The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-03-04
Especial Washington letter.

Especial Washington letter.
There is rest for the weary and home
FOR the homeless in this, as in all cities
of the republic. The beggarly tramp
upon the street who solicits dime or
quarter to pay for nights lodging is
not only q mendicant but a fraud, In
almost every case the money SO solicited
is intended to be used for strong drink.
The station-house lodging rooms are
intended for the worthy poor and needy,
but they are patronized mainly by peri
patetic loafers, commonly called tramps.
In the summer time these creatures Of
fortune and misfortune sleep in the
parks or upon suburban hillsides, but
when the cold nights come they visit
the station houses by dozens to enjoy
their Inequalities. There is always a
red-hot stove and light provided,
while around the room are benches
where the loafers can sit and read, il
they so desire. Very few of them, how
ever, are given to reading, but spend
most of their time narrating instances
in their peculiar careers. A tramp who
reads newspaper or requests the sta
ton keeper to loan him book is as
much of rarity as Christian charity
under the sun. Occasionally. however,
a tramp appears who has seen better
days and whose lamp of life, now fast
burning the last drop of oil, once
blessed and enlightened neighborhood
or mayhap state with the brilliance OF
educated intelligence.
In the Second precinct stationhouse
one evening recently there staggered
little, withered, 'dried-up old man whose
hair and beard were fast becoming
whittier than the show in the street. The
station keeper caught him in his arms
as he was falling; falling toward table
upon the sharp edge of which he would
undoubtedly have struck his head. To
the official who received this unexpected
visitor, he was only one more unfortu-
nate to be cared for during the night.
To your correspondent, he was much
more. I knew him nearly thirty years
ago, when, as colonel of a gallant regi-
ment al the battle of Shiloh, he received
three dangerous wounds, either one of
them apparently sufficient to have car
ried him away from earth. knew him
later as the most brilliant orator of his
party upon the hustings in presidential
campaigns. AS years passed by knew
him as the attorney general of the state
which he had served as a soldier. |
knew him as member of the supreme
court of that same state. Later on, for a
period of years, ne occupied an impor-
tant position in the department of state
at the national capital Here, in this
city of sin and sorrow. as well as garish
glitter and glare of political, diplomatic,
military and naval success, he fell by
the wayside. That insidious tempter,
that demon, which steals away the
brains of men and wrings their
hearts, dragged him down from
his high estate. Worse still, his
sons forgot their fathers former
rank and all that he had done for them,
considering only the fact that now he
was disgracing them. They forsook
him. SO that when he staggered into
the station house to be cared for he
came there unheralded, unknown, I'M
cared for, and absolutely friendless.
Such a man has no need of books nor
papers, for all his reading had been
done in the past. He has now no am
bition other than to seek for himself
dishonorable grave. His name is no
longer mentioned in his own state save
with pity upon some lips and scorn upon
others.
/ followed the station keeper to the
bedroom where dozen hunks are pro-
vided tor these night-lodgers. Each
bed was made of the softest white pine
and built against the wall. 1t was
merely platform, with the head sew
eral inches higher than the foot, to take
the place of bolster and pillows. There
was no light provided for this room.
and every lodger was expected to re-
tire upon entering it. The door is
locked after each ledger is given ad-
mittance, and the room is fastened I'M
til the morning, when the keeper I'M
locks the door and permits dozen or
more able-bodied men to go forth and
prey upon the community by begging
their breakfasts. The room is well
warmed and properly ventilated, SO that
these people can sleep comfortably
without bed-clothing of any kind. Occa-
sionally some of the most fastidious
of these dodgers enter complaint be-
cause there are neither pillows, blank
cts nor sheets furnished, while
others are indignant to think that they
are not fed before retiring. But the
station keeper says that those who
make complaint are very few indeed,
whereas a majority Of these unlimited
guests are perfectly delighted to have
plaa, to sleep, roof to cover them,
and walls to shelter thera from the
piercing, cold, biting, cruel winds of
winter. No one ledger is cared for
more than three nights in succession.
If one appears again after the three
days limit is past and seeks another
lodging, he is given bed befjnd
grated door on which there is Is lock
and upon an iron bedstead he sleeps for
the last time in the station house. On
the morrow he appears before the po-
lice court justice to answer q charge of
vagrancy entered upon the books
against him; charge to which he can
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