New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-09-22
City Treats Its
Lodging House
Guests Rough
CONTINUED from paas one,

and oxfords with the soles worn
through and the heels run down. The
entire complement of his pockets was
a pipe, some tobacco and seven cents
In order to develop the proper spirit
Of humility and to make his story for
tho lodging house officials more con-
vincing, he spent an hour in sitting on
bench in Madison Square. Also, he
avoided eating supper. His arrival at
the lodging house was at 1880 o'clock,
half an hour before the midnight "dead-
line" for receiving inmates.
He was met at the door by uni
formed Waterman, the only kindly
spirited individual he discovered dur
ing his entire stay there.
"How's the chances for bed for tho
night?" the reporter inquired, in as
humble and deferential tone as he
could muster. ''
We'll, guess we can fix you up,"
replied the Waterman, carefully "sizinp
up" the visitor. That's what the place
is for. Ever been here before 2"
NO" the reporter answered. owe
just been playing in hard luck lately.
and don't want to start sleeninc in the
parks"
=, "All right" said the Waterman.
Had anything to eat?"
No, and I'm kinda hungry"
well, go on in there.S And he
pointed to large room, equipped with
about forty tables, kitchen chairs set
tour to table and with several big
copper kettles reposing behind a coun-
yer running the full length of one side.
buc you'll have to make it snappy,"
he said, because we're getting ready
to close up"
Iogether with two other just-arrived
guests" the reporter did as he was
directed. Before stepping up to the
counter for his meal he started to place
MS nat on one of the chairs.
Never mind that" ordered the lone
man behind the counter. "You can
carry carr your hat and your grub with it.
o'ay up mere until you get it."
his grub" This consisted of a bowl
of what is known in hobo parlance as
slumgullion," cup containing a mud
dy, brackish liquid libeling the good
name of coffee and two slices of very
stale and very dry bread.
The ingredients of the "slumgullion"
appeared to be two or three large
chunks of potato, some sliced carrots. a
sprlnkllng of onions and a couple of
pieces of meat, with bone reinforce
ment, which appeared to have been par
oolled into submissive state for mas
tlcation. These solids were submerged
oy liquid possessing the appearance
OF mixture of water and axle grease.
Inc reporter has never quaffed water
I.
knows now just about how it would
taste.
Meat Defies Tablespoon
AS sole weapon for attacking this
meal the reporter was provided with a
battered tablespoon. Inasmuch as the
clnging qualities Of the meat to it's
pone affinlties were intensive, it may
be seen that some rather profound diff
ficulties were encountered in eating the
mixture. But eat it the reporter did
His two companion guests" finished
eating. simultaneously, and all three
were hidden by another Waterman, by
the peremptory waving of an arm, to
step outside, into an adjoining corri-
dor.
The reporter was led to a window
legended First Timers" He was d.
rected by the Waterman to stand sew
eral PAGES back OF his companion, who
was a red-haired, middle-aged man
who presented every indication of being
an industrious toiler who had come to
the lodging house only because he had
been unable. to find a Job. Hence the
reporter failed to hear answers to the
questions put to him--but there was no,
escaping listening to the questions as
snapped at him by the surly, glowering.
thin-featured clerk back of the desk.
Guest Gets Surly Treatment
"Name?" he whipped out. and then.
to the reply of the man under inquisi
ton: "Well, spell it out! Whadd'ye
think ana mind reader?' Several
times during the rest of the cross-ex-
animation he graced his queries bv
such remarks as: whats the matter
with you? Think this is a schoolroom
or something" "Wake up; I can't be
hanging around here all night for the
likes O. YOU; and, "Say, get next to
yourself and answer what l tell YOU.
not what you think you ought to saw
Profiting by this lesson in lodginr
house reception, the reporter was
speedy and clear with his answers
when his turn for the ordeal came.
Than tho r1arl- Loruol