Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-12-06
TALES OF TRAMPS.
How They Can Work the Station
House for Lodgings.
RESORTS FOR UNFORTUNATES.
Where They May he Lodged and Fed IL They
Can Stand Inspection as to Cleanliness
Beds for Ten observation-disclosures a. to
Headquarters.
THERE IS A SMALL ROOM on the secon

THERE IS A SMALL ROOM on the second
l. floor Of police headquarters where many
distinguished statesmen and citizens used tt
meet for an evenings enjoyment That was
years ago. The building was then the private
residence of the late Walter F. HELEN and
among his distinguished guests were such mer
as Clay. Calhoun and Webster. The late Gen
Schenck was also one of the number who spent
many evenings in this room, and only a few
months before his death, as Sanitary Officer
Frank told STAR reporter he called at head.
quarters one day and, while doing business
with Sanitary Officer Frank, he recalled the
days when he used to meet his friends in this
little room and eat terrapin and other dclica-
cies, such as none but the wealthy could enjoy.
| VISITORS THEN AND now.
The room is now occupied by the sanitary
| officer, who often thinks of the contrast be-
tween those who used to assemble there and
those who now meet there u matter of bust
ness. The former were men held in the highest
| esteem by the citizens Of the entire country,
| while the latter, or the majority Of them are
outcasts from society and persons who do not
command the respect of anybody. Another
| class are the sick and distressed ones looking
for temporary place of shelter, where they
| can get treatment calculated to again put them
| upon their feet i'll condition that they will bc
able to earn their own living Disappointed
office seekers and others who have been unfor-
innate enough to be thrown upon their uppers
are among those CALL and they are generally
| looking for the same assistance that the trnmps
are-that Is, transportation to another city.
THE uNFoIrUSArEs AND TRAINS.
The former always want to so to some par
ticular place in some of the states, while the
tramps, as rule, are not at all particular
which way they are sent. What they want as
rule, liz to get out of town and they don't
care very Much which way they 60 or to where
they are sent. Baltimore suits them well as
Richmond, aid if they are sent to Philadelphia
or kalamazoo they are just as well pleased.
The season. of course, affects their preferences
for II 1t Is about the beginning Of winter. us at
present, they prefer to be sent in the direction
OF a warmer climate. But their answer il in
variably, II don't care" or, "Just as you send
me away Bat the sanitary officer does not
think that the appropriation was ever intended
10 send tramps about the country on n pleasant
journey and he therefore gives them an an
s~er which. to Them means, turned down."
WALKING IS ALWAYS GOOD.
That, however, docs not keep them in the
city if they have had taste of police justice
for to them the roads are never bad and walk
ing is always good.
An old-timer who was "turned down" the
other day went out saying that he WIS not
bothered much on that account as the only
dlference 1t made was that instead OF riding
on cushioned seat he would have to ride in a
box car. He had done it many times before,
and the trouble of having to find place to
wash his face instead of using refreshing ice
water III a passenger coach did not amount to
much to him.
Now that the cold weather has appeared the
tramps are coming in larger numbers and the
OF them. Under the rules of the lieu
tenants OF the precincts these persons
are not permitted to occupy the
warm rooms until after shutdown. Five
o clock Is the hour that the rooms are generally
thrown open to these birds of passage who
know not neither do they care. where their
next meal is coming from. When the weather
Is cold, and especially when there il snow on
the ground, 1t Is not an unusual thing to see
three Or four persons of the tramp kind lOiter-
Ing about the corners awaiting to hear some
church bell toll the hour when they can reg
lister their names on the station blotter and
pass on up the steps to q small room where
there are no feather beds, but where the soft
pine boards prove great improvement on the
wet mud banks along the line Of railroad tracks
or the bed made OF fallen leaves in a pine
forest.
CAN WORK THE STATIONS MONTH.
Each tramp has an opportunity to spend at
least one month at the various police stations
if he does not 90 to the same precinct too often
in a short time. Three nights in succession are
generally permitted at n station. but sometimes
the ledger is warned after his first visit not to
return. There are nine precincts, and by
spending the limit at each one lie finishes
twenty-seven nights. BY that time it is Dos
sible that he will not be recognized if he
returns to his first lodging place. No meals are
furnished at these places, but then members of
this order OF society are not thought any good if
they cannot get plenty to eat, and that without
money and without price. When tramp
appears too often he is 'yagged," as the police
term it, or in other words he ia taken to the
Police Court and charged with vagrancy. If
he is not sent to the work house it is because
he promises to leave the city.
OTHER LODGING HOUSES
There are other places in the city where poor
persons, tramps and others can spend a night
but they have to pass inspection before they
are permitted to sleep on one of the beds.
The nightlodginS house. which is next door to
the first precinct station. accommodates many
unfOrtunates who arc unable to pay for their
lodgings, II they pass tho inspection as to
cleanliness. Even after that they are required
to take n bath and hang up their clothing in
the clothes room. Those who are accOmmo-
dated in this institution are more fortunate
than those who sleep in the police station
They are given supper before retiring and
their breakfast before being turned loose the
next morning.
BEDS FOR TEN CENTS.
Besides these places there are cheap lodging
houses where beds are furnished for 10 cents
These institutions shelter many persons who
are unable to pay any more money. and in
some of them the "bums'' ind good homes
Their lodging at that price costs them less than
50 & month. and they can easily beg earn or
steal enough to pay for food enough to keep
them alive: As they don't need many clothes
they find it an easy matter to. beg q pair Of
trousers or a shirt or other garment now and
then. and in that way they live easier and bet
ter than most Of their brethren known az
''tramps." There being so many lodging
houses either free or cheap the cramps" and
"bums' find Washington excellent winter quar-
tiers, so that when spring opens they are again
IN good condition to brave all sorts of weather
and sleep in the woods or barns and stables, as
the weather requires.
DRUGGED BAKING POWDERS.