Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-02-11
LODGING THE HOMELESS.
Hard Times as Seen at "A Police Station Mt
Night.

Out Of the black shadow Of the alley,
like great bats wing, came the head Of
the line Of men across Oak street to the
basement gate Of the station-house. The
doorman now developed as much activity
AZ the German had shown. He few at
tho first Of the line, and catching his
shoulders. flung him ten feet away along
the pavement.
cit out Of here" said he. "a-a-a-h.
give me no talk. | know Yer. You was
here last night. Git, now. or I'll give yer
my foot And You. too; git, now, and
don't let me sec yer any more"
As his eye rested on each familiar face
he leaped at the bearer OF ~, and gave
him a knock or n twist that sent him
spinning ont Of the limo Ike q top, says
Harpers Weekly. "Them's oil soaks
that's been here before" said Ne IN expla-
nation, "and VIC don't take 'em If they're
regulars. There's not room enough for
them that deserves a lodging"
| suppose those poor devils were the
most 10 be pitied of all the men / saw
that day What under heaven they were
10 DO II the station-hOuse spurneI them
was indeed q question. But they were
spun out az sight and out OF mind. Down
IN the briehuy-iighted basement OF the
station-hOuse the German and the door
man lined up the men I'm 4 crcsceut-shap-
ilie, with many a curt order 10 Turn
your face this way, let's see your face,
man. The manner Of the policeman was
rough; his tones We're sharp. But IL was
only manner and a tone. The New York
policeman Is a professional man. HIS
business is adapted for life and famlliari-
~ with the condition. I'm which he moves
renden him decidedly business-like. AZ
for the men, those who were jerked out
Of the line like calves IN q cattle-yari
simply hung their heads and shualed
away like calves. Those who We're al.
United 10 the station-house, and ordered
about, moved duly and mechanically, as
If they were rather helpless than stupid.
and had made up their minas 10 pay
That price for lodging without com
plant or resentment.
They were new TO such a place. They
were not tramps or professional dodgers
Seven in ten were such men as one is
used 10 seeing about the wharYes or
carrying dinner-pails homeward In the
uptown streets at supper time. They
were unskillcd labOrers with here and
there man not 50 easy 10 place-a coun-
tryman. perhaps, or a man from a dis
tant city. They stood with their heads
up and their eyes moving To take in
patrolman began at the head OF the line.
ana asked for recruits for the work
house-a new departure I'm lodging-room
practice.
do you want to 60 'way?" he asked Of
each. no you want to 80 way? DO you
want 10 80 wayT
How these uRfortunates understood hin.
! don't know. for had 10 have his mean
ing explained. The fact was that the de-
partment OF charities and correction has
determined in order 10 relieve the distress
and the pressure for lodging room 20 send
TO the work-house on BlacSwelrs Island all
New Workers OF several years residence
who have TO homes. and are willing 10
leave town for the winter. The strangers
are to be sent back 10 the places they hail
from.
"Do you want 10 go 'way?'
mo, sir"
do you want TO 20 'way?"
81 don't mind" II was 'lougshoreman
who spoke.
"No, sir; no. sir" said the others IN
monOtonous succession. Then a second
man. who might have been a truck-drlyer,
said he didn't care" And third one. u
young fellow, answered, Yes. II you
please" There were boys In the line-at
least two lads OF II or IS years-badly off,
but yet better placed than II they had 10
cents with which 10 get into the average
lodging house. where thieves are made as
IL they were factories turning out dis
couragement and poverty into crime.
What do you want TO go to the island
for?' l asked the man who had been Z
'longshoreman.
well. sir. what else can do?" he re.
piled. Il have no work, and no money
and no home. / buried my wife five years
ago. and 1 have no children. I've been
here twenty-five years. and / understand
L can be took care OF for the winter-till
times Is better"
Some one slipped some silver in his hand
for tobacco on the island.