Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1899-04-14
Ben HOGAN'S BRAND OF
CHARITY.
How BeneVolence Is Practically
Worked by Reformed Pugllist In
Chicago.

How ReneVolence Is Practically
Worked by Reformed Pugllist In
Chicago.
&c. S. Severance in the Chicago Recordl
Ii thess DAYS, when the starving are
fed with red tickets. il is pleasant to
light upon such work as is being done
at Ben Hogan's Humane Exchange, at
Clinton and Madison streets. At this
west side resort from 600 to 800 men
are fed and lodged daily. Among
these men of the place are to be found
murderers, confidence men, thieves,
cracksmeu, tradesmen, expert account
ants, college men and an almost end
less variety Of unfortunates. Standing
back of this movement and exercising
a parental care over it, is generous,
big-keartsd Ben Hogan, the recon
'structed prize. fighter and formerly one
of tho most conspicuous sporting men
in America
Passing down the fight of stairs
that leads from the street, the visitor
opens a door and looks in at about 5
O'Clock in the afternoon, on a most
astounding scene. Two hundred men
are to be seen in the one large room.
A part of them, seated at tables, are
eating from bowls. Others are stand
ing, huddled together, 10 groups, and
pitiable traVesty on stock Exchange
proceedings is being enacted. Some
ran to whom articles of clothing have
been given is dispensing OF them to
his fellows. Money is scarcs and bid
ding is slow. Five cents will some-
times purchase fairly good ovecroat
while 30 cents is about the maximum
price which such a garment will
bring. Shoes are worth from to %
cents, accor ling to quality and condi-
tion. When the transfer has been
made and the seller has received his
cash, be walks over to the desk in one
corner of the room and lays down 2
cents for meal ticket
Cheap ard Wholesome.
For this investment he receives a
bowl of nourisbing stew, together with
excellent fresh bread and q bowl Of
genuine coffee The stew is composed
of beans, beef and corn starch, and
nothing but wholesome food products
enter into its composition.
10 one corner of the room is an i'm.
provised tailor shop. Here tho men
do their mending. Among their mum
Der are those who are expert with the
needle. If, as occasionally Happens, a
man is unaccustomed to sewing he can
get his repairing neatly done ny fell.
low SOLO lrner at a cost OF few pen
MES. And this is also true in the ser
tiUn of the room where barbsring is
done. In most cases, however, the
men do their own sewing. Another
important adjunct nf the establish
nneut is the Gobhling department.
The basement is rich in it's provisions
for the immediate necessities of the
physical man.
The picture has it's coclic as we'll as
its tragic and pathetic phases.
Among The frequent"rs " the mission
is man who is known tt his fellows
as "Jumho. - He weighs consider.
ably over 200 pounds, wears a black
beard in the STYLE approved by anarch-
lists, and is altogether lazy, fat and
filthy. This man is about So years
old and is both incompetent and indis-
posed to work Another frequenter is
man who has been dubbed by his
companions as the Jesuit" de is
also middlc-aged Incompetent and he
received his sobriquet through his
habit of wearing an immense rope or
heaVing line tied firmly around his
middle.
At the Lodging House.
The lodging accommodations are at
% Meridian street, known as Hogan's
alley The building is four stories in
height and there are hunks to accom-
modate 500 men. In times of rush 100
additional sleepers find places on the
floors. The first floor is given up to
an office, sitting room and a wash
room. 10 the washronm may be had
warm water and facilities for washing
clothes. 1t is equipped with drum,
in which fifty suits of underwear may
be dried at one time. The three up
per floors of the building are devoted
entirely to sleeping. They are filed
with plain board hunks without mat
tresses or pillows. The hunks are ar
ranged in tiers one above another,
and each morning they are swept out
and made clean. Every window in
the building is tightly closed and two
large stoves on each floor keep the
temperature up to summer heat
throughout the night. Many of the
men remove all of their clothing, us
ing it for a mattress and pillows. The
clannisbness of the men is in evidence
here. On one floor the American,
Irish and Germans sleep, on another
the Poles and Danes are found, and
the other floor is almost entirely filed
with Swedes. In the spring the win
dows are covered with canvas and
These rooms are fumigated thoroughly
once a month.
Requires Great Tact
1t requires consummate glkill and ex.