Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-04
9ai1n eagle
THE TOP FLOOR LODGER.
MUSINGS OF THE TENANT OF THE
SMALL ROOM.

How the People of Small Means aud In
dependent Minds are Lodged in a
Great City Demand for Furnished
Rooms.
! Gentlemen on the top floor, look out
for paint
This was the notice pinned, in big let
tiers, on the wall of the front hall that at
Iracted young disciple Of Schopenhauer
as he entered house given over to the oc-
cupation Of small rooms by young men,
and then assembled to a coffin shaped,
dingy receptacle, containing an iron bed
stead and haggard washstand, called his
room. He sat down on the iron bound
trunk and meditated upon the notice he
had read
He knew well that it meant a smell of
raw paint and an upturned house for
couple of weeks. He knew the sign
would next warn occupants of his own
floor TO look out for the oily and adhesive
mixture, and that so it would work
down stairs. He knew that it meant
preparation for the winter reception of
similarly situated young men, but who
had been more lucky in getting away for
the summer. He could prophesy to a day
when the buxom landlady would inform
him that the time of summer prices was
over, ard that in order TO hold possession
to the 10 by 3 box which he designated
his home he must submit to an increase
OF rent. With tGe thought of winter
clothing, the Overcoat and the extra
gloves and shoes, the young man pom
Cered until the pangs OF hunger drove him
OF TO the cheap restaurant around the
corner, where - continued wrestling with
dried up stea. M elastic bread at least
revived the eli lation.
UNHAPPY AND sPIRITLEsS
The young man formerly lived in the
country, where high mountains had tow
cred over d bright and cheerful home. lie
had been supplied there with all the neces-
saries of everyday life in abundance. and
the society Of straightforward, honest and
pretty girls had kept far away every idea
Of pessinnstic nature. But in the
changes of time he found himself alone
in the great city, without friend or even
enemy, and the great loneliness from being
among SO many strangers who cared not
Il straw whence ne came or where he went
lad come over him as great cloud of
Snow in winter gale, shutting out from
view all the beautiful and throwing
around him a mantle of selfish drearincss.
His thoughts turned naturally to the IN
happy and spirtless, and his mind had be-
come muttering mass Of cynical tendon
cies and unwholesOme groWlings. Ever
ambition and the first animation Of
thought of future success had been blotted
out. The silent life in the dreary lodging
house had much to do with this and the
young man knew it.
But the young man had the consolation
Of knowing that there were thousands of
Others in the same boat. These are the
young men who receive small salaries and
are either working their way up in the
world or else down. Many are unable to
live in better rooms. while others with
desire TO save money, choose to live in re-
stricted quarters There are thousands
of such in this town. The room viii cost
$3.50 or So. For twenty cents the young
man gets his eggs and coffee for break
fast, a sandwich at lunch time is ten cents
more. For dinner his roast or sirloin steak
and coffee comes to thirty cents. He
walks 10 and from his work, so that
his expense is little over 81 per week.
He may get board fer a little less, but it
is doubtful il he can average much lower
than the above.
BRIGHT SIDE.
But there is bright side to life in
lodging house. and its popularity is on the
increase in this great city. OF course by
lodging house is not meant those east side
rookerles in which beds are piled in layers
as berths in Il steamer. in which crowd
of half dressed, half washed tramps are
huddled together, but that class Of houses
found all over the city upon whose door
posts in modest print or writing is an
nounced the fact that furnished rooms are
10 be rented at low prices. Certain parts
OF the city are becoming more generally
used for this business. The section of
town below Twenty street re-
naming free from the encroachment
of business firms is almost wholly
given over TO boarding and lodging house
landladics, and the lodging houses are
increasing There are houses for young
women only, and there are big, tall apart
ment houses in which only men can Sc
curu rooms, in different ranges of fur
nishment, and, consequently, different
ranges in price. The places set aside for
young women are n benefit that few who
have not tried them know Of The young
typewriter or dry goods store employe Is
free from all annOyances There * no
scanty Drained youth 10 be always forcing
his unWelcome attentions, and she is free
from the stares and sleeps eyes that
often meet her glances around the big
boarding house tables.
''Nes, the demand his fall for furnished
rooms is fully ND to that OF last, said an
agent who keeps a list Of boarding and
lodging houses, and vOuches for them to
the anxious inquirer for a winters home.
''There is certain class who are always
on the lookout for comfortable rooms
those who have become tired Of boarding
house fare and think the restaurants viii
supply their wants in better style. Clerks
and statesmen who do not care where they
eat, as long as the bed is not far from the
store, look with favor upon the free and
easy life in hired rooms. Those whose
employment is irregular in its hours
must adopt this kind OF life. New York
Times.
T.ow Horses Rest.
"Horscs can get some rest Standing"
said an old trainer. provided the position
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