The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1900-09-08
TBIRTY CENTS A raY.
Zoang College Graduato's Experiences ID
New York

@EaeBoWeY-mUch has been writ
ten about it, much has been said of
its seamy side. What Of its good
side? Is there any other portion Of
the city where a man could live on
$12 for five weeks and still retain his
self-respect? Is there any place other
than the Bowery where a man can
live free and unmolested by inquisi-
tive friends and neigbbors? These
questions are answered by a most EN-.
phatic "No-etbeE place. by young
college graduate who is now comfort
ably situated in a law office.
He came to New York from the
country, like many other young men,
with more ambition than money. His
own version Of his experience, told in
his own language, will best tell the
story Of an educated mans life on
that street made celebrated for its
attraction for those who "want to
see the town" In telling his expe-
rience he said:
81 came to New York fresh from
college and with small capital. / be-
lieved that with my college education
1 could succeed. felt sure that |
would obtain a foothold in a short
time. Accordingly, went to a board
ing house of the better class. My OPP
p~ortunity did not come as soon as l
expected. Imoved to a cheaper board
ing house. Still there was none to
give me the work that I desired. /
began to hunt for other work. No
work and a capital Of only ten dol
lars made me realize that something
had to be done. l did it, and did it
at once. 1 had a fair idea of the gaudy
attractions of the Bowery, and, Incl
dentally, of its cheap places of living.
! decided that the Bowery was the
only place for me in my distress. A
place to sleep was the first ~considera-
ton. After a canvass of a number of
the places, I found one which was
cleaner than the others. I obtained
the right to use one of the boxes at
the rate of Is cents a night. The next
question to be settled was the food
problem. I decided to limit myself
to 80 cents a day for food and lodg4
ing, and I never went hungry. For
breakfast 1 spent the sum Of five
cents, My purchase was either coffee
and crullers, coffee and rolls, or a
plate Of that mystery called hash,
without the coffee, but with an ample
supply of bread.
my lunch cost nothing except a
few hard words. Imade a systematic
tour Of the saloons that served Free
Hot LUNCH and usually got a plate
of soup and some bread or crackers.
DINNER was the great meal of the
day. For ten cents 1 had meat, po-
tatoes, coffee and bread and butter;
sometimes invested five cents more
and had pie. The next night I ate
fve-eent hash to even up.
cat one time it became necessary
for me to replenish my wardrobe. ]
needed some new linen. This, includ-
ing shirt, collar and cuffs, cost me Is
cents. A pair Of shoes became a ne
cessity, and l visited one of the little
underground shoe stores kept by an
Italian. l explained my wants, and
he handed me a pair of shoes.
"How much?' l asked.
"FPutta on was the reply.
II put them on, and the Italian
made the price $3.50.
Fifty cents said I. With a
most agonizing look the Italian en-
~phatically declared that he could not
sell them at that price.
GAS I was about to take them of
he offered a compromise, and the sec
ond-hand shoes became mine at a
cost of 70 cents.
'My total outlay for the five week;
on the Bowery was as follows:
Lodging for 35 nights at IA cents
per night ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS q
Meals for IS days at IS cents per
day ......s".".......s...,o..ss. 5 q
Shoes and linen s.ss.,.....su... 81
Total ....................,.....S1l 81
81 had started out with ten dol
lars and a top coat worth $40 at the
latter end Of my life IN the Bowery
Ipawned the coat for two dollars. So
after my five weeks experience I sti.
had g. cents left as pocket monej
when [ secured my present position
COT course some can and do liy.
cheaper on the Bowery than did, bu.
I paid my way and considering tn,
money spent I lived in comparative
luxury"
IL