Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-01-02

| SOUP AND A BED.
New Year Night I'm the Night Ledsins
| House.
WHERE MEN WITHOUT MoNEY GET A sUrrER,
| LODGING AND RREAKFAsT-THE SCENE At
THE HOUSE NEW YEAR NfGHT-How THE
LoDGERs ARE CARED FOB, &C.
| "Give him No. 10," said the SUPERINTENDENT
Of the Night Lodging house. The man that
was to be given No 10 was a man Of middle
age, rather intelligent looking, and meanly
| dressed. He looked very tired, and dragged
his feet slowly, as If hs had walked and walked
and kept on walking when he should have
rested. He said he was painter and was looking
| for work. When the superintendent had made
record Of the mans name, age, nativity,
social condition, trade, the place he came from
took him In charge and led him to the rear of
the building. It was New Year night in the
Night Lodging house. While the streets were
filled with merry-makers and glimpses
caught through nearly '1 every window, here
| were assembled penniess and footsore wander
H the sitting
Of warmth, there were no signs Of discomfort.
chairs and benches-and the floor was uncar-
peted, but 1t was snug and warm. One young
man, with o pale face. but keen, bright eyes,
| shabby and much too large for him, aud his
shoes were burst by long journeys afoot.
part to keep tidy. Two other men were loung-
| ing there and talking. They had made nc.
4naintances easily, as men in misfortune do.
as q clerk. He was willing, he said, to carry q
bod or do anything If he could only get work.
Another young man present was a visitor. A
a -nc q Ind hor hrff
he had got work here In lawyers Office, and q
pleasant home.
The STAR reporter. "He can come here for
three nights and he has q chance meanwhile to
hunt for something to do.''
THE NIGHT LODGING HOUSE
Is located on 10Th street, next to the fifth pre-.
cinct police station, In threestory house. The
office, or superintendents room, is in front. In
the rear, on the first floor, Is the sitting room
and back Of that q room used as kitchen and
dining room: In the kitchen il plain table, q
kitchen stove, on which Is kept hot ct night
Kettle OF soup. Number 10, when he was con.
Quoted to the rear from the office, was taken to
THIS kitchen and shown to seat at the table,
where he was soon engaged eating his supper
OF soup and bread, with ali the zest that hunger
ing delicacy to excite his appetite When he had
nnlsned ne was given ticket for bath,
and then joined the group in the sitting room,
TO await his turn to be called upstairs to the
bathroom. The rules Of the institution require
every ledger tn take a. bath before retiring
The number assigned him in the office gives
him a certain hook in the room, where the
dodgers hang their clothing. In another room
on rows of hooks, similarly numbered hang q
his bath, gets his night robe and does not
touch the clothing he took off again until morn
ing. By such regulations it is made possible to
keep the lodging house clean. In the sleeping
rooms numbers corresponding to those over
the hooks mentioned are posted over the beds
or cots. There are several rooms filled with cots
comfortable mattresses
pillows, and good heavy blankets. Accommo-
dations are provided for about forty men. The
by that time most Of the dodgers are asleep.
These tired men need no opiates An attendant
remains until the house is closed, about the
bath room and the room where the men hang
their clothing. Then the latter room is locked
and no one has access to it until the guests turn
out in the morning, when attendant is again
present. This precaution is taken to prevent
any depreciation upon the wardrobe of q man
who happens to have clothing good enough to
be coveted by his neighbor.
THE CLOAK ROOM.
As rule, however, the heaps Of worn and
shabby clothing would not offer much tempta-
ton. The rows of shoes, battered, broken run
down at the heel, and hearing the marks of
travel, tell pathetic story. or, rather a series
and the clothing on the hook above them to-
gether, one might easily imagine something of
the appearance OF their owner; as a garment, it
Is said, after it has been worn, becomes some
thing like its owner. Pantaoons or coats on
the counter of ready-made clothing store are
as uninteresting as blank paper, but after the
same garments have had a long career, full of
vicissitudes, and at last come TO hang on nail
In night lodging house, each one is an inter-
their character. The way they have been worn,
the creases. the stains, the patches, the pushing
taking more room than thew are entitled to- oa ths
shrinking, tmid, apologize manner Of others,
taking very little room-all seem to offer some
Now and then one will see the cap, blouse,
and trousers of an old soldier who had come to
Washington to see about pension claim.
elbow until It is shiny indicates that its owner
has been employed as clerk or penman.
other garments OF rough material, earth stained
tell very plainly that their owner Is a laborer
accustomed to dig in the soil. Shabby gentility
and unpretending poverty elbow each other in
this clothing room. At six O'clock in the MORN
ing the dodgers are called When they have
dressed and made their toilets they assemble in
the kitchen, where each is served with n tin
cupiul OF steaming coffee and q piece of bread
of good dimensions. Then they wander out
again into the world.
THE APPLICANTS.
The rules will permit lodger to sleep at the
house three nights. After that he must shift
for himself The applicants come generally
with tickets of admission issued at the police
stations. On these tickets are recorded the ap-
plicant's name, color, age. height and weight.
house with a ticket, If ne looks suspicious or
trampish or does not appear, upon examine
tlon, 10 De deserving person, the superin.
tendent, MIR. Elliott, does not admit him. Mr..
Elliott stated to THE STAR reporter that he was
satisfied that last year a large proportion OF the
applicants and many of those admitted were
not OF q deserving class This year he Thought
the care exercised resulted in excluding most
of those who had little claim upon an
institution which is intended to help
those who are worthy of such help.
The dodgers are supposed to be non-residents-
persons who have come to the city in search of
work or on other business, and have no friends
here. Occasionally, however, some one VINO
has lived i'll the city, but is in Distress is admit
ted. Any night one will md in the lodging.
and occasionally some who are quite we'll
dressed and have the appearance of prosperity
II man has money with which to pay Tor his
lodgings, he is not admitted, unless the circum.
stances seem to justify admission in his special
case. If a man comes in with u dollar or so in
Norfolk and needs the money to pay for his
transportation, he would probably be admitted.
ON A COLD NIGHT
the superintendent expects full house When
the weather is warm enough many men will
spend the night ON the street. It is an odd
thing that on Saturday night there is generally
smaller attendance at the lodging house than
on other nights. This Is accounted for on the
ground that mechanics and other workingmen
are generally paid on Saturday. and have
are willing and able then to respond to REQUESTS
for aid from less fortunate fellow-crattsmen
Occasionally women apply for and are granted
lodgings, but as there Is no matron at the house
and no means OF enforcing the bathing regula-
tons, such applicants are not at present desir-
two COTS is reserved tor women Some time
ago mother and daughter both Of resDactahio