The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-01


mere was an extra large crowd at
the mission that night, and a strangely
mixed crowd. The greater part was
made up of comparatively young men,
and almost without exception, they
seemed cheerful and contented with
their lot One young man told me he
was from New York. and that he had
been out of work for four months He
was We'll built and seemed capable of
performing almost any sort of hard la
hor. But he was cheerful in his talk
ana gave one the impression of having
never known any other sort of home.
Besides the young men. We're several
good specimen of the genus tramp
Dirty, unprepossessing men, with bru-
tallHed faces and an air of the fugi-
tive about them Most of them were
strong looking. with we'll knit frames
and muscles which stood out in knots
on their arms. They did not associ-
ate with the rest of the crowd. or
rather, the rest of the crowd did not
associate with them
But what interested me most was two
lads, l6 or II years old. well dressed
and clean. They came in late and
seemed to find some difficulty in OBJ
tanning admission. 1t was impossible
To get an opportunity TO speak to them,
but l noticed that they paid for their
beds and were gone when | came out
III the morning.
Before any one was allowed to go to
ped census of new corners was ia
ken.
What's your naine?" asked the man.
James H. futile" I replied.
Where did you come from"
Cincinnati. But was in a little
| town in York state last"
We'll I'll put it down Worcester.
Where were YOU born?"
"Cincirnati'
What did YOU work at?"
7 was a waiter in restaurant"
How old are you?"
Twenty two"
How long have you been out of
work."
-Four months"
Then he passed to the next man
WHO said he was q leather cutter and
, llVed IN Worcester. Another fellow hail
cd from Boston and was a butcher nv
trade.
This formalitY through with. in came
the night Waterman, James Taylor bv
name, and of whom more later He
turned down the gas and announced
the beds to be ready
The man that I catch pushin' hits
ihe grit L mean that, so you'd better
De careful And the man I catch throw
III water on the floor he gifts OUT
lie put Teller out last night" said
my next neighbor. Hit him in Tho
face and threw him out the door Told
nm he'd Kill him if he ever come
back" ~0iiie
Now, all them that's got tickets
come IN first said Mr. Taylor. stand
ing at the door of the dormitorv A
large number had tickets and passed in
10 take the first choice. These tickets
are credits for work done during the
day and entitle the holder to a he'd
for one night.
Now said Mr.. Taylor. "all that's
got hVe cents come in next"
A dozen or so had five cents and
AFTER they had gone in there were only
eight of us left.
You fellers will saw wood for me in
the morning." asked Taylor.
We agreed, and then he said:
We'll. leave your hats here and
Wheh you get done worllin you can
have 'em back"
He then took possession of the COL
lection of disreputable headgear, and
we went in to what was supposed 10
be our rest. In my case it proved
otherwise.
The beds are built in three-decLer
style on gas pipe frames. and each
individual has a wire mattress and a
single blanket. The room is warmed
or rather haatad nv a - 49,
which is rnnIaniebad 60, moIu stove
! bv MIR Tavior ,,bo saa plS l-houf
wooden-eoIed s,oos - 70 wear
There are az bads aItarsd+tl ne ooIiieS IN
dav night +bare IJ.o,a - anu IL
concerted sno,eS ,,,o NJ Iou t whose
Wagner nnvious 80 lev lllaae
| TO pet a ton-eto.,, ia % iH.hS enough
| low, strawIstI,ffad go az ~ slote PHI
bed next to me yhint -, ~ li9i ii me
cupied during Inc niobt '''''iieu uiioc-
| On the wan p.os ,.,,,+., -.,-
stating that ali n,1st I.atino 10
O'Clock and oct mn a. 90. AZ
profanity wo1IId he aI1o,i,'i ma no
| the men must he eeatod 80 ,. atiu IiIal
hats off while i'm tha rao,,,e heep 'iieii
Now. Won fellers y" ea;d Ar. ra,.,o.,.
eff anv of Won talir La o- ~ LaSloT
you want to sleep ON the az Ou'' IL
can. lest 50 Won don,t oot loot, you
when | come TO SEQ to fl1e s+ot my wdy
can't sleep on the bancba, t, lou
I've got orders not 10 let .-o,, peJduse,
want to take off vour cIotbes Anu Sou
| Pm glad of that " n11Itto,.,5 80.
| fellow i'm the corner az air,t bod p 1lI's
clothes off in two weeks ''''' my