The Indianapolis journal., 1885-12-06
WASHINGTON LOAFERS.
Deadbeats and Frauds Who Frequent the
LObbies of the Hotels.

Deadbeats and Frauds Who Frequent the
LObbies of the Hotels
Special to the Indiana polls Journal.
WASHINGTON, Dec 5.-The lobby of Wilard's
Hotel, in Washington, is the headquarters of all
sorts of political bodies. Almost any evening
when one steps inside the Pennsylvania-avenue
door he will encounter half a dozen United States
senators, twice as many members of Congress,
and from score to hundred Office seekers of
various grades, besides very fair sprinkling of
those who have been successful in their quest for
office. But the thing that strikes the attention
of him who visits the place often is the number
of cranks deadbeats and bummers who sit
about there For years this old hosiery
has been the rendezvous of fifteen or twenty
ragged individuals whose shirt collars and frayed
cuffs exhibit an absolute ignorance of the laun-
dry These are the celebrated Judges, ma
jors" and ''colonels," who are always on hand for
a drink, and have never the wherew;thal to buy
it, and who have been pictured, time and again,
by the newspaper and periodical press. The
Wizards Hotel ''major." with his friends the
''judge" and the colonel" seem to be institu-
tions of the place, and all attempts to dislodge
them have proved unavailing. The various pro-
prietors of this hotel have attempted, year after
year, to rid the lobby of persons of this stamp.
legitimate visitors. They injure the business of
the place, borrow money of the guests, lie, and
do all but steal openly but still they hold the
fort, or at least the benches. Sitting among a
group of these celebrated individuals, the other
day, | noticed one Of them, apparently gentle
man. more than six feet tall, with face of the
Websterian order with massive brow and an
exceedingly intelligent look.
''That man. said friend, sis another example
of the way Office holding will knock the energy
out of an individual if he sticks to it long enough
few years ago he was respected citizen in a
little town in the West, where he was rapidly
climbing up fame's ladder as a brilliant young
writer for the magazines. Some of his literary
productions have appeared in Scribner's, some
in Harper's, some i'll the Atlantic, and an oc
casonal article from his pen has graced the pages
of the North American Review; and in fact there
was no reason why he should not have had
very brilliant career. Some enemy, and it must
have been an enemy, for no friend woud have
been such fool as to get him place in the gov
ernment service, secured his appointment Here
he became demoralized and degraded into a mere
machine. A short time ago he was turned out.
and now ne has joined the distinguished COM
pany of bummers who make this hotel their head
quarters. Ten years ago his promise to pay
would have been good for any amount that he
might have asked his friends to loan him. To-
day, the investment of ten cents with him is Of
permanent nature. Why, only a night or two
ago he came to me on the street and begged me
to lend him a dollar. Fortunately for me, and
unfortunately for him. / had not dollar, having
just completed some purchases. 1 said l had
not the sum, and could not accommodate him.
"'Wlll you lend me half dollarP
"'No,' / said. 4 have less than quarter, but
l will divide with you and give you ten cents,
and allow me enough to pay my fare home ,
l was surprised that he eagerly took the ten
cents and bought, / suppose, drink with it."