The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-02-15
HOTELS FOR THEPOOR
HOW THE HOMELESS ARE CARED FOR
IN GLASGOW.

Municipal Lodging Houses Minus the Sting
of Charity-No Chance For Politics In 1t.
The Saturday Night Entertainments and
How They Are Conducted.
One Saturday in Glasgow tramped
about the poorer portions of the town
till midnight, first in company with the
head of municipal department and
afterward with an estimable bailie who
is renowned in the town for his opposi-
ton to all things alcoholic. My tour be-
gan soon after dusk, which comes aston
ishingly early in these northern lati-
tudes, giving one hardly time to salute
the sun between dawn and dark. Our
points of call in the earlier half Of our 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 1900 municipal dodgers. The
entertaining talent volunteers for the
performance. 1t is part of the duty OF
the 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
give an athletic show. There are seven
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 it 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 l have
previously explained, they have in Glas-
gov no municipal politics, but merely
an administration. Mr.. Chairman, there
fore, is not in quest of votes, and if he
were his services in a 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 asia concert is aboard an
Atlantic liner-with this exception, that
no collection is made. The municipality
is put to no expense in the matter, and
it may be assumed that the chairmen
are put to no inconvenience. They are
usually men who devote largo part of
their lives to philauthropic work.
A Saturday nights audience at one of
these municipallodging houses comprises
a wide assortment of characters and a
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 will
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
laborers 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 course 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 nightlentertainments are
voluntary altogether. The entertainers
give their services, and the audiences are
not asked for penny. There were from
300 to 800 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 and 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 asitting room, another
as kitchen. The dodgers supply their
own food and cook it themselves, having
the free use of the kitchen fires and the
steam heaters for this purpose. The house
is in charge of superintendent, with
several assistants.
At o'clock in the evening the dormi-
tories are opened. These dormitories are
spacious rooms divided by partitions
or 8 feet high into small compartments,
each compartment containing bed ar
ranged in the fashion of stateroom
berth on an Atlantic liner. The only
difference between the threepence half
penny and the fourpence halfpenny ac-
commodation is that the higher price en-
titles the ledger to an extra blanket.
Lodgers are admitted to bed until about
1 a m of o7.iaa moi LOTT y,
8 o'clock in the morning. The premises
are kept scrupulously clean by the staff
of assistants. A well fitted laundry at
tached to the place is constantly atwork
washing the bedding. Boston Her
aid.