National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-11-09
TIE woRKnousE AGAIN.
An Ex-Inmate's story OF How Things
Arc ManaQcd.


Eyes, I've been in the workhouse, I was
there for thirty days, and don't think society
is any better for 1t. am poor, but have not
always been, and just q month ago today 1
went down for resentng the insult OF one OF
your blue .coatedguardians of the peace" The
speaker stopped for breath here, aud the re.
porter who had known him in better days,
took him. In" as IL were. Ills clothes, while
old, were neat, and his face, In spite of the
stubby beard and lines of care on his forehead,
was refined and gentle. lie had stopped the
instIt.tion where S he had BEEN confined, and
his former reputation Is n guarantee OF Its real
ity; :. .
tinued, ARE Irish, Germans, Swedes, n few
Italians and Americans. A large number of
the male inmates are cripples, and the females
are, as rule, confirmed opium caters too lazy
to be seen there the year around, and when
the average run of tho inmates are liberated
their return may be expected within a few
days. They seldom remain away long Me-.
stoutenburgh is supposed to be the head ofthe
institution, but tho mntrOn, Mrs. Sarah Stout
enburRh, his wife, and her assistant, Frank
McEnteo, with his fnther, run the place. The
matron does nothing but ride uptown and at
tend the theater regularly. While Mr.. Stout
enburgh was away last week his wife aud Mr..
McEntee visited the fair of tho Rifles, leaving
only a. few minor officials to run the place.
The father Of Mr.. McEntee gets drunk very
Omen, and when under the influence of liquor
turns the inmates out OF their beds and com.
pels them TO lie two or three days In dis
agreeable room, and nothing is said about II.
If an inmate has the smell of liquor on his
breath no punishment Is too severe Tor him.
The workhouse buildings are filthy and not
1T to occupy, and the beds are filled with ver-
min. When visitors come thoy are shown the
most respectable looking part OF the institution.
The food is scant and OF poor quality, and the
corned beef and fresh meat Is hardly fit for
dogs, indeed have seen them refuse It,. The
coffee is nothing but good water spoiled, and
the tea IL so weak that when served n notice
announcing II to be that article accompanies II.
Otherwise The inmates could not tell what they
are getting.
attached to the workhouse building Is the
kitchen where the officers of tho institution
take their meals, and their fare Is almost rs
bad as that given to the prisoners. If the OIL.
GERS complain they are told TO go without Il
they don't like IT,, McEntec lives very well
and, of course. the superintendent aud his
family do. The brother Of u member of Con-
gress from Maryland was sent to the work.
house. As soon as Stoutenburgh discovered II
he would not let the prison clothes be put on
him, but allowed him TO stay In tho officers
quarters and sent food from his own table
Stoutcnburgh went to Commissioner Webt
and had him released after he had been there
a few days"
Since the last article in the REPUBLICAN or
the woikhouse, the inmates have been fur
nished with spoons, and more attention ha,
been paid to their sleeping apartments.