Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1897-11-24
ALL NIGHT SHELTERS.
Metropolitan Lodging Houses for
Poor Women.

Be Obtained at Small Cost Together
with Food to Keep Body and Soul
Together
The average New Yorker who hears
the words "Bowery lodging-house"
pictures to himself scenes of sneak
thievery, debauchery, depravlty, and
privation. The newspapers have In
formed him that these are the homes,
sweet homes Of variety Of indiyid-
uals known technically as "pan-hand-
lers," "jail Birds" "grafters," "rousta-
bouts, "hamfatters," "fiim Hammers"
stool pigeons" "fakirs," "hobos,"
"tramps," "bums," and other equally
choice terms.
There are some two hundred or
more of these lodging-houses In this
city, out of which but six are devoted
to the exclusive use Of women: And
concerning these the general public
knows but very little, if anything.
With but few exceptions, II any, the
lodging-houses for women lar excel, In
nearly every respect, the abodes of the
Bowery, and as rule Gotham's finan-
cially embarrassed daughters are su'
perior set of individuals, compared
with their similarly situated brothers.
Their shelters are kept scrupulously
neat and clean, the. floors are secured
daily, the sheeting and pillow cases
are often Immaculate in their white
ness, the surroundings generally are
snug and homelike, and, In short,
everything is as good as any one
might expect under the circumstances.
Women'slodging-ho are Of three
distinct sorts, and if shipping terms
were applicable they might be rated
as Of the cabin, intermediate and
steerage, for that would come nearer
describing them than anything else:
Those of the cabin, or first class, should
hardly come under the bead Of what Is
generally meant and-commonly known
as lodging-hSuse. Most of them are
expensive affairs, far beyond the means
oftYose really very hard up to patron
izs. They are often luxuriously y fur
nished with moquette carpets, lounges,
portieres, bric-a-brac, mahogany Ia.
bles, brass and enameled bedsteads,
oil paintings, etc., and usually piano.
Those Of the second class are the abid-
Ing places generally of respectable,
more or less friendless women, who
secure from their masters penurious
compensation Sor their toll, and are,
therefore, compelled to seek shelter
where their scanty means will permit.
The establishments of the third class
are what is known as shelters, and are
the domiciles of the poorest of the
poor, and correspond to the Bowery
lodgings for men.
One of the most interesting Of these
last is located at Rivington street,
Just of the Bowery. The glass trans
paroncy over the door reads: "Wom-
ems Lodging House." 1t is a five
story, tenement-appearing, brick build
ing, with ugly iron fire escapes in 'front.'
on each floor.
The place affords shelter nightly for
about one hundred women. The rules
are very strict. The price for bed in
the dormitories is Is cents, and for
single rooms 20 cents per night. The
sleeping rooms are opened at P. NJ
and closed at $50 A. M. sharp, except
on Sunday, when they are open all day
for those who desire to rest, but no
talking is permitted.
In cases Of illness, not contagious,
beds are provided in one of the back
dormitories, but Is cents day extra
must be paid in advance, aud on appli-
cation to the matron meals may be or
dered from any of the neighboring
restaurants, but miist be carried up
stairs by one Of the female attaches,
as no man, unless he be minister OF
the gospel, is ever permitted to enter.
Children, twelve years old or more,
occupying bed with their mothers or
any one else, are charged full price,
and any one wishing to keep her closet
or private room key is allowed to do
so only by leaving deposit of 30 cents
with the matron, who refunds 1t If
the key is returned in good order"
Any one may wash and iron clothes
in the house laundry by paying in ad-
vance 10 cents, for which soap and
starch are provided. Those desiring
to leave anything in the closets Or
lockers during the day are required to
pay for that nights lodging before $50
A. NJ, and those who leave bundles in
the office or storeroom are charged 30
cents for each bundle, and the same
Must be paid in advance, but II the
goods are removed before the expira-
ton of thirty days the money Is re-
funded at the rate of i cent day for
the days remaining. The house Is
closed for the night and the bell de-
tarhed at II o'clock, and anyone desir-
ing to gain admittance after that hour
mus. give notice to the matron before
3 F. M. and pay double.
Everything about the place is clean
md cozy. and waxed and polished are
the halls and dormitories. The sitting
room is nicely carpeted, and can boast
of IN organ, tables covered. with tur.
key-ied cloths, and goodly supply OF
houks and newspapers. Religious SER
vices are conducted each Sunday after
nocn by clergyman from the Protest
ant Episcopal General Theological
Seminary. York News.
NJ. NJ. ~. W W ~ -M-A