Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1890-01-27
IN A DIME LODGING HOUSE
THE REPORTER BECOMES A GUEST
AND MAKES OBSERVATIONS.


cheap hotels OF France and England, but
Chicago can discount both those ancient
counhies in respect to low priced lodgings
The len cent lodging house is continually
satirized in the newspapers and IN the comic
songs Of the day, but very little seems to be
really known about these economical hotels
after all. Accordingly reporter set out one
dark and foggy night to ascertain the facts
for himself He was determined to learn the
truth Of the blood curding tales so often told
Of combats with predaceous fellow dodgers
and murderous insects; OF dodgers packed
sixty-four to the room and arranged in tiers
like sardines, and all the other horrors Of the
dime sleeping place.
Down on Canal street, close to the Union
depot, is dingy building. Above the en-
trance 10 a dark stairway hangsan illumi-
mated sign which announces that beds can be
had for ten and fifteen cents night Upthe
dark stairway the explorer stumbled. A fair
sized room, furnished with three chairs,
long bench and a red, little stove, opened of
from the hall. Several brawny fellows i'll
blue gingham shirts and rusty trousers we're
gathered around the fire. From the center
81 the group advanced a grizEled veteran who
seemed living image Of tho ''ancient mari
ner.u He surveyed the reporter, who had at
Thereforesthe scrutiny proved satisfactory TO
the old Roman.
FRIENDLY WELCOME.
"Want bedf he asked.
The reporter did
"Hai your soup yetP
The reporter hadn't
The ancient mariner led the way to ban
ouet hall wherein was long table and
cook stove. A huge ture,n was on the stove.
The visitor was given quart of the contents
Of the tureen and three slices Of bread. The
table equipments were not precisely such as
the Palmer house offers its guests. The soup
bowls were heavy and yellow; the spoons
were iron clad ladies'. The soup itself was
| not bad Its composition was dark mys-
! terry, and is yet. The soup was Of a consistency
about that of river water But it had no
| trace Of dirt and did not taste unlike ordinary
restaurant bouillon.
In a large. uncarpeted room up stairs we're
! half dozen shake down. beds The room
was well ventilated, and the beds were quite
comfortable ia appearance. Another room
across the hall was similarly fitted up These
were the quarters Of the ten cent dodgers.
The landlord informed his latest boarder
that for fifteen cents be could have an entire
room to himself Accordingly the reporter
selected room so located that its occupant
could hear everything occurring in the
house, aud could, by peering through hole
In the door, see the greater part Of the ada
cent rooms
The room selected, like all the rest, was
! uncarpeted; Dimensions, 9 feet by 5. The
bed was the same IN appearance as those as
signed TO the ten cent dodgers, the extra five
cents merely adording greater privacy 70
the afliuent hoarder
The bedding was ample in quantity-a
husk mattress, two Sheets two blankets and
huge red quilt The sheets were dingy and
ripped in places. A curtain hung at this
window, from which good view could b
obtained Of the Madison street bridge. The
host handed his guest key and asked a
what time he desired to be called with th'
. average courtesy Of downtown hote
clerk
Hardly was the reporter locked into hi
room when number Of dodgers arrived
Seating themselves around the stove in tn
adjoining room they listened with rapt at
tention while one of their number--a brawnl
coal HEAVIER whose brogue had not long beer
absent from the banks Of Killarney--read
romance Of the plains aloud. The reading
lasted about two hours, and the reader wa
diencc Finally the story was ended and tn
dodgers sought their couches. Then came
number Of thumps ON the floor as each MAJ
kicked OF his shoes. Then dead silence.
MIDNIGHT MINSTREL.
Presently some one stumbled up stairs, an
in a loud voice commenced to detail the wo,
Of Mr. McGinty, the perfume Of his breat
! in the meantime penetrating the reporter
1 nostrils A chorus Of 'Shut upln rang OIL
p vigorously Then was heard bang rs SOM
S body hurled a shoe at the singer. Silent
r again.
) Five minutes later the landlord discoverG
+ ten cent hoarder smoking in bed 'Pl
o out de snipeln quoth the ancient mariner.
o A short scufie ensued, which terminate
o in the expulsion Of the devotee OF the weed
9 For the next hour no sound, except an o
Is casional snore and the putting Of a LOGON
z tive across the street. disturbed the repose
the guests, The reporter had begun to doz
a when something rubbed his ear and he awol
@ to q conflict with powerful 'ciInex lect
a larius.n The unwecome visitor was so,
!. dispatched, and, 10 the credit Of the house
o II said, no more Of its kind disturbed 4
1t sleeper's dreams.
70 About $3.50 the dodgers began 10 arise al
ne descend to the sitting room. On benc
Te just where noa@ could pass in or out witho
4, arousing him, lay the landlord You /
II nobody does any proving while ] sic
In here, The remarked, proudly.
r. AS tho dodgers crowded around the red
As little stove they appeared 70 be quite a
lie cent set Ragged and poorly dressed,
ia doubt, but only two who appeared 10
ial tramps among them. They were by ira,
re Transfers, coal beavers, expressmen, railro
In hands, tanners and sailors. Certainly III
were early risers.
be A broad shouldercd, powerful fellow ca
lin out Of a side room and walked down sta
he without q word
81. That's a queer duck, said the host. "H
boarded with me six years He has a lit
oil stove in bis room and cooks his own g
and coffee. He never says single word
in me nor 10 any one else. / don't know
bic name, nor his nationality, nor his erade
cir don't even know if he can speak Engli
rvs When he pays up he Just hands me
re- money and says nothing
wn At $50 new character appeared on
IN scene This was stout old woman--dou
ans less the landlords wife--wh0 announced Z
nd coffee was ready. The dodgers iiocked i
rds the side room, and each received quart
lilt red bot brown liquid, guiltless Of milk
Ana sugar What threats these men must ha
me for they drank .he boiling 81 7 from Il
ara bowls without a moments hesitationi
~, At q O'Clock Tie Morning News man
"A. pared to depart The ancient mariner &C
ala teously bid hun good-by and hoped to
go him again.
M There we're about thirty-fye dodgers in
e. house aud the host stated that he often