Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1884-02-23
LODGING FOR TEN CENTS.
The Stiaing Easements Where Chi
eago's Tramps Find Nightly Repose
at O Dime a Head.
[Chicago News. ]

Chicago News
On Clark street, less than two blocks
south of the Grand Pacific hotel, are q
dozen sitting easements before which
CLEAN after dark transparent signs an
nouncing that dodgers will be accommo-
dated there for 10 cents head. Below
each sign series of crazy steps leads
down into shabby door with broken
latch. Passing through this door one
enters directly into the mysteries of the
cheap lodging house.
First of all there is an immense stove
whose ruddy sides send out volumes OF
heat which give the gloomy basement a
tropical atmosphere. Temperament is
long and narrow, and the ceiling is low
and draped with dusty cobwebs In the
early evening dense group of strange
looking beings clusters around the rag
ing fire. They are hopelessly dilapi
dated as to clothing They are supplied
with indescribable head-coverings and
impossible foot-gear. They smoke poi
sonous tobacco in pestilential pipes.
They converse little, being either sober
and stupid or drunk and dismal. But
they glory in the heat. Though their
smoking garments are almost ready to
burst into a blaze from its intensity,
they crowd still closer to the source of
their enjoyment.
In the corner by little desk stands
the proprietor with his book of accounts,
in which he is writing with the stump
of lead pencil. He has none of the
gaudy garments and cleaning jewelry
of the aristocratic hotel clerk, but he
looks clean and comfortable enough
The long rows of figures on every page
indicate that the house is doing rush
ing business. By the proprietor's side
are displayed wooden pail filled with
water, tin basin, a rubber comb, and
a broken blacking-brush. These com
pose the lavatory and toilet ontfts Of
the establishment. On the other side
of the proprietor are several tiers Of
pigeon-holes constructed out of rough
boards and containing various articles
of wearing apparel which have been left
there by the dodgers for safe-keeping.
A kerosene lamp burns by the proprie-
tors book. At the back of the room
another lamp of the same description is
suspended from the ceiling. Their light
reveals two long aisles with several
rows of hunks, formed of heavy planks
nailed together, rising on either side.
The bedding of each bunk consists of
an old quilt made double by fold dow II
the middle. On one of these sumptuous
couches weary tramp may purchase
for a dime the privilege OF reposing
over night.
Slowly the circle around the stove
10 al, r,,1
proprietor and stumbles off to bed.
Each man, when he has undressed, ties
his discarded clothing in a ball and
swings it from the ceiling above his
couch by piece of Irvine. This is q
wise precaution against the danger of
its being invaded by small stragglers
of the night. If he has any article of
value, such as money or whole coat,
he leaves it in the care of his landlord.
He would not trust it in reach of his
fellow dodgers for less than its full
value, rightly CHASING most of them in
the ranks of the pickers and stealers.
Having disposed of his garments, the
ledger consigns himself to the protec-
ton of the folded quilt. Around him
lie dozens of his kind. The narrow
UdSouloIlG UcluS UClOW bue SuI1dCe Vi Gu0
ground, and having only one entrance,
is almost air tight. The huge stove
belches forth its heat at all hours. The
smoke of many tobacco pipes has defled
the imprisoned air, and the breathing of
the hundred dodgers adds its horrors to
the tainted atmosphere. The heat and
foul air of the room would make it an
intolerable sleeping place to any one
not accustomed to such surroundings
But the dodgers sleep, and sleep soundly.
If fire should start in the basement
from any cause, as from q breaking
lamp OF bazing match, the inmates
you'd have small chance of escaping.
| They would most likely be smothered
or roasted to death in their uneasy beds.
A few of the Easements are better
kept than those which have been de-
scribed. The hunks of at least one of
them are clean and supplied with pill
lows. In several the price of beds
ranges from dime to 25 cents, the
dearer ones being of fair quality.
Many Of the dodgers in the more re-
spectacle easements are honest labor
ers, but in nearly all of them the tramp
element is largely represented.
Nothing to BE Ashamed of.
San Francisco Chronicle.
cat the first production of my new