side him that the rain was a welcome
sight. The old gentleman sampled the |
reporters tobacco, and acknowledged !
that he was ahead of time. ''But you
see couldn't stay away any longer. Be-
tween me and you, my money gave out,
and | had to come back"
Do your people live here"
"No; but this is the cheapest place to
live for me. No, don't live anywhere.
Come originally from North Carolina
nigh on to seventeen years ago, and have
oeen here while Congress is in session
since. Well, It's the same old story over
igain. l was sightless fool, that's ALL,
md the old man gave vent to sigh, and
utter Il severe struggle coughed.
Seventeen years ago l was a small
truck farmer in North Carolina, had
forty acres and was doing well, when an
lunt of mine took up and died, leaving
nc her estate, which consisted of $3.50
md claim against the government for
damages. This claim amounted to about
! ST., 400, and | came to Washington to
collect it. / came in a Pullman ear.
When 90 away now its second class.
thought that all Id have to do was to
come here and get the money. Well, |
got here, hunted up my member, told
aim of my claim, and he promised to at
tend to it for me. | hung about, gave
ihrec dinners at Browns to the members
If a committee to whom my claim was
'eferrcd, and awaited results. 1t was not
long before my money began to run low
md was thinking of going home, but
that member of mine kept telling me to
hang on and he'd get my claim through
all right. got in the habit of loafng
lround the capitol, waiting for my claim,
but she didn't come. Congress adjourn
ID without acting on it, and at the end
Of the session found myself dead broke.
went back home then, determined
never to come back again, and would
not have done so but for that member of
mine. He got me to work for his re-
nomination and he was elected Then
he told me that the government wanted
men like me, and that If would sell out
NY place and come here he would surely
get my claim through, and would get me
IN one of the departments.
came back, got in the paten
office, and all went serene until 1874,
when | was fired out, my claim was dis
regarded and my member defeated.
Then ! had to hustle. The associations
had formed were hard to break away
from, and l finally rot hanging about
he committee rooms, doing odd Jobs
Tor members They would give me a
little money now and then, and | man
aged to exc out IA living, but that was
all. During all this trouble became
careless of myself. l had no desire to
20 back to my home, where I know I'd
have got a start, but simply hung about
and never managed to get clear of the
rut fell into. Yes, I've tried it, but it's
no go, and I'm back here again. During
The summer months some member gem
orally gets me a pass and gives me a
little money, and l go to some of the
watering places. This year l went home.
,, Everybody had forgotten me. My money
gave out and had to come back
,, GLOW do you live"
son whisky. Yes, whisky its easier
, TO get whisky than bread. hang about,
get invited and work the lunch. Sleep2
|, Oh, the corridors of hotels are conven-
lent, and oncc-but only once-I went
to the station house, I'll manage to live
through until the mill gets going again.
and then I'll get on to some scheme and
make enough, perhaps, to go away next
summer. Although you would not think
IT, I'm only forty one years of age, but
feel seventy, Thanks, | will 90 you
again; and, say, you haven't got a spare
quarter, have you? | think Id like to
Try bed tonight. = Washington Repu6-
e Icdn.