The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-04-21
A NEW LEISURE CLASS
To What Il Owes It's Origin, How
1t Operates and How /!
Exists.
one of It's Votaries Gives a Re-
porter "A Very Interesting
Interview.
New York city l. Its Favored Place. for
There Conditions Are Peculiarly
suitable,

An investigation Of the city's cheap
I lodging houses reveals some interesting
/ facts about those who use them, especially
I In hard times. They are particularly a
| New York institution. Boston, philadel-
/ phia and Baltimore have. 10 be sure, a few
/ places where the almost destitute wayfareT
I may be accommodated on the payment OF
| IS 10 20 cents, but they offer few induce
ments beyond nights rest The New
York lodging house, on the contrary, has
some OF the features Of a regular club.
Large well lighted rooms, supplied with
the daily papers, cards, chess and checker
boards, dominos etc, are found in near
~ all Of them. There is also an Office. in
which an afTable clerk is found on duty "a
hours day. There are also baths, lava.
tories etc. with plentiful supply OF hot
and cold water, soap towels and backing
brushes.
The Bowery is the home of the lodging
house, though there are many scattered
about the city mp as far as Harlem, and
the business being an exceedingly proflta-
BILE one their number is constantly in
creRsing. 1t is a mistake TO suppose the
lodging house Is the abode Of the tramp
can find a lodging upon the payment Of a
small sum is true. but they do not frequent
the lodging houses. They ara not wanted
either by the proprietors or guests. The
chief patron of the lodging house is the
chevalier d industrie. age anywhere from
90 20 so, the majority being under 40. Hard
times do not affect his calling, nor do
financial stringenoies diminish bis income.
lie is invariably decently dressed, and If
ever he misses q meal ii is not for the reason
that the meal is not waiting for him.
A conversation with one of them gives
a fair idea of how they live. He was a mid
die aged man, with the appearance OF
clerk. After IA preliminary talk he told
the story of his life
81 was born here in New York, A" he
said, "44 years ago. At 3 / was put nt
work and learned q trade For % years,
or up TO my fortieth year, stuck to IL
and never expected to do anything else
had, OF course, such amuscments as the
average workinRman has and was, / sup
pose, contented with my lot. lived with
an old widow lady, who was just like a
mother TO me, and beyond being inordi-
nately fond of reading / was, l have 10
doubt, just like any Of the horny handed
sons of toll in the city here. / never bad
the faculty II saving money, and when
four years ago / was seized with infam-
matory rheumatism / was obliged to 90
TO "a hospital. I staid there two months.
During my stay my landlady died, and
drifted in here. ] had never even so much
as heard Of a lodging house before, but
the life suited me. and / soon got to like
il. Man is gregarious animal, and when
one is lonesome, as / was. there il an indie
al la oh cd HrnIt luf
fell in with an Old fellow who had some
very queer ideas about life-that is, they
were queer n me then. lie thought this
country lacked one great charm, and that
was leisure class such as is to be found
in every country Of Europe. Il didn't take
him long to convince me that he was right
in everything he said, and / enrolled my
self as one of his disciples To me il seem
ed fine thing to have nothing TO dc and
all day I'm which ID do IL. / had little
money when l came, but I never had
much.
Questioning me one day as TO the
amount Of my earnings, / found. upon
computation, that my average wages for
my % years Of labor were bout ss week
Well, said the old gentleman, III will b.
no trouble for YOU TO get at least that
much without working. and. mind you,
an income of g. week without being
obliged to work for il is great deal more
than the same amount gained by labor, .
a fact which have often found to be true
{ then entered "a regular course Of tuition
+ under his guidance and after a short time
was able 20 go without assistance My
I lodgings cost LOO a week and my board
81. for which ] had three good meals a
/ day. ! take only two now, and my dinner
Z 1000 81 d
/ dollars put by and have ample time 10
/ indulge nay tasto for reading. and In the
four years that have lived In this way
have enjoyed myself"
Then you make your living, as you call
o., hy Begging was asked
That i- about the truth ~ st.. have
a certain number Of places 10 20 10 regu-
larly. ana woll known iu them all, and
my pension, which varies IN amount
/ from 20 cents TO e., is paid 10 me without
/ question.
"Aou never beg on the streets, them
"Nevor. ] would die first"
Are there many engaged In the same
/ vocation
eyes. The leisure class as my old
/ friend called us. is constantly being re-
crIited, but it isa case where many are
called. hut few chosen"
/ How is thats'
"WeII ns ia other walks, especially Of
/ professional life. while there is plenty Of
/ room 90 the top. there is none AZ all az th,
i bottom
"What particular qualifications do you
consider requisite for success ina the call
ingf'
knowledge az the world, suavity o
manners. nerve ana patience. ln short
just what goes to make mp the successful
I man iu any business
About huW muny ~ you are thr-e 81
Sew York rt present.
81 haven any idea. but should think
the number not far from 90, 200.
"Wi1 band times tend % increase III,
number
Undoubtedly
"Theu d. will ultimately Dee "a more dir
lcult matter % collect your pension
"l d0u't think sn. o. VIII De- -.muly q
question ~ the survival of thr ftt,-t
"What class Of men drift into fh.s -ori
Of lifes"
IAN clns-es. Speaking generally
should say professional 'mi-lts. ar men
who have mistaken thy.s vocation ure
dn'aingte. Young men WHO agyo lgft home