The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1904-05-17
LOOMING Ton W0Rk
IN fA|Q SPOKANE
The History Of the Wasted Life Of Yale
Graduate, Written by Himself.

! in the city jail, where they are turn
ed loose in the morning.
bright-eyed youth entered and
took a seat near me. He looked to be
In hard luck. I asked him what he
was working at His brows contract
ed sharply and with eyes filing with
tears he said that was just it, why,
I'm Just looking for work"
Had TO Sleep In Saloons.
Most of these men, from all appear
ances, were respectable working men.
Several said they stayed in the saloon
all night because they had no place
to go and were afraid of being ar
rested as vagrant IL at an early
hour Of the morning they ventured
out on the street, for, said one. I'VE
know what the police have done to
others in hard luck"
Perhaps these men had no business
in the saloon. They spent no money.
1t was not regular, but somehow the
management didn't have the heart to
put them out. They were orderly,
generally sober and well behaved.
There was no sham politeness, but
there was what is infinitely greater
true feeling of brotherly love for
their fellow man.
When the great automatic organ
struck UP a selection from Gounod,
Faust or Verdi it seemed to its hum
BILE listeners as though the master
seemed pagan in hopelessness and re-.
nunciative, but the heavily burdened
soul was brought at least for the TIME
being through doubts and fears and
sufferings into a perfect harmony and
temporary peace.
At these times speech seemed al
most a sacrilege in that smoke-laden
room. Some listened, spellbound, to
Chopin, being oblivious to the chatter
in the theater above or the sound Of
revelry in the rear.
Why Men Choose the Saloon.
As I walked out under the early
morning stars and drew a full breath
of fresh air I did not wonder why
men ignored the mission across tho
way, where individual Christianity
did not attract, and turned their steps
to where they might listen to Gods
voice in the beautiful strains Of or
gan music.
On Front and Stevens streets at an
early hour of the morning you can
see intoxicated men in every direc-
ton.
Intoxicated men seem attracted to
each other. If one drunk staggered
out OF saloon, another would follow
within FIVE minutes, either to make
friends or fight.
also thought as looked about me
of the great number Of soulless wom-
en- who are wandering nightly upon
the streets and what their pure
minded and charitable sisters in Spo-
kane are doing for their betterment.
The Pickering lights soon began to
die away and only the hot tamale man
and the hackdrivers remained.
In the ghostly silence Of the morn
ing I walked down to the Howard
street bridge. where unused over my
experience as an outcast in Spokane.
The bridge was deserted. The mills
on the rivers banks and the big
brewery stood muffled in gloom and
the lights on the banks reflected deep
in the water brought out these
thoughts on the condition of the
other half-which bears the burden
and when it has the opportunity does
the work with ne'er a complaint.
My personal experience in vain
effort to obtain employment does not
differ perhaps materially from that
of any other man who wishes to be
honestly employed.
Although educated at Yale, talking
five different languages. and with
much experience with the world. I
find that my chances are but the same
as my brothers in disaster.
Fellow Classmate Refuses.
After walking the streets for five
days l applied to the Washington
Water Power company for work. I
thought here I would stand a show,
as one of the officials was a classmate
ing when called. He told me to call
again at 2 in the afternoon He said
he would try to do something for me.
called again. He informed me had
been freQuenting saloons-and where
else had / to go?-and he was sorry
he could do nothing for me.
AS I went away I thought which
would be the greater sin in sight of
God, my going into saloon for shell
ter, or the stealing of a public fran
chise by large corporation,
washed Dishes for Meals.
! went into restaurant on Stevens
street and washed dishes for a meal.
Many times did this. They at least
would not see me starve.
I next called on a prominent poll
tician. He had nothing for me to do.
although my references were all
right. With him. as with others of
the moneyed class, I found that the
man was valued solely on money
basis. The workingman I found in
variably sized a man up for what he
truly was, and their judgment was
usually accurate.
Cinnamon Fed Me.
went among the Cinnamon with
out money and with signs made them
understand I was hungry. They gave
freely bread and tea. The Japanese
did likewise. found this charity
among the poor in Cuba and invari-
ably among the oriental races, and
yet we call them heather. Is It a
disgrace to be poor in Spokane or
happen to be without work.
A certain mining attorney. who has
the milk of human kindness in his
heart, has come to my aid as l write
this and shall at least enjoy three
square meals.
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