The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-19
BEGS BEDS FOR OUTCASfS.
a cJrY MISSIONER HAS F0UND a
WEW FIEED oFSCHdR!TY.

= PROSPECTIVE Heurncinrtes STAND ny nud
wait rsr n Turn That May Never Como.
Lees distance from Broadway than a man
could toss a biscuit, tho hopeless and homeless
gather on Sunday nights. There is q chance for
them to get q nights lod ing on the charity OF
the public. II they were to beg for themselves,
they might DO arrested and sent TO the work.
house, so n man from one Of the missions does IL
for them. He lie Frederick Rotzler, and he con-
ducts his operations on a business-likc cash
basis with immediate results for tho money In.
vested that Is q refreshing contrast to- the red
tape processes OF some OF the bigger charities.
some Of the eager applicants had gathered at
the place Of meeting in front Of the Worth
monument whore Twenty.hfth street forms q
sixty.foot block between Broadway and Fifth
avenue. Rotzler came clad In a military over
coat and q SLOUGH hat, with a bunch of red.
white, and blue ribbons in his coat lapel. He
is a short. thick.set, brusuue, and rough.and-
ready style of man, very different from the
ordinary street missionary, and quito devoid OF
the pleading ways Of that species. His attitude is:
"If you don't want to give anything. It's all
right, II you do, SO much tho better. You know
where your money is going and that 1t is of
quick benefit. We need IL, but We don't 60
around with our hat In our hand. You give.
and we thank you. That's all"
1t is to the curious crowd attracted from
Broadway that Rotzler looks for contribu-
tons. These the onlookers gather to the west
Of him, while the homeless ones are on tho
east. and there is q little open space in the
middle where he walks up and down examining
and talking to the applicants. With him last
night were a young man, who acted as q sort Of
assistant, and an Older man. who lined up the
prospective dodgers.
"well, boys" began Rotzler, addressing two
dozen specimens unlike in many particulars. but
homogeneous in their evidences of poverty,
Its going to be cold tonight. Well try to get
lodgings for all we can. Murphy, you back
againf About time you got a job. How many
of you are therei Hold up your hands"
Up went a hand from every man In the crowd.
"Thirty-six." said tho young man with Rotzl-r.
"Thirty-six." repeated the missionary. turn
ing to the spectators on tn" other side. Fifteen
cents buys a lodging for one OF these men. Fiji
teen times thirty.six is $5.4O. Quick at it. amt
II I've had plenty of practice. Anybody want
to give mo ive-forty and put this crowd to bed y
Heres a nights rest for three of EN-" said q
man holding out 80 cents.
Much obliged. Now. let's see you. Which
threef"
All the men eargerly craned forward, but
there was a certain discipline in that motley
and ragged rank which kept them from putting
their plea into speech.
Come out here" said Rotzler. touching q
hhoh vi u ohouiuot.
"And you '-motioning to a young fellow in the
second line-'and you Indicating a rather
bloated and shaky looking fellow at the end of
the row. "Step over there. Frank. line these
fellows up"
With soldier-like obedience the men stepped
forward and took their places where the captain
of tine line stood.
"Not much impression there said the mis-.
sionary; Hands up again. boys. All up. How
"Eortv >, said the assistant
six dollars wanted to put forty men to sleep.
That's II t. cheap oP enough WsI1 we A!Mpy t b ihs want amt, to ,b give
selves. Perhaps some Of them are partly fixed.
Now. you fellows. how many OF YOU have got a
Six men pressed forward. among them a clean.
looking youth, who could hardly have been more
Have you got a dime T. asked Rotzler.
Yes; sir" began the boy; II had a quarter
Never mind that. Not time for it now. Give
me your dime. Now. who's got q nickel to put
nth this Rnu. bG a., s Si%e IN and IpSe ssed him to bed :
Where do you send them = asked a man in
left, qusEter viii Az EN- ali. D You want to
send them there. sirf'
$50 it is. Thank, you. That lot went quick:
Aoid m np your Ul hands sS% e0S not an a on a aye got a dime
Here woman in the crowd handed him a half
wreck in The third line back was shaken with a
That sounds like a real cough" observed a
missionary. Come out. you. Let him through
there.
tered out into the open space. Rotzler gave
him a shove toward the line Of accepted iodg'
Hello" sal said the missionary. Satch I'm and
ing house. Here's two more here and a nickel
~
ton. This brought from a member of the crowd
He picks out all the strong young fellows
that's able to take care Of themselves" ~,
Maybe, we can turn them into useful men,
ss'S had sae o m,ss,9nsEy' !!Gfrdn onSBt " f t we e eonid dc iih lo,
for you. Let's look at you; Well dom know
this ehapi Much obliged, Get over there"
stantly Increasing. which would have meant q
corresponding decrease on tho other side. as
% Pli@sn m" fTGm t s6s e sS%iaf 70 IT tho ss f iodsins lime tns S Sp
for constant fresh accessions, to the homeless
company. Presently the numbers as announced
That's, $40" said. Rotzler, for the first
time making an rs error rSrI in his thine "I'e
YOU sir. Here's five beds Nov. then: is thh sg
hI a man %1 S ~ith " an aan aSs isaSSif Irish face r.i.et
Mo uHnu, u n fippico " iaukutcT "OuL LuTouBL
TN, 'sy Se,sI az fs sSsRIfsff"" asked Rotslor. "yor
don't look it,"
I'm anything thot's honust. fer a bed!" sait
Z the man.
) He means a Jew" explained one of thu
others.
y "Sure. I'm not; but I'm that slapey l do'knov
! what I'm sayin', yer Honor"
: N an Israelite in tho crowd" said tho mis-
sionary. They're q thrifty lot. More sham,
to you Christians. How many of you hav
Quite a number OF hands went up.
I That's a good showing. Wait till l get thes
! five beds out OF the way. You step out-ant
; you-and you-you fellow with the beard. COM
One Of the men came forward. holding out hi
I. hand.
!. Don't I get the money to pay for my owl
Get out OF here ordered the missioner.
, sternly. "Iknow your kind. " and In a momen
= q the crowd had hustled the bcggar back. He wen
: away cursing. his place being taken by anothe
. man. Still there was no diminution.
: = Twenty-Five in the line; sixty-nine waiting,
, came the report.