Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1861-04-05

ed thousands Of the poor and desti-
ute free of charge, has recently thrown
lis doors open once more to the needy.
On the east side Of the city he has put
IN circulation hundreds of little cards
which read as follows:
JOHN W. FARMER's
FREE DINING SALOON,
No. AZ Ludlow Street.
Come and eat, ye poor and hungry, without
money and without price.
Open from in the evening until midnight. |
AS consequence, his place is crowd
ed nightly by men, women, and chill
dren, the lowest and most degraded be-
ing as warmly welcomed as if they
we're dressed in the height of fashion.
No. Al Ludlow Street is a narrow little
place, more like a hallway than an eat
ing saloon. On one side is placed a
table running lengthwise, at which, by
close packing on both sides, about fifty
persons can be seated.
Last evening, some time before the
saloon was opened, the hungry ones
began to assemble upon the walk in
front, till the sidewalk was completely
blocked up. When the door was open,
Mr.. G. Fl. Campbell, Superintendent,
received the guests for Mr.. Farmer
Preference was given to the women,
the men being demolished to "allov
the ladies to come in first" The table
being filled up on both sides, the door
was locked again to prevent crowding
! inside, and those on the walk had to
wait till the first table full we're served.
This they did with perfect good nature,
forming in line quietly by the door to
await their turn While they wait, the
conversation turns upon the liberality
Of Mr.. Farmer, and the blessings of
God are invoked in his behalf in nearly
every known tongue. One haggard
looking woman, of Irish nativity, who
is so scantily clad that even the mod
crate air of last night pinched her form
and made it shiver with cold, is evil
IDENTIFY indebted to Mr.. Farmer for
more than one meal. Every few mo-
ments she speaks to those assembled,
telling them to be patient, and be
thankful that God has given means to
so good man as Mr.. Farmer. To the
men she says: When you get to work
again in the summer, and are earning
money for yourself, don't forget the
IAN who fed you in the winter when
you were starving, but patronize him
50 that he shall lose nothing by you.
| Meantime those inside are astonishing
, their stomschs with hearty NEAL
t There is variety for them to choose
from-cold corned beef, ham, pork
fish, bread, potatoes, cabbage, turnips
: onions, &c, and soup. Soup is il
t great demand-hot nice soup, made
t from wholesome knuckles of beef, ricl
! with vegetables Of all kinds, served ou
, in steaming bowls. 1t contains the
nourishment of all the other dishes
served there, with the additional re-
commentator of warming as we'll al
filling the stomach. Each one has hi!
pint bowl full, and second one if h
wants it. At the table sit stout, robus
4 young men, thrown out of employment
and without means, who would soone
v pay for their meals in labor if tina
: we're possible. Then there is the tot
i. tering old man whose whitening lock-
0 and wrlnkled face tell Of sixty winter
at least, sitting beside an emaciatet
( mother whose babe suckles while sh'
: eats. Here are little boys and girl
= whose chin are below the level Of tn
bowl they eat from. ALI are welcome
and all are fed. AS they rise from tn
table with the favor Of the soup still il
their mouths, they turn to the manager
each and every one with "God bless
you, Sir" or "Much obliged to you
Sir" So hearty comes to them the
answer, "You're perfectly welcome,
Sir come again tomorrow night, anc
every night when you are hungry
and they almost feel they had done
: Mr.. Farmer service.
Another company is admitted, and
they take their seats as directed, wait
ing in silence their turn to be served.
Here is little girl, ragged and baro-
foot, who has been waiting outside in
the snow for half an hour she hangs
back a moment to speak to Mr.. Camp
bell. He is soon at her side, and she
whispers, Please sir, my mother is sick
tonight and can't come WON'T you
please let me take her little some
thing to eat? Certainly, my dear, re-
piled the manager, you sit right down
and eat all you can, and your mother
shall have some too. The child takes
her seat cheerfully, and in q few min
utes bowl Of hot soup is placed be-
fore her, and beside is little tin.pail
| full Of the same food for her mother.
She swallows hers in haste, and turn
ing to give the heartfelt, Thank you,
sir, runs home as fast as she can
Here is a poor Irish woman, who spoke
to the men outside heat which
comes into tho room from the ad join
ing kitchen has warmed her shrunken
form she fingers to speak to the man
ager. She has little, puny daughter:
at home, whom she dare not bring out
in tie wet, and she wants to know If
she can take her mouthful Of soup
Sure, she says, it's no pleasure for me
to sit down here and eat a hearty sup
per, unless she have some-indeed, sir,
couldn't do it. He answers, Sit