The Washington herald., 1911-05-14

coddles. The men were not to be petted
or restricted in their legitimate pleasures
and enioyments, but a club was to be
created where right-minded young men
and old men of the service of the Ter
minal Company and the allied lines COM
prising Mat corporation could meet for
pleasure or profit or worship or rest at
any time OF the day or the night. The
extent to which the club is used and
how welcome It was to the railroad men
is reflected in the membership roll.
which to-day, after the club has been
in existence less than three years, num-
bers 57i.
These are a few of the things that
the railroad man who journeys into the
National Capital finds awaiting him in
the comfortable club rooms Of Union
Station: A library Of s76 volumes, to
which new Rbooks are added as fast as
the fees for withdrawal mount up to the
point where new purchases are possible;
pool and billiard rooms, three fine bowl
ing alleys, sleeping apartments, baths,
and, best of ALL, a fine, modern gymna-
sium with 1886 square feet of floor space,
equipped with every new and old ap-
pliance for exercise and indoor sport.
What does all this cost the members?
Exactly IS dues per annum. Not a penny
of initiation fee. All of the vast. club
space, including the gymnasium and its
equipment. has been donated by the
Washington Terminal Company. Further
more, the Terminal Company supple
ments the funds received from the MEM
bership dues by a generous appropria-
ton to cover all deficits each year.
Welcome TO Strangers.
Now just imagine that you are a green
brakeman. You have worked for a short
term on one of the little "jerk water"
lines of the South or the far West. All
at once you strike out for the big towns
You obtain a job on the Pennsylvania
or the Baltimore and Ohio or the Chesa-
peake and Ohio, any one Of the great trunk
lines centering in Washington. You land at
Union Station after your first run,
tired, greasy, dirty, and longing for the
little place out in Kansas where, when
you had finished your days toll, you were
accustomed to climb slowly up the hill
to the little cottage where mother set
out the hot biscuits and the honey and
the eggs and the fried chicken, and after
supper you could curl up in the little
attic bedroom under the caves and know
that mother would be on the job with
the summons to early breakfast. the
lunch-psil ready, and the new day fixed
ta start right.
looks over the great concourse Of the
Union Station. He pictures to himself
q tinesome hunt for "a boarding place
. etuffy. ill-smelling room with bad cook
ing and worse companionship.
5'Back to dear old Kansas for me-"
says the little brakeman. But tonight
has got to be taken care of.
/"Can you direct me to a place where
! can get lodging and breakfast?" he
Asks of big usher wearing the blue
Ind silver of the Terminal corps.
Sure" replies he OF the natty uni
form. Right up stairs. kid. and ask
for the Y. NJ. c. A. Wait a minute; III
Introduce YOU"
( Then it's up in the elevator to the third
floor OF the great station.
This kid wants a bed" remarks the
fisher, and the green brakeman is turned
/bver to the Y. NJ. c.. A. officials.
Want to wash, too?" asks the man In
charge.
Il reckon So" replies the youngster,
cycling his grimy paws and solled coun-
tepance In the nearby mirror.
This way, them says the attendant,
whdeupon ne leads the yomgster to-
ward the baths.
He begins HIS FIRST day as patron
- The terminal department OF the 7. n.