Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1913-03-22
sewer PIE HOTEL
Starving Youth Led "Home" by
Another Wait in Paris.
Boy Shares In outeast's Fare-strang-
er Able to Rescue GuiGe But
Other Inmates Perish
When Stove Upsets.


Paris.-Robert Epiphane was look
ing down at the river wondering,
He was seventeen years old and
whenever the police arrested him his
trade was entered on the books as
"mattress-maker" Some years ago
Robert had worked at mattress max
Ing. That is to say he had vague
recollection of combing wool for an
old woman who made over mattresses
outside house doors and who gave
Robert something to eat when he re-
fused to do any more work on an
empty stomach
But that was a long time ago Rob
ert Fpiphane was not quite sure how
long ago 1t was, because he had been
hungry for a long time He had slept
on a bench on the boulevards the
night before,
Then the miracle happened, Rob
\ ert Epiphane was looking at the wa
\ ter and wondering. And as he looked
y at the water a little boat drifted BY
y an absurd little boat made of an old
Z cigar box bit of lead pencil and
string Robert Epiphane looked at 1t
& lazily Then he shouted aloud
He had seen a penny piece-twc
Y whole sous!-in the cigar box. Rob
! art Fpiphane never knew now nc
a got DOWN to the water.
q Halves" said voice. in whis'
" per-, behind hlnga RoteFt iepipAare
"a gave a whimper that was meant g be
a 4 how'd OF rage. Then. slipping the
a penny into his mouth ut was weak
.& hut it was safor than in his pocket
a he struck blindlv AZ anosher raga
muffin. who caught him as he fell
q --Tne other Lragamuftin. was standing
over him as he spt on the muddy
ground. We'll, old man . he wbis
Epered, In the hoarse voiceless whis
Per in which he had said "Halves"--
fhe voice which starvation and ex.
aPosure gives to Paris wastrels--"Well.
Pld man. and what about it?" tits
4nine" said Robert Fpinhane Il can
#et bit of sausage ana bread for 1t
Come with me-" said tho ethn--
|AN They had not rar to go On the
NAY the second scarecrow, whose
Name he told Robert was Maurice
Maction was spinning a fairy tale
hich amused Robert but which he
HID not believe. 1t was all about
'brgotten sewer pipe--a beautiful bic
iiece of piping furnished with sack.
jhg and a stove-a big pipe in a quiet
IS here Maurice Faction and three
4 ther men. Jules. George and Henri
Aad been living for a week.
Robert Fpiphane did not believe
he. story but 1t amused his muddled
rain, and as long as that penny was
tafe in his hand he did not care Then
Whey came to the palace. and to his
Mma7ement he saw what. Maurice Fac
ION had told him was true.
Robert nearly pitched headafrst on
he stove when his eyes had accus
Wbmed themselves to the dim light
the palace. for near 1t. on news
Haper, there was banquet. The
oor Of Paris call 1t "arieduin." 1t is
IN mixture of scraps Of cold food from
BE restaurants and you get quite o
bt for half penny. for bones are
plable commodities and the "arle
#uin" men have better use for tho
t than to sell 1t for food. There
ust have been quite three-penn,
orth there on the newspaper Rob
N made dash for a handful and
lE $ penny rane clear on the pipe: Thc
roe men woke up
What's that? Money ~ they--said
together Maurice Faction ex
4 aimed Robert was little on his
bad with cold, and hunger like the
st of us" he told them. He had
led TO kill bin when he wanted to
halves in the penny He thought
ey- might take Robert in and let him
lodger for the night. Ass 81 q
'.N The very poor don't talk much &c
= hch other The other men glanced
Robert grunted and made room,
r him. Jules looked, at him keeniy
Mcketed the penpvsend then went &c
eep again. satisfied
He was dreaming that the smoke
ps choking him when he woke mp
Wmebodv had kicked the stove over
he other four We're sound asleen and
Wnnefed The palace was sitting
ison He fought with the wooden
Por for what seemed hours. Then
last, he broke It open For more
a urs MANY more or that was what
seemed he tusged at the foui
dies till he rplled them out Tive
fcemen found them Georges and
enry were dead and Jules would
y yer steal paving blocks again. But
ne lodeer" and Maurice are In the
fie hospital in real beds with real
Z, lite sheets. now. and they drink
H rNa.k - -. -sr