Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1894-07-28

tsow TIE tscMELsss ARE CAFE b ron
IN GLASGOW.

fsny TIE iscMELEss ARE CARE b ron |
IN GLASGOW.
msaistpaa Lodging Henss@ stsnus she stias !
az charlty--Ss Chance For resltsas In IL |
The Saturday night Enssrtsspnshss and
zsw They Are Conducted.
One Saturday in Glasgow I tramped
about the poorer portions Of thu town
till midnight. first in company with the
head ~ municipal department. and
sfterward with an estimable bailie who
II renowned In the town for his npposi-
ticn 10 all things alcoholic. Ny tour BE-
gan soon after dusk, which comes aston
ishingly early In these northern 1ats-
tudes, giving one hardly time to salute
the sun between dawn ana dark. Our
points Of call In the earlier half ofour ex-
petition were the municipal lodging
houses, those places Of agreeable refuge
which the city established 20 years ago
for the purpose Of selling decent shelter
to the lower elements Of its floating pop
ulation.
On Saturday night in winter time
some form Of entertainment Is devised
for the 1000 municipal dodgers. The
entertaining talent volunteers for the
performance. II Is part Of theIdnty OF
tho city committee having in charge
these hotels for the poor to secure ON
Saturdays the assistance of amateurs
who can sing or dance or tell story or
- II.
municipal lodging houses, and in the
recreation rooms Of each these Saturday
night pleasantries are conducted. Every
concert. or magic lantern show, or what
ever 1t may be, Is presided over by
chairman, who volunteers for the pur-
pose from the members OF the city gov
eminent.
The gentlemen SO presiding are not
municipal politicians, because, as / have
previously explained, they have in Glas-
Cow no municipal politics, but merely
an administration. Mr.. Chairman, there
fore, ia not in quest Of votes. a nd II he
were his services in lodging house
would i'll requite him. Nor is there any
appearance Of charity, condescension.
nor any other untoward thing in this
business. The entertainment is carried
on very much as q concert Is aboard an
Atlantic hner--with this exception, that
no collection IN made. The municipality
Is put to no expense In the matter, and
Ii may be assumed that the chairmen
are put to no inconvenience. They are
usually men who devote large part OF
their lives to philanthropic work.
A Saturday nights audience at one Of
these municipal lodging houses comprises
wide assortment Of characters and q
considerable distribution of race. There
are sailors who have got hard up in port,
soldiers recently discharged. There are
poor devils who are spending their last
pennies for shelter and food. which win
take them over TO the Monday morning,
when they may be able to pick up some
where somehow pennies enough to last
them over another night. And there are
iaborers In regular employment, arti-
sans, too, who are not hard up, but who
are lodging here while they are at work
in the town. There are of @ purse men
who have seen better days and men who
by no possibility can ever see any worse
ones. Some are here from necessity.
some from motives of economy. and all
of them are fairly comfortable while they
are here.
The Saturday night Entertainments are
voluntary altogether. The entertainers
give their services. and the audiences are
not asked for penny. There were from
200 to $50 men In each OF the recreation
rooms which we visited, and hearty ap.
plause gave evidence OF the delight OF
the men, who appeared TO enjoy them
selves thoroughly.
A municipal lodging house Is large
well lighted aud well ventilated build.
ing. At the entrance there Is an Office
where the applicant for lodging pays his
BID. or Aid. and receives a ticket en-
titling him to the privileges OF the house
On the ground floor there are three large
/. apartments, one used as sort of eating
room, another as sitting room. another
as kitchen. Tho dodgers supply theii
own food and cook 1t themselves. having
the free use Of the kitchen fires and thu
steam heaters for this purpose The houss
Is In charge Of superintendent, with
several assistants.
AT UGiOCk III tne evening the uOfnll
tories are opened. These dorihitories ar
spacious rooms divided by partitions
or 0 feet high into small compartments
each compartment containing bed ar
ranged In the fashion Of q stateroon
berth ON an Atlantic liner The only
! difference between the threepence half
penny aud the fourpence halfpenny &C
commodation h THAT the higher price en-
titles the loiger to an extra blanket
Lodgers are admitted to bed until abou'
lam. They must arise not later thar
8 o'clock IN the morning. The premises
are kept scrupulously clean Wy the stat
Of assistants. A well fitted laundry at
tached to the place Ia constantly at worl
washing the bedding. Cor. Boston Her
J.