Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-11-09
HELPING THE SICK POOR.
An HOUR WITH ONE OF NEW
YoRk'S DESERVING CHARITIES.

Inc ran Ofss w men tho LICK A1tcocD9 Arc
Conducted-A Brisk LAdling Out Of
Fresh MILE. Mutton Broth. Beef Tea.
Etc.-G-atitude.
a mite OF a girl, with scrapof shawl
over her head and dress of faded, tastered
print draping her attenuated little form,
waited outside quaint, old fashioned black
doorway on Third avenue. with small,
shining brass door knob and bell Presently
she was joined by pale, anxious woman, with
q puny baby meaning at each feeble, hutter-
ing breath on her shoulder. Another woman,
with q sick child In her arms. had her sleeves
rolled above the elbow, and her shining,
braided hair unbcnnetgd One or two more
children stood there, and refined looking
man, with Well worn. patched suit, which,
in spite OF its shsbbiness, bad an appearance
of gennhty, and an expression OF mingled
tenderness and despair on his thin, careworr
face as he looked down into the face OF o
little sick child in his arms, whose rings Of
brown hair shaded dark eyes wide and wild
with fever. An old decrepit woman, with q
crutch in one hand and pail IN the ether,
hobbled up TO tie little group, ard a lsdyliks
looking woman with q sad face waited
quietly with the tears dropping on the dish
she carried N her hands
Presently the little brass door knob, that
was as shiny as daily securing could make it,
turned bris,sly, the door swung back, and the
neatest, cheeriest, dearest Of gray haired
women, with a strong notherly face fun Of
sunshine, appeared in the whitest of caps and
aprons, and exclaimed: "BleSs your hearts,
L. -, rh,- in
such hurry for; bat come right in, every
thing is all ready"
Down through the long, cool passage into
the tidiest OF kitchens she hurried them,
where every board was secured as white
as sand could scour it, and every dish re-
fected her own bright face as she hustled
about pouring out quarts OF milk and pints
Of beef tea, dishing up bowls of delicious
cooked oatmeal and rice, and pressing into
the hands of the woman and children clusters
OF fresh daisies and crimson roses faint with
fragrance and blushing at their own beauty.
And how is the baby todayp she said to
the man with the sick child, land isn't her
mother any better yeti Well, keep up your
courage, this beef broth will bring her up II
anything will,n aud the man went away COM
forted with the hopeful courage in her voice.
And to the woman who stood apart with the
tears in her eyes she had some sympathetic
inquiry for the consumptive husband at home
as she filed the pitcher with beef broth and
tucked an extra large bunch of roses through
the handle. While TO the children smile
accompanied the daisies, and pleasant mes
sage to the sick mother at home or some
kindly interested question about the sick sis
ter or father or baby for whom the food was
given.
For four hours this brisk busy ladling out
of fresh milk and wholesome nolIrishing food
went on almost uninterruptedly, and when it
was finished the white apron WIS whisked
of, the tidy dress turned up over the stuff
petticoat, and the boards and benches and
tables were subjected TO another scrubbing
and scalding before she was ready to 20 up
stairs and tell 70 whose bounty those most
wretched of all the city's poor were indebted
for so welcome and practical muniicence.
''Now,n said che as size tucked up her
sleeves above the hard round arms, "rIl tel
you all about it, but, il you don't mind, I'll
keep on washing up my dithes. / hate 20
have them settin' round. This is one Of the
FIVE diet kitchens where nourishing food ID
given to the sick poor, free Of all cost, On TO
ceiving q certificate from one of the doctors
at tho dispensaries with which our kitchens
are connected. One kitchen is on Thirty
sixth street and Ninth avenue, one on Third
avenue near Twenty first street; one on Third
street in the German quarter; one il connec-
ton with the New York dispensary, among
the Italians, and new one was established
this spring, in April
1.-THE first kitchen was opened fifteen years
ago, through the Efforts OF Mrs. Gibbons, who
Is now our president. and one OF the best and
kindest women that ever lived, doing ever so
much active charitable work, though che is
IS years old. AS soon as funds were raised,
another kitchen was opened. Then rooms
were offered free of rent in the German quar-
ter II they would establish kitchen there,
and that was opened. Rooms have been Of
fered in other parts OF the city FREQ Of rent,
lut from lack Of funds the society has de-
chned them.
How are the kitchens supportedT'
'By voluntary contributors from people,
churches and societiea"
''What kinds Of food do you give the PEG
pier
Whatever the doctor orders. We buy
the best ana purest milk there Is; milk THAI
10 Al blgS CT VI bsts
men thnt 90 into the tenernent districts Our
beef tea is made Of the best beef In the mar
ket, and get up at O'Clock in summer to
make the tea fresh every day. In the Italian
quarter great deal Of rice is given out, and
there arc oatmeal, farira, barley and nut
ton broth. all given subject to the doctors
orders. The Flower mission sends flowers
for Us to distribute al summer, and wealthy
people send in jelies and dainiest At Christ
mas toys Gre given to the children, and cloth
ing is also sent to Us for distribution among
the needy. At present We are expected TO
receive orders only from the physicians con-
nected with the dispensariez, but In extreme
cases we do supply orders from other doc
tors, through the district nrrsea"
''W hen Ia yotr most busy seasonF'
'Well. IN tie summer; for SO many Chi
iren arc sick, and then work lie scarce, So that
we have different kind Of people coming 70
Is; nice, respectable working people, clerks,
.eachers and mechanics, who are out Of en-
Dloynent and cannot by ttss nourizhlnz
tod they need and are 80 grateful 70 u
Tor IL
do you End people grateful. uzaa1lyg"
Yes, really needy people ara Almost al
ways grateful TIE Idle, inio,aas, wcrthLns
people tia. come are very incependeos and
axe things Is II they balooged 10 them, bu.
he unfortunate sick people who have known
,ettar days and are in real distress, are very
thankful a great raAny Ir-za CONE 20 It's
litchen, and they are prcsuse IN their graft
zade. saying ever and over; God b<zs yog,
adj tbs saints ksep you.' and al that, but
tel them they nesdor bkss Ia. bss ito
Christian ussn ard woman C ss~ York who
apply tie funds 70 help sissIn L Their nsed-s
II the past year Z, 1e p-pis harerscasred
ood froza ths ks.casas, and s7,iss. - hare
sen paid ou. II tie vzrlOcs erps-1sss ss.ez14~