New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-02-10
FEEDING THE HUNGRY.

hitherto Away been able to live i'll comparative alu
ence and when want pressed sharply upon class Of
citizens which u.s. under ordinary circumstance ex
empt from suffering and independent in circum-
stances IL will be remembered a time when many
transformations deeds Of charity done for Chartys
sweet sake without bazOn to the world, and without
the hope or chance of return II the truth could be
come at it would Le found that the pockets Of many
suit Of broadcloth, daily in the streets penni-
less and the thereof has not where to lay his
head at nights, and has accurate data from which
predict dinner for himself those dependent him.
The number Of unemployed clerks, bookkeepers,
and Of similar caings now 10 this oity is greater
than before. These men wear fine clothes be-
cause the nature of their business has required it, and
because they have no other, and they exempy the
fact that the raegedet j. not necessarily the
needy. Men like these are very 10th TO beg and
any arrangement by which, If they must be the recp
tents of charity, they be spared unnecessary hui
initiation is a truly generous An eating -hOuse
where people could eat their fill and then depart, with
out price, and without going through ordeal Of i'm
pertinent questions, would in addition to the common
classes OF bcggars who naturally crowd to such place
give relief to hundreds who would long suffer the bitter
paugs of hunger before they could find courage to
speak their wants And such house has been estab-
Shed in city, and has been in operation for three
months, and the fame thereof has not got abroad
Proceeding down Ludlow street, when opposite No.
A. between Hester and Grand streets, the eye of the
Traveller s caught by large banner suspended
the street, which is painted the mysterious words;
a. W PARnrR's FREE DINING SALOON.
PLENTY TO Eat AND NOTHING TO PAY"
Entering the house the curious stranger finds himself
in nca OAK grained room, which was evidently in
tended to be used as store; the windows are cur
tanned with white muslin and everything has the look
Of neatness aud careful attention. The most noticeable
article Of furniture is long table running lengthways
of the ROOM and covered with brown cloth. There
number Of barrels Of -four along the wall aud
stove, with spacious oven, does the double dsty Of
heating the comfortably and bakisg tlIty-fve
ia'ge loaves of homemade bread every day be,ide
assisting in great deal of miscellaneous cooking.
There no chairs benches other seats provided,
that those who dine at the long dinng-table must
stand.
This is the L" Free Dining Saloon" The proprietor
is Mr.. John Washington Farmer, American, by
occupation plumber, whose place Of business is at
No. 2iS Broome street. The history u his present
charitable operation is as follows:
Last November after the banks had smashed,
manufactures suspended, and the "panc" began to
tell severely Oh the poorer classes, Dlr. Farmer,
moved TO pity by the distress of the needy in his
vicinity the Tenth Ward concei, ed the plan of open
ing room where hungry men could be fed without
charge. He began the experiment on compare
lively small scale opening in the upper part
Of the premises No. AZ Ludlow street, where he gave
free dinner every day to small number of persons
generally 80 to 10. This continued for nearly
two months when he determined to enlarge his ope
rations. Accordingly the large room on the lower
floor of the building made ready, convenieuces
for cooking were prepared, and on Monday, the 18th
of January, the place thrown open to all VINO
chose to come. And come they did in thrOngs, for
Runner not likely to be tardy-footed when she
sd to tell Of free dinners; and the glad tidngs of
great JOY trumpeted throughout the city, the
eating ouse was besiegcd
Officers are now regularly detailed from the Tenth
Ward Station-louse to be present at the doors and
restrain any unruy demonstrations though the crowd
is generally very quiet and there is little need OF Off
cal interference.
Thity-four persons can stand at the said long table
and cat without interfering with each others convent
cnce The officers admit from the throng outside about
seventy at time half Of whom take their places al
the table, while the rest range themselves along the
wall and maintain perfect order until the first install
ment have filled themselves, when they step into the
vacant places. BY this plan time is lost in coming
in or going out of the room and all confusion is avoided
everything being done decently and in ORDER
The place is open and food is dispensed from a.
to II p but the great rush sat the regular dnner
hours from II M to p. m and it is only at that time
that the presence Of the officers il absolutely required
though there are generally two in attendance
oil the time.
No questions src asked any applicant for relief
the touching statement, am hungry is the pass
word that opeus tue door to AL matter what the ma
ton color the only qualification being that the per-
son shall be sober. Many have applied for help when
drank under the influence of liquor, but these are
invariably refused until they get sober the fair suppo-
sitiOn being that go long man can get money to
buy rum he is in DO danger of starving.
The number of regulate who present themselves
every day is about COO these reliable customers
and may be depended Beside these there are from
IN to 400 daily who Gent hither for temporary
lief or who only come here for occasional dinner
when their endeavors TO procure elsewhere have
failed There are 10 entire families who have been for
many weeks wholly or partially supported at this
house, the being unable to obtain employment or
10 efectually help themselves.
No food lie given away to be carried OFF professional!
beggars of this regulation frequently present
themselves with their large baskets which sone-
times nearly filled with food they have obtained in
other quarters they sent away of with no
additions to their stores The number Of hungry people
is greater here week days than Sunday, many OF
them being unaware that the place is open on that
day. Last Saturday ,Oy3 persons were fed; Sum
day about 62j and yesterday, at p. m, 30 had
called eaten their fill and gone their ways There are
about 20 women who come regularly, between 300 and
100 children, and about 500 men. The women are