New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-02-10
BREAKFAST WITH STATTONHOtSE
L0DGERS

II is well-known fact to those interested IN
the private charities OF the City that two months ago
"The Howard Mission" inaugurated the custom OF
issuing cards Of invitation to Sunday morning DreaS
fast at the Mission the better class OF station
House dodgers who, by the pressilre OF poverty, ara
crowded into the StaOn-Houses throughout the nerOp
oils and especially in unusually large numbers upon SAT
urday nights The present Superintendent OF the MIS-
this PLAN and it has worked TO the satisfaction OF all
persons Interested The usual attendance at these break
fasts IS upon average, about $50, OF both sexes;
and of every age. The males usually predominant, anu
occasions the number OF guests was pet"een oV
and 400 Last Sunday 30 OF these homeless beings par
took Of this welcome meal and after dong so steeu ~
prayers offered at their own desire by Mi van elei an
The other officers of the institution and marched 10
church in the vicinity and nearly hied one eiue IN
lery Yesterday there was an attendance OF nIiheu
aud fifty of these poor people, large pro
portion OF whom were young men ana women
After the breakfast, which consisted as usual Oh GA
Mior hnil5ing where the customary conversation and
prayers were held. As may be supposed, sad tales OF
sad fact was noted that many of the guests we'll
known to the officers of the mission. Many men were
remarked having been welcomed AT the SUNDAY oeah
aIe1 With decaev and sympathy the reason OF their
repeated and almost regular visits the answer was t
for weeks they had perhaps known no other shelter
than the statiOn-housc, other food than that
furnished by the charity of strangers me same stor
was ccIted-no work and no home 10 DE RAD as hces
sary consequence Few know the OF the destitu
ton which prevails among the poor throughout the cy
1t is the first Winter In the experience Ot the ponce III
which american trorkingine'l, 'rih 0eir ydmes have
protection or the statlOnhO
The accommodations OF the station houses hey
for very large number OF dodgers upon Single hgnt
and enlarged though many OF them have been Wlthlh
the year, still remain entirely 100 lhlted DOM "a
SPACE and number for the crowds that nightly poad
for admission, many OF whom must DC leiusscu'
Tho faces OF the guests at the Howard Mission yesterday
would have furnished singular studies 70 ts pa! sogo
almost every conceivable type OF "Iccheuhe5s NS
rcprcseuted these breakfast guests are choseh AZ INC
discretion OF the police officers from the very best seci
mems of the poor in their charge. And II they are Tue
best and look utterly miserable, God help the worst
on Saturday afternoon package OF these CARDS Oh III
vitaon Is left with the Captain OF each station house
for distribution among their dodgers Tor tle sun
dav breakfast upon presentation OF which card
al about o'clock upon the following morning.
at the Howard Association, Mr. Van Metef
stands ready to welcome the holder 10 Dreakiasl'
before partang OF which, however, he Is refreshed WIN
wash or shave as be necessary. After this cere,
Inony collars. socks and various other minor artce' O
comfort are distributed among the needy, and they axe
narshaled into breakfast where they are invited NOT 20
take cup OF coffee, bur just rs many cups rs thtS ue
sire with bread in proportion. The cost of proylding
breakfast for an average or 200 persons IS only 80
Instances related IA great number or persons pre-
that IL should used for the next days breakfast AZ
ter their breakfast the room IN which Is eaten, warmed
lighted Is at their disposal Tor the rest OF tue
day attend the sunday school OF the Little wander
ers In the afternoon the chapel OF the Howard Mission
strange etorcs scraps 0f strange biography other than
destitutiOn weekly heard AT these SuhduJ
morning conferences. Womenoftcntlmes the straylnE
daughter from once happy household IN these
morning hours OF sympathy, come 10 Just sense OF the
mast folly and perycrsty, and IN tears ana sobs Nfte
letters the long abandoned home asking forgiveness
And not only have been thus rescued nom nFts
~ misery have been restored 20 brOkcnhenfed
parents aud situations found FOR some IN the city In
many other ways the charitable sunday breakfasts 0i
the Toward Mission prove charity 20 the glaeilI thOt
sands who have partaken Of them in the unpleasant
character OF Station House dodgers.