The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-03-24
NIGHT HOSPITALITY.
4 MANSION WHERE UNFORTUNATFa
IN PARIS FIND SHELTER.
A Night for the Pennii~ss EsboT,.r Or the
mcDdicant Sadly Char,c: arisiic
Types of Humanity letters,
Prayers, ''Ssoni Nj .ht"


liafiS cor New Nofn sun
M. de LANAI, founie.. the first Of the
three houses Of the hospitality u Ns4t
now existing in Paris La selected the >ite
If the Boulevard VauEirarI, because from
that central spot diver e long thorough
fares winch lead on all sides far into the
heart of France lie purchased tne build
ing number al ~ and opened it rs an hos,
telry for tn destitute, whsr. TIA. pennsss
lahorer az the mendicant couil rot his
head and gather strens th for the Il xt morn
ing's wanierings.
Toward the close of each dav through
these endless approaches gather the gu SIS,
creeping in from the suburb, from
Ia" outlying Villages, from the RE
mote,t fringe of Paris. A blue lantern
swung over the door is the star that
gnides then. They group themselye, under
the lantern or occlIpy the beaches Of the
boulevard till the hour of admission trkes.
In the big iron gate is ;.nother smaller
door, through which can I've caught
glimpse of side wall painted green, with
the trained branches of peach tree trail
ing over it At O'Clock preci- ely the lit
tie door is thrown open One by one the
| waits silently enter, and turn, at the invi-
| tatlon of a guardian. into an ante room on
the right, where their feet are wa het
Many OF the wanderers are foot sore, and
a low sigh Of rel eff escapes them at the
grateful contact of the tapid water,
REGULATION QUESTIONS
At the conclusion of this ceremony the
men are marched to long. low, dismal
| building, against which stands a sort af
! sentry box, small Office. provided WITH
two pigeon holes and deSks At tho first an
, ''tiicial puts To each conner the uniform
| question: slave you bsen here heipre!"
| When answered in the negative. he passes
iIn ON 90 the next desk, where he gives his
name, urname, assumed or real and the
place "f his lat domicile No information
| Is asked as to his religion or nationality.
| The dreary procession passes on lit Inli4r
| hle through heavy atmosphere Of gloom
accentai 10y dead silence.
| The types of humanity marching past arr
sadly characteristic. On the anne day you
ran sec, now man barely answering the
regulation questions hoarsely askins for
| MUNICH of bread iii which his
teeth fastnn ravenOusly; no has int
! been acquitted of a charge Of vaarancy,
| ond has been directed to No * v the pc
| lice Now lad of H. of prepDssessin.
| manners a cnnfectioner from Niae Then
! o swarthy and powerful man, with iron
| gray mou,tache a captain in "A sailing ve*
| sci Behind him is a little warpa1 fsure
/ crafty and wrnkled, who might be any a..
! Up h. 50 but who calls himself 10. ant lie
! clnres his probe sion rs ~picker up of cigar
rnis,f which he calls gathering orphans"
| Careless and cynical, he passes with has bat
! terei straw hat cooked over his left eve
| In striking contrast with the Paris "gamjn"
Is a gentleman huttaned up in a w0rh frock
cont with a portfolio under his arm Hi.
PruS ian, and the editor of a German
| newspaper.
Then the review ends, the light fades AMI
| the visitors entor the long hall furnishsI
with narrow FORMS like tine classroom Of
n school, and permentei with the fumes Of
Il strong dIsinfectant. Suddenly n voice IS
| card III the gathering darkness; "Mes,ieur>.
| there Is no one to register now The worl
/ gentlemen" addressed t. such a misera bic
| crowd sounds oddly enough. but it is su-
| reat'd 10y the almost divine tact of charity
/ anxious to clothe with sef-respect the tn.
initiation Of aims accepted.