The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-10-04

trance 10 what was formerly the old
Grand block, swing twodong signs. To
the wayfarer uudging toward the city
over the Wabasha STREET bridge or to
the man who crosses Fourth street
and walks in the direction Of that same
bridge the signs read exactly alike
First there is the big caption, "The
Bethel Hotel" and underneath an "a la
carte menu of nourishing. food and un--
sderneath this again the statement that
steam-heated, electric-lighted rooms
with bath may be had for a price not
less than 25 cents and not more than 81
a night.
To the stranger the signs may ex-
press nothing beyond the fact that there
is hotel that is quite within the means
Of the average workingman, a hotel.
with an inviting entrance, at least,
and a general air of prosperity. But
many will recognize the deeper sig
nificance of the word Bethel" and st.
Paul people who remember the old boat
that journeyed forlornly up and down
the river, doing it's best to minister to
the wants of those who looked upon it
as a refuge, but conscious always of it's
own inadequacy, will recognize some
thing more even than this They will
recognize that out of the old water"
Bethel has developed a substantial land
Bethel, that promises not only to carry
OAA SAAS WI n VI IhO OOct UuI 10 GAlS1Q
that work UNNECESSARILY.
Importance of the Bethel.
Down on Seventh street the Salvation
Army provides a home-a decent.
cleanly home-for those unfortunates
who, were quarter demanded of them
in payment for nights lodging, would
De forced to pass the night in the
streets. The Army's 10 and Is
cent lodging house answers one of the
-city's demands just as the Y M. c. A.
rooms at the corner of Fifth and st.
Peter streets answer a demand of a
different sort. The Bethel on Wabasha
street has the advantages of the two,
only these advantages n have been
adapted to the needs of a different
class. 1t is not a lodging house for
the very poor, nor does it,, SO far as its
educational, industrial and recreational
ends are considered, represent opportu-
nifty to the class which patronizes the
7. M. c. A. And it is because it's work
is individual and because that work
overlaps the work of no other institu-
ton In the city that the Bethel is of
the utmost Importance to; ST. Paul
The transient-the man who comes in
late at night and hurries out the next
morning-sees but one phase of the
BethePs work. This transient enters
the neat Office, he signs the register
and Is given one of the many rooms
that open off the mems sitting room
and smoking room on the second floor.
He sleeps in a well ventilated room on
neat white cot and Is called prompt
ly at the hour he desires in the morn
ing.
If he wishes breakfast he goes down
to the coffee room on the first floor,
walks up to the counter and orders
what he desires from the bill of fare,
which, plainly printed and with the
price asked for each article Of food
affixed to that article, hangs over the
counter. When the food he has or
dered is brought from the kitchen to
the counter he carries it himself to
one of the small, oil cloth covered ia
bles. Then he pays his bill, which may
not amount to more than 30 cents,
and departs.
If he is of an observing turn of mind
he may notice and wonder at the alb.
sence of any printed rules either in
the room in which he has, slept or IN
any other part of the house, But that
will not enlighten him at all in regard
to the scope Of the Bethefsywork The
place in which he has passed the night
Will probably seem to him just an in
expensive hotel, remarkably clean and
remarkably quiet, where the man who
desires to save or who has little money,
can find rest and refreshment.
Rooms for Permanent Guests.
But such a transient has had the
advantage Of one feature of the
BethePs work-though perhaps the
least important one The rooms on
the second floor are given up to those
men who desire only a nights lodg-
Ing, but the third, fourth and fifth
floors above these have been fitted up
for those who desire permanent home
In the Bethel Even the tiniest rooms
have cheerful paper on the walls and
the lace curtain which shades the win
dow that looks out on a court and the
Wmte spread on the cot are spotlessly
clean. Then there are larger rooms
with windows looking out on the street
where two men or man, and his wife
may find coy quarters.l Is &
The third floor has been reserved for
women guests. A private entrance 20
this floor and costly fitted-up recep-
ton room relieve those women who de-
sire to make their home, at the Bethel
from any necessity of minghng with or
meeting the other gueStSsAnless they SO
desire. On the fourth and fifth floors
are the rooms for the men. There are
about lao sleeping rooms inathe build
ing, and about 80 of these are fitted
up for transients. On eacht floor there
40 q OotA AOOlll anu OH TIE SECOND I1OOr
there are shower baths for rthe men.
So much for the mere .'liying facili-
ties" offered by the Bethel hotel. But
the institution is far more Bethel"
than hotel" and though the Bethel
spirit pervades the entire building, it
will be most perceptible this winter on
the second floor. For on this floor will
be found the rooms in which will be
carried on the work that glorified the
Bethel boat, battered old craft though
1t was.
On Sundays there will be religious
services and in the afternoon Sunday
school, but the rest of the week will be
devoted to secular work. In the room
which will serve Sundays for Sunday
school sessions there is to be fitted up
kitchen garden and here lessons in
domestic science will be given, for
which a nominal sum will be charged
long room on the other side will be
given up to the Industrial schools
which Miss Clara Mehnert has so sue
cessfully conducted for many years on
the old Bethel boat. Here, too, will be
held. the mothers teas which were so
important a feature of the Bethel's
work on the boat.
Rest Room for Working Women.
Mrs. c. G. Higbee, to whom the
Bethel Mothers club owes its present
development and its far-reaching
helpfulness, will take charge of these