The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-24
HUMAN DERELICTS
FOUND ON BOWERY
Many of Them Have Had Col
Iege Education
SCHOLARS IN TATTERS
Vices of Various Kinds and Hard Luck
Partly Responsible for Plight
of Men Who Have Seen
Better Days.
SCHOLARS IN EATERS
From the Mashington Post.

From the Washington Post
Recent Investigations show that more
than one-fourth of the unemployed, the
unfortunates, or what ever one may
choose to call them, who apply to the
Bowery branch of the Young Mems Chris
tian association are men who have had a
college education. This fact was en-
phasized recently in a statement made by
the secretary of the branch, w. H. Hoot
in an appeal for funds with which to erect
a building adequate to the demands of
the institution.
In the year just closed the total number
of men aided was 3006. According to tho
annual report of the branch, the propor-
ton of men aided who had had univer-
sity, college, academic or high school ed
ucation was more than 20 per cent. This
condition has prevailed since the institu-
ton began its existence nineteen years
ago.
AS to the ages of these men, 81 per
cent are under 3d.
1t Is not an unusual thing at the Bow
cry branch of the association to find men
who translate Greek as a pastime during
the weary wait for work, and others who
are familiar with the higher mathematics
and the classics. At a religious meeting
IL lew DuHudyB ago IL clergyman IN the
course of his address had occasion incon-
gruously enough, to quote from an ancient
poet. Slowly In the midst of the dere-
licts who had drifted in for warmth and
shelter a young man arose, necessarily
shabby and unkempt or he would not have
been there, and with beautifully phrased
apologies pointed out to the speaker a
mistake in the quotation and proceeded
to translate the quotation from ancient
Greek.
Yielded to Liquor.
The speaker, surprised to find a man
with such an education among these I'M
fortunates, made inquiry and learned that
the young man was college bred and had
once had good social position Financial
misfortune had come, then he yielded to
liquor and lost one place after another,
until he found himself q rover, penniless
and friendless. The institution has made
a new man of him, and he is beginning
life over again.
Almost any afternoon or evening one
may single out these seedy scholars in the
assembly room of the branch. They come
and go. Few remain long.
Some hold themselves aloof from the
rabble that floats in from the Bowery,
others will hobnob with the veriest no.
boes, who will listen without compre-
hending to talks on the classics Among
these have been former preachers and
professors, men OF all classes and condi-
lions and belonging to families of distinc-
ton.
1t is constant source of wonder to the
speakers who address the evangelical
meetings to find men here who should
naturally be holding places of dstinc-
ton.
what strange, ill-starred fate brings
about such a calamity, such humiliating
finale to once bright prospects?" was
asked of a man who has studied the
question.
Sometimes genuine misfortune" was
the reply, but usually an utter lack of
sense of responsibility for himself or his
future Also a born spirit Of discon-
tent with his lot, no matter how good it
may be, is to blame.
"A man wants a nice job without work.
ing up to it. He leaves his home, per-
haps a good job at from 81 to So a day,
and comes to New York without money or
prospects. He is soon in the bread line.
I'VE can't stop 1t. We have tried. We
don't know how.
Want to Be President at Once.
Boys as we'll as men want to be bank
presidents at once. 1t Is not ambition,
but an aimless, shlftless disposition that
inspires them. They do not concentrate.
but drift from one thing to another and
from place to place.
Drink Is not the only thing that ship
wrecks a mans life. The spirit of dis
content will land one in a sea of despair
and ruination.
Sometimes these wanderers land in
New York and walk the streets for days
without food or shelter. When they come
here we get them a job outside of New
York If they are willing to work.
Most men are glad enough to go back
home as soon as they discover existing
conditions n this great city. They want
to go where they know some people,
With money all gone and no friends this
isn't the easiest town to get along in
Not long ago a young man who had
just been released from Blackwell's
Island, where he had been committed as
vagrant, Joined the wayfarers Of the
Bowery and eventually appeared at the
association branch asking for aid. He
had fallen through gambling and dissi-
patton, running through the property of
his widowed mother. After much per-
suasion he agreed to reform. and after
getting employment was restored to his
mother, who had mourned him as dead.
He had recently been graduated from
university.
But not all are so fortunate as to see