New-York tribune., 1873-12-26
HOLLY TREE FRUIT.


HARTFORD BRANCH OF THE hoi-Li i"AN
INN.
LESSON LEARNED FROM BosroN-rhk BHAN0h AND
rrs 1p,.,-r.py CHARITIES CHEAP AND GOOD
voon FOB THE pooR--A woMAN's UNION AND ITS
wopx-noys' AND GIRLS READING-EooMs-AD DAY
NURSERY AND sEwING-sCHooL-A SYSTEM OF
CHARITIES.
,,Rox AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF TIIK rRbUNEl
U,pTroRp. Conn., Dec. Sit is fact familiar to
many readers Of THE TRIBUNE that in the City OF
Rc.ton there was established few Winters since
cheap restaurant for working people, whose contin-
ned existence was guaranteed by wealthy persons OF
benevolent disposition. 1t was an attempt to pro
vide the poorer classes with wellcooked food at the
lowest possible cost that would really sustain neat
aud well-kept temperance restaurant without
making serious drag upon those who established IT.
The charitable lady, Mrs James I. Fields who
was the first and chief mover i'll the matter named
the establishment in honor Of the memory OF very
dear friend of hers Mr. Charles Dickens, the Holly
Tree Inn" thus giving local habitation IN New
England to one of his most charming Christmas sto-
ries of Old England. The Boston Holly Tree has so
ourished and prospered that crafts have been made
and set ont in some of Connecticut cities, all ot
which believe, are still hourshing for with due
care this kind of holly tree viii flourish in any soil
or climate. 1t is the story of the Hartford holly tree
that this letter seeks to tell in the hope that the
tale of its successful growth will lead to more
general guilty .ton of this fruitful tree In other
large cities
Early in the Winter of 1872, few gentlemen and
ladies of culture and means determined to make the
experiment in Hartford that seemed TO be succeed
ing in Boston. The gentlemen were largely inter
ested in manufacturing. and already had an ex-
tended reputation both for probity OF dealing ana
for paving very great attention to the health educa-
tion and comfort of their operatives. The ladies'
were their relatives and friends. The design of the
projectors of the Hartford Holly Tree Branch was IN
their words:
To make it a neat and attractive place, where pain
people might enjoy good plain. substantial meals at
low prices and without any sacrifice OF serespect or
ipdependence 1t was also thought feasible. In small
city like our own unite with the restaurant plan
ticket sys for supplying cheap meals to the poor
the tickets be purchased by our citizens ana gwen
away by the needy applying for relief at ther
doors And IN order that class might be overlooked
there we're three kinds Of tickets proyided-viz soup
ticket value l5 cents to used in the way already
designated and tickets OF two values Is ana
25 cents he given in more special cases so that sens
tivoncss to public opinion need not prevent any from
being served Meals procured on soup tickets might DO
eaten the spot or taken home as preferred.
THE BRANCH OPENED.
In accordance with this plan, the Holly Tree
Branch was opened on Market-st., in the lower part
of the city. on the 2Sth of February, 1872. The
building chosen was an old one that had long been
occupied by disreputable characters 1t was entirely
renovated for a restaurant, souproom, and kitchen,
tie rent given for year, and thoroughly capable
manager found in the person Of Capt. Sluyter OF
B.nghamton, N Y, an old naval officer. The dining
room was substantially and neatly furnished perfect
order has been maintained, and from the start the
room has been largely patronized by the class for
whom it was designed. Some of the prices at which
food is furnished quoted from the breakfast bill
of fare Bcefsteak, Is cents; mutton chops, 10
cents; buckwheat cakes 10 cents; hot biscuits,
cents: fried potatoes, cents; coffee and tea each
cents per cup. Some of the prices on the dinner
bill are: Soup cents roast beef, Is cents; pork
and beans cents; cold beef cold corned beef, and
cold mutton each 10 cents: cold ham, ~ cents Pie
which the management vainly struggled TO abolish
but were compelled to grant i'll obedience TO popular
clsmor in their words, stands triumphant
and imprcgnable upon the bill of fare to day., at
cents per piece Bread and milk costs 10 cents The
checks taken show that the prices Of meals
eaten have ranged from to so cents.
the average being about 90 to p cents for
which a comfortable meal can be procured
The patrons have been mostly mechanics opera
tves and their families though occasionally coun-
try clergymen and others from out of town avail
themselves of the advantages of the place. while
the cooking is good that some people able to pay
larger prices glad to get their meals so cheapy
"Tramps" and "bummers " who have had meal
tickets given them are constantly appearing. and
are served though this is sometimes annoying to the
better class of customers. No liquors of any kind
ara sold and no drunken person allowed to enter
the rooms
THE PROJECT NOT sELF-sUsTAINING.
By this time some practical reader has doubtless
said This is all very well, but does it payP If
the inquiry means "Is the project sef-sustaning"
must frankly answer "NO" The annual report
for the year ending Feb. 2S 1873 shows at the end
of the first year deficit of about 81 900, which
made mp by one of the gentlemen who originated the
movement. Since that time the receipts have more
nearly met the expenses but there will doubtless be
a balance though much less than last year against
the mana cement at the close of the second year
But when il is remembered that over $4,000 we'll
cooked and healthy meals are furnished In a wear,
from l. 400 to 500 of which are charity tickets
which have been given by the purchaser to people
begging their doors the question is whether this
may not be the cheapest charity that can be devised
that can do the same amount of material good TO so
large number.
A small market has been added TO the restaurant
during the present year. that has proved great
help to the finances. Buying meats at wholesale
and selling large part of them at retail prices,
reduces the cost of meats consumed at the coffee
house to about onethrd Of the former cost for the
same supplies. Many meats are bought at the coffee
hose TO be taken to the homes of the poor and the
rich.
AT all events the mechanics and people of
moderate and very limited means have found tine
Hartford Holly Tree Branch a very great blessing,
of which the projectors would be very 10th now TO
be compelled to deprive them. In larger cities in