Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-06-02

Z, vos "a cold. stormy might IN De-
cember when / took my place IN long
Nm. IN front o. the office ut the MINIS
bota saws a writer In Rural New
yorker The line slowly FED out until
my turn came at the window. where
pald my 90 cents and received key 6lh
Tho line of men curved around-a "hIp-
lash of humanity ragged and frayed In
places from whipping up some OF ihe
worlds faded forces, Here was O
young clerk. evidently on a small salary
respectable but with the fnger-marks
Of poverty upon him, Behind him was
on older man-eyidenuy a small ped
der The storm had driven him IN
from his accustomed haunts. He would
sleep while he could not work, so as TO
put In more time when the brigh;
weather came. A worklngman rough
OF hands in a blue jumper came next.
After him crowded an old whte-hairel
man who had evidently seen better
days Ills clothes. though thrcadbarc,
were neat and his high hat was stu
respectable. There they were the hui
man dr.dWood OF a great city. This
was their hume They paid Tor their
keys and drifted on out OF sight
a PRACTICAL CHARITY.
presume most readers have heard of
the Mills hotel IL is q large hne-l0ok-
Ing brick building on BECKER street.
Nc1 YORK. II was built By Mr. d. o.
Mills az a practical and common.sense
charity. Il stands in a part OF the city
where formerly cheap lodgng-h0uses
abounded These houses provided "a
bed or cot FOR 20 20 90 cents per night.
aud they were. in most cases. perfect
dens OF nth and ylleness The stories
told of some Of the scenes enacted In
these vile hotels are almost beyond
belief Mr. Mills built his hotel with
the Idea Of furnishing clean. comfort
able rooms and wholesome food at
about the price charged for the low
and degrading service al the other
places He expected 10 keep men away
from sin and vice by providing a place
where these things were barred out.
There are about 800 rooms In the
hotel and Il is usually the case that
dozens OF men are turned away FOR lack
OF room. The building Is s0lldly built
with every substantial appliance for
comfort. The basement interested me
greatly Wash and BE Cleanl" Is the
watchword here. There were long rows
Of wash basins and a great colony OF
bath tubs. Free soap and towels are
provided, and there was a lively de-
mand for them / noticed a number OF
men doing their own washing at stone
wash tubs. They had taken Of most Of
their undertaking and brought It with
them. Their outer clothes hung about
them like bags, as they bent scrubbing
over the tubs, AZ one corner stood a
large brick room or dryer The front
consisted OF a number OF little doors
which pulled out like an old-fashloned
clothes horse. When a man finished his
washing he pulled out one OF these
doors hung his wet clothes on the horse
and pushed Il In again. Then he watt
ed around to make sure that some other
fellow didn't make a mistake and se-
cure the wrong clothes. These men told
me that they seldom ironed their
clothes, and that they did not find It
necessary TO do sol
STUDIES OF CHARACTER
On the FIRST floor are two large read
ing and smoking rooms. These are
square. and extend up to the roof-the
rooms on each story looking out into
this large space This gives a light airy
room with good ventilation which Is
necessary, for on that winters night
there was a cloud OF tobacco smoke
rising from the hundreds Of pipes and
cigars. l should say that 30 per cent
OF the guests az the Mills hotel were
smoking II has not been found prac-
teal or desirable TO prohibit the use OF
tobacco. Rum and profanity" are
barred, but tobacco really seems % act
Ike a gentle policeman 10 help pre-
serve quiet and order. A very large
proportion Of the men IN these rooms
appeared TO be past middle life. stand
ing IN an upper room. and looking down
upon them. one Is surprised 20 see how
many white ana gray heads are in
sight. Scientific men declare that both
tea and tobacco prevent 90 certain
extent the wastes Of the body so that
less actual food IS required People
sometimes wonder why old persons In
affect poverty win spend money Tor tea
which might be spent for food In many
cases these tea.drlnkers actually re-
quire less food since the wastes on the
body are restricted. The smoking rooms
were well filed with tables at which
groups Of men were playing cards on
the same floor Is q large library open 10
guests Of the hotel
A man with a reflective turn Of mind
could frame many rOmances and stories
out Of the very appearance OF the men
who filled the room Some were happy
and satisfied The fact that they were
safe for the night vas enough for them
Others We're well able TO lodge IN more
expensive places Others sat silent ana
moody. With eyes fixed steadily on the
floor or with head held down upon their
hands. Their very attitude told the
story Of hopeless hunt Tor respectable
work, and the fear " tomorrow which
involved not only their own happiness
but perhaps that Of helpless ones who
looked 10 them for support Every now
and then one OF these men would ind
his thoughts too bitter 20 endure qulot-