Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-01
PREPARING FOR THE rRAMPs.
The Night Lodging House Being Put In
Proper Condition.


APPLICANTS EARN THEIR BOARD AND LoDG-
INg-sOME INTERESTING STORIES OF WHAT
has TAKEN PLACE AT THIS INSTITUTION
Since the death Of Brother whiteford" sew
eral years ago the great army Of tramps that
passes through this city a. least twice a year in
search OF a warmer climate has not Jared so
well a. they did in his comfortable quarters
but Mr.. Warner. superintendent of charities.
i now arranging place for their accomrloda-
non this winter where the birds of massage will
be given an opportunity to exhibit their worth
10 some degree During recent years the police
stations have each been used az a resting place
for 'rsrnos, and although Superintendent War
ner is having place put in order for them the
building Is entirely too small for the purpose
and some of the city's guests will still have 70
hnd lodging places on the pine board beds
PROVIDED at the police stations. In addition 30
these places the Night Lodging House has
Afforded shelter for thousands Of unfortunate
ones. and, besides a bed. furnished them with
hight supper and breakfast.
GOING TO MAKE THEM WORK.
The Night Lodging House Association kindly
gave up their building to the District author
tiles free of rent this year. and 1t is in this build
ing that Superintendent Warner proposes to
NV the experiment of making the guests per-
form labor enough to paw Tor their meals and
iOdglng Inc building IL located on 12th street.
suJolnlnS the rrst precinct police station. 1t
y three-story brick structure and its central
location renders it suitable for its uses.
several years ago when Brother Whiteford"
was aiive he occupied the old church building
ADJOINING the Baltimore and Ohio railroad
srack on LIST street. and ii was known to tramps
throughout the country that all they had 10 do
was 10 stop there and they would be cared for
without fear Of mOlestation. All that re-
CURED OF them was TO remove small fraction
o. sou from their faces and hands. attend a
ofiel religious service and get their meals and
lodgings Charitable people contributed food
ahd ruel, and tho kind-hearted old man who
conducted the place known at all seasons
Of the year by his suit of sackcloth.
A SERIOUS BLOW To THE TRAMPs.
His death was a serious blow to the tramps
and 1t was several wears before all of them
realized that the old mission building was no
longer open 20 them. Then they had to fall
back upon the station houses and make out as
best they could on the pine flooring. As the
Toorls are always kept warm the dodgers are
perfectly satisfied, and sometimes fully two
dozen sleep on the wooden bed intended for
half that number. But they don't seem to
mind 1t, for by sleeping close together they
are kept warm and when turned out in the
morning recollections OF the past are of but
few seconds duration. During this season of
the year the stations do not average more than
a dozen dodgers each night, while later the
70 properly accommodate all applicants.
DIFFERENT CLASSES OF LoDeERs
The dodgers who occupy these rooms are of
different classes, although they are obliged to
sleep together and get out at the same time in
TIE morning. THERE'S the genuine tranu> whose
clothing Is usually knitted together with frag-
ments of garments and cotton or cord as the case
may be He gives no trouble to any one and
unless the weather is severe or he has some
in vie Jgit,
suits him. Then there is another class of
lofgers. whom the police call buns or
'lakes- They are generally strong and hearty
nen. strong enough to perform any sort OF
manual labor. but who are constitutionally op-
posed to work of any kind
Sery few of them warmly clad unless il
J. That they wear extra underclothing. for an
overcoai Is something for which they have no
use- part Of their game is TO plead poverty
and beg niekels and dimes OF persons the
streets hy making pretenses of all sorts. among
them working the broken arm. injured leg or
scaided racket BY the use of drug thew are
able to make their arms appear blistered. and
Nnen WORKING such racket their story in
yarlably Is that they were IN an explosion in a
factory.
COMMON FAKE.
One OF the cOmmonest among the fake in
1uries Is that of carving the arms in splints |
and many man seen limpiug from place to |
place has also been seen TO run off as fast as a |
deer at the approach of an officer Frequently /
among the dodgers there appears sup
posed ou;cast who has funds enough /
TO carry him across the continent. but he is not !
willing TO part with penny of il FOR lodgings |
or vietuals. for the latter he can get from the /
houses Of citizens. mo are ALWAYS ready and /
willing to give away the refuse eatables from /
their tables IL has happened several times |
that dodgers have robbed each other while in 1
the dodgers room and that several of them |
have from time to time gone to Jail for such |
thefts.
BRIDE AND GROOM
II has not been many years since a bride and |
groom appeared at one of the police stations
and applied for lodgings. They had met while |
serving sentences in tine work house and it |
took but little wOOing to accomplish the win |
ming. The man had Fl. 0S in his pocket and he !
squandsred the dollar in the clerks office. A |
marriage license was given III return for the |
money and no trouble was found in securing a |
licensed minister TO tie the knot. Night came |
on. and the couple. having no home. went to the !
police station. expecting to be given n comfort |
able room Their names were recorded and
out the back door they were led to the building
In the rear which was used for dodgers. Up the
long iron steps to the second floor they went
and there was only one door TO be seen, but a
Partition through the room separated the door.
and when this WIS reached and the husband and
wife separated there was an objection raised,
and the combined efforts of several officers pre-
vented trouble.
TEE MONT LODGING HOUSE.
AT the Night Lodging House a different state
OF affairs existed There only male dodgers
were accommodated. and examination a. TO
cleanliness had TO be made before the pplicant
gwen the privilege Of spending the night.
II hi examination proved satisfactory. If signs
% n recent bath were visible the applicant was
put through he bath tub. given his supper and
put TO bed. where he had a comfortable mat
tress and covering. In the morning breakfast
served and the dodgers were turned out to
e. their vay. Three nights could be spent in
this way, and thea the applicant would DO
'.turned down"
The police station being next door to the
lodging house dodgers frequently visited both
places in u single night and sometimes the cir
eunstsnees rendered a second visit TO the sta
ton necessary
Many a cold night has a lodger appeared at
the rail o. the station and been referred next
door. After a few minutes he would return and
renew his request
What's the natter" he would be asked
..WOuldn't take me-"
.Why2"
"Crummy, / reckon"
Then. again, many tramp has smiled when
the station clerk referred him to the lodging
house. and said .sIy been there