New-York tribune., 1901-07-14
LOUNGERS IN PARKS.
NO LOAFERS ALLOWED BY WATCHFUL
POLICEMEN.


Since the trouble over the pay chairs began
| people who visit the parks have paid more at
tenton to the persons who lounge around on the
benches than they have before said the big
| policeman who has a post along the Mall yester-
| day Tribune reporter.
TITS only within the last two weeks that we
have heard anything about greasy loafers occupy
ing all the free seats" continued the policeman
But It isn't so and you take my word for It,
Central Park is no hang out for buns we
wouldn't allow 1t for a minute The parks further
| downtown may be filled with oafers most of the
time. but not Central"
He looked around with the air of a man who
owned the place. Then he caught sight of
lounger and went off TO question him.
Where do you live?" demanded the policeman
The fellow Strengthened up and muttered. Down
town"
What street downtown" the next aues-
ton
The fellow did not answer.
II thought sol" exclaimed the pohceman-
Where do you work.
I'm out of job. If it's any business of yours
said the the bench
Tramp
NO I'm not a tramp" was the answer. In tone
that not quite
well believe you are,' said the policeman
firmly III I find you hanging around here again
I'll you in"
The man started off toward the Fifty -unth-st
gate.
81 had him spotted said the bluecoat- Don't
often make a mistake. You can tell a iaboring man
who is in hard luck We never bother them.'
ALL OUT OF WORK.
The benches both sides OF the road were well
filled with men, although the day was not warm
Most OF them sat alone. with faraway look In
their eyes. Very few of them wore collars. but
were excessively dirty. Newspapers are so
plentiful in these days that nearly every man had
paper. whether he was reading II or not Most
of those who were reading held the paper open
at the page which tells of help wanted"
About half Of these men are out of work. said
roundsman who walked along with reporter
You tell 1t by the part OF the paper they
read. Not many of them come here more than a
day two in succession. so / suppose they get
work. The colony of want column loungers never
out however. and you'll always find some
the benches
Further up in the park are several meeting places
for old mems clubs the park policemen call
them. They composed of old men who have
retired from business or who are too old TO work
and have TO live with grown sons and daughteTs
They are not well enough supplied with this world
goods to afford the luxury OF a club. 80 the PARK
becomes their clubhouse in the summer and the
one Of these old mems clubs was in session yes
eIday morning and the n % Were @
two benches near Seventy -niuth-st and the East
ception ali smoked pipes They told stories OF the
past as old men will One Of the members 1,ls : was
matter. Two of them promised TO look up the
missing member in the afternoon.
NOT FREE LODGING HOUSE.
In another part of the big park a policeman found
a who sleeping peacefully bench.
He shook him gently.
Wake up Wake up!" he shouted.
when did it become crime to sleep?" growled
the man. rubbing his eyes.
There's no law against sleeping. but this amt
the place" said the with the shield and billy.
The city has free lodging houses for such you"
The policeman explained to a man who had wit
messed the awakening.
We would have the park filled with sleeping
men II would allow II. In hot weather We let
the poor people from the tenements into the park.
always special order for such liberty"
$50 you want to know what OF lounge
around the park" said the sergeant the desk In
the ivy covered police station In the Arsenal the
reporter who asked about It.
You will find 'm.2st every sort but buns. There
lot of men who work at night and spend
their afternoons in the shade At this particular
time of year there men who their vaca-
place out OF town. They find the park Testful and
it's certainly cheap enough that the pay chairs
have been taken away. The most OF the men
the who, II they lived a country town
would be found sitting boxes in front the
stores whiting a piece OF soft wood
The conditions different in Madison Square
Park. The available seats almost always in
use day and night. The greater part OF the crowd
is constantly changing. being composed OF persons
who simply stop and rest Many men of the tramp
order make the park their "hangout" and in the
crowd usually manage 10 escape attracting police
notice. There are few characters of interest who
frequent the park
An old time actor. who sits the same bench
for three hours every morning. and mysterious
day. have lately been attracting attention.