Feliciana sentinel. [volume] (St. Francisville, La.) 1877-1892, 1892-03-12
REST FOR THE WEARY.
How the Homeless Are Cared for
In the National Capital
Downward Career OF q Man Whoss Name
Was Once . Household Word In
Great Western StAte-Tramps
Sleeping ON boards.
Especial Washington Lctter.l

There is rest for the weary and home !
for the homeless in this, as in all cities |
Of the republic. The bcggarly tramp |
upon the street who solicits dime or a
quarter to pay for a nights lodging is
not only a mendicant but a fraud. In
almost every case the money SO solicited
II 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 loafcrs, commonly called tramps.
In the summer time these creatures Of
fortune aud misfortune sleep in the
parks or upon suburban hillsidcs, but
when the cold nights come they visit
the station houses by dozens to enjoy
their inequalities. There is always n
red-hot stove and a light provided.
while around the room are benches
where the lonfers can sit and read, if
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. 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 Il neighborhood
or mayhap n state with the brilliance OF
educated Intelligence.
In the Second precinct stationhouse
one evening recently there staggered
little, withcred, dricd-up cid man whose
hair and beard were fast becoming
whittier than the snow 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. l knew him nearly thirty years
ago, when, as colonel of a gallant regi-
ment at 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 hastings in presidential
campaigns. AS years passed by knew
him as the attorney general OF the state
| which he had served as n soldier. |
knew him as a mem Der Of the supreme
court Of that same state. Later on, for a
period of years. he 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 temptcr,
| that demon, which steals away the
| brains of men aud wrings thcir
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. nn'
cared for, and absolutely fricndless.
Such n 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 a
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 a dozen hunks are pro-
vided for these night-todgcrs. Each
bed was made of the softest white pine
and built against the wall. 1t was
nerely platform, with the head sew
sral inches higher than the foot, to take
the place of bolster and pillows There