Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1878-12-14

How THE Poor IN WAsHTNGroN LIVE
FEEDING 400 PEoPLe TwIcE A DAT,
AND ALL FOR One CENT ArIECE.

FEEDING 400 PEOPLE TWICE DAT,
AND ALL FOR One CENT ArIECE. d.,
There is an institution in Washington
that is worth initiating in other cities;
for | take it that in these hard times
there are very many poor people in ev-
ery city who cannot get work and are
without food refer TO what is known
as the Penny Lunch. Washington is
city which naturally has more than It's
share of poor people, for they come
here from all parts OF the country in
vain search for Government position,
and il is, in addition, the centre OF the
INDECENT negro population OF many ac-
iacent States. About year ago, at
time when there was unusual suffering
| here among the poorer classes, and all
msnper OF suggestions were being made
as TO what should be done to relieve the
prevailing poverty and want, lady
named Mrs. Roberts started what is now
known here by everybody as the 'pen-
nv lunch" She was at that time, or
had been, clerk in the Interior De-
partment, and was regular contributor
to one of the Sunday papera She con-
ceived the idea of supplying hungry
people with lunch tor penny, and
from very small beginning she has
made the lunch a success aud increased
its advantages, until now it is perma-
nent institution, and one of the most.
sensible aud practical charities OF ths
country. Mrs. Roberts was aided IN
the undertaking by some friends, who
appreciated her energy and knew tho
kindness of her heart She began by
soliciting personally small contributions
from the business men, n bag OF flour
here, and bushel Of beans there, bar
rel of meal from one person, load OF
coal of another, hundred loaves ct
bread OF another, corned beef OF anoth-
er, fresh meat Of another, pork OF anoth-
er, load of wood of another, and so on
through the city. She refused nothing.
but patiently kept at work. In due time
she had money enough 10 rent tor q
month two small rooms in back street.
She borrowed a stove, begged few
plates, bowls, cups and saucers, spoons,
knives and Jerks, and other necessary
implements. She had printed number
of small tickets, reading; "One Cent:
Good for One Lunch, No, 1918 II
street" Those tickets she popnarzed
by selling them in packages OF fifty and
one hundred to ladies and gentlemen,
who in turE gave them to beggars and
destitute persons in the streets.
Mrs. Roberts started very modestly,
giving her entire time to the enterprise
and working with surprising zeal and
patience. AT first she gave plate Cf
soup and a piece Of bread for penny,
and before she knew it she could not
supply the wants of those who called.
Many laboring men with large families
aud no work came regularly and sent
their wives and children with their pen
nies to get square meal" 1t became
the popular thing. w. w. Corcoran
and many of the other rich and aristo,
cratic people visited Mrs. Roberts and
ate her soup. 1t was pronounced eI
cellert, and there were many money
contributions rs result. OF course the
expenses of such an establishment as
Mrs Roberts could not be paid by
charging only penny for lunch, but
the contributions from the people werc
8, small and spread over so wide sur
face that the expense was not felt by
anybody. One man promised TO give
City loves of bread a week during tho
winter, another promised TO give two
dozen soup bones per week, another
promised 81 week, and large mum
Der OF subscribers were oLtained Of
fifty cents and twenty-five cents week.
The number Of people fed by Mrs.
Roberts last winter cannot pretend to
give, but the total IL enormous She
now feeds about 400 people twice day.
Her quarters are necessarily cramped.
and only about twenty can be accommo-
dated at once. From lunch 10 tho
middle Of the day she has enlarged her
plan, and now furnishes breakfast and
dinner. For breakfast her bill Of fare
is musn and molssses, coffee, and corn
bread. For dinner soap, corn bread.
and coffee. Occasionally, il contribn.
tions are unusually liberal, sbe will gise
boiled beans and little pork or some
potatoes. The most rigid economy is
practiced, and every scrap Of food is
made available She pays her cook ~
a month, and with the assistance Of two
or three colored boys, who work tor
their board, she gets OH pretty well.
Of course the boarders are not az par
ticular as some might be under other
circumstances Each day at eight clock
in the morning and three in the after
noon the crowd gathers in front Of the
building. Details of policemen keep
the hungry onees 10 order, and line
stretches far along the street--msp,
women and children. / saw this crowd
to day. There were az good faces in 1t
as you wo Md see on Chestnut street or
anywhere else. There were both msu
and women who were dec.ptly attired,
and who were evidently gentlemen and
ladies. Hunger is . great leveler--
Hash. Cor. Phiia. Times