BUM'S RUSH IN MANH.fTTAN
37
I said the hell, but they took me around the corner and bought me
a rye and a package of tobacco when they found my pouch was empty.
They gave me the address of their union and I promised to be sure and
sign up if I got a berth.
They left me in the barroom to take up their post and warn pro–
spective workaways. The tobacco came in handy because the pipe restored
tranquillity and took away the aftertaste of the poor rye. There was a
fly-spotted but ample free lunch counter and I stuffed myself with liyer–
wurst on soda crackers. I returned to the flophouse just in time to make
the quota. They turned hundred away. The tough official wasn't
there and the orders were handed out by people who appeared to be
trusties.
\Ve undressed while water was being warmed in a primitive boiler.
Everybody but the trusties had to take a shower. A uniformed individual
asked whether any of us had contagious diseases but he did not wait for
an answer. Most of the men seemed to have gone through the mill
before ar:td he was completely disregarded. They undressed slowly and
reluctantly. They spoke in undertones and belched and left sullen farts.
The aggresive youth of the afternoon breadline was taunting someone
whose red flannel unionsuit shone in the gloom. This Irishman scratched
at his sores with carressing, gnarled fingers and the youth poured abuse
until a trusty shoved him across a pile of clothing on to my bench.
"How long do you wear your socks, Irish?" he shouted back.
The trusty said, "That's enough out of you tor the night," and
that made the boy lower his voice.
"He wears them until they're so stiff he just stands them at the foot
of the bed and steps into them like you would in a boot."
"That's an old gag," I said.
The men eyed each other's bodies furtively and their mutterings
wove into the hissing flame of gas under the
bo~er.
They clung close
to the unpainted brick walls, black 'with smoke and chipped by heavy
impacts. The floor was below the next room's level and coated by a
residue of soap from previous group showers. The Irishman picked his
way carefully between the benches and applied the seams of his red under–
wear to the burning gas. He was delighted at the crackling of the lice.
He showed the heavy cloth around the benches and the grease spots
evoked grudging grunts of admiration. The youth continued to revile
him. He said, "Put your hair into that fire and them cooks will have
enough grease for tomorrow's soup."
