Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-21

A STATION HOUSE LODGING.
The bed provided is made of the softest pine
wood ObtIinable and is built against the wall
1t is merely an inclined platform with the head
! end several inches higher than the foot. Tins
incline takes the place of bolster and pillow.
No light Is provided and all dodgers are ex-
pected to retire upon entering the room. In
the morning the door Is unfasteled aud the
dozen or more able-bodied men are turned
loose on the community TO beg something to
eat.
As a rule the callers are satisfied with the bed
given them. but once in a while complaint Is
made because no pillow and blanket are fur
nlshed. Then again some of them complain
because they are not given something 10 eat
before retiring. Three nights is the Limit gen.
orally allowed one ledger. If one appears for
the fourth night he is given an iron bed be-
hind lock and key and charge Of ''yagrancy"
Ii preferred against him. There are nine
station houses and 4 tramp by spending three
nights at each one can manage to remain
nearly month before being turned down.
HOW TRAMP SLEEPS.
One thing visitor to a station-house lodging
room is likely to notice is the manner In which
the average tramp sleeps He does not rest
upon his side. for his face would get swollen
by coming in contact with the bed. He avoids
all that and manages to make for himself a
pillow besides. 1his he accomplishes b. living
on his back and joining his hands beneath his
head Sometimes he makes pillow Of his
coat. Sometimes when an applicant is suS-
pected OF having vermIn on him he is refdsed
admittanee to the room and is given bed on
the iron bench i'll prison cell.
MEN WHO ARE AFRAID TO GO HOME.
There Is another class OF persons who apply
at the stations for admittance to these rooms
but are often refused. These are men who go
on sprees once i'll a while and when under the
influence OF hquor are afraid to go home. They
are not only refused but they are often locAed
up IN cell and there kept until sober.
1t Is common occurrence for colored
people-men and women-to stop IN a station
and asked for nights lodging because they
happen to be out late and live IN another Sec
ton of the CITY. Some are frank enough to
say that they are afraid of might DOCTORS "
Every applicant Is asked:
What Is your name?'
"How old are youl'
"Where were you born?"
Have you any valuables or weapons about
you?'
If the applicant has any yaluables or a pen-
knife they are kept for him until morning
The tramp seems always satisfied with what
he gets and when he leaves the station house In
the morning he does so with grateful heart.
LODGINGS AT CHEAP RATES.
There are in several localities in the CITY
cheap lodging houses where a bunk or a bed
can be obtained ranging from 10 to % cents
The largest OF these is on side street in tn 2
central part Of the city, not fer from Pennsyl-
vania avenue. The building looks like an old
store house or factory. A transparency over
the front door bears the sign: lodging 10, Is
and % cents"
who are your lodgers?' asked a STAR re-
porter OF the proprietor the other night.
We'll, replied the proprietor, that's rather
difficult question 1 run the house in the in
terest OF poor people who can't afford to 90 TO
the big hotels. Some Of them are mechanics
some respectable people who stop in the city
over night, and now and them OF course, a
tramp might happen TO come IN
DO you ever turn away any spplicants?" the
reporter asked
Not Often" was the reply. ~ keep a reg
lister and every man who sleeps here has to put
his name upon it. / do that for my own pro-
lection, and also for the good Of the public.
There are great many men in this country
going from place to place looking for work and
who have too much pride 10 sleep in station
houses and cannot pay large prices"
The rules OF the house are strict and are
strictly enforced, SO that no disorder ever oc-
ours there.