The morning call., 1891-12-26

as the first 800 filed into the empty area of
the store, 1l35 Market street, dedicated to
the salvation feast
The Salvation Army may have scored
greater spiritual triumphs in conflict with
the powers of darkness, but Yesterday was
material and spiritual triumph MS we'll
The nag. the drum, the tambourlne. the
gospel song, hayektheir uses, but there is q
mighty power of logic in 1000 hungry
stomachs. Some of the recipients were I'M
grateful and swiftly departed after being
fei, but respectable majority waited 10
hear what Jesus Christ, who was despised
earth's poor and meek while he was on
earth. 1t was news to many of the social
wanderers and derelicts, but they, at all
events, gave the cause fair hearing.
1t required small army to feed the null
titude. The chief cook-a soldier from the
Presldio absent on special furlough-had
been up all night directing the cooking, and
ne had many willing aids among the SOL
diers who wear the red coat of salvation in
preference TO The blue of Uncle Sam.
twenty soldiers" came over from Oakland
to assist in the work. Besides these a dozen
sisters lent willing hands, and about as
many more cadets and recruits from the To-
cal barracks helped out. There were fifty
at least of as willing walters as ever welded
napkin or balanced sOup-tureen
The menu was not greatly varied, but it
WAS substantial. The estimate of tile
army" officers allowed two pounds of food
to each hungry guest and while such a meal
might produce surfeit III healthy man, 1t
did not amount to much to men who had
been days without square meal AMONG
the contributions and donations to the din
ner were half bullock, seven hams,
sheep, all the fruit, $50 in cash from one
firm, all the pork and beans ana all the
iruit for the plum pudding.
The smaller donations would have made
a Gargantean feast for 100 persons, and
these all went into the general fund. As
late as midnight of Thursday men wearing
the uniform of the Salvation Amy were
seen stealing toward tie barracks with
sacks bigger than Santa Claus ever carried
and all full of contributions from the mar
Eets. The menu consisted of roast beef, Irish
stew, ham, all kinds of vegetables, cake,
pie and hot coffee. No one was asked to
rise till he felt unable to agree with Oliver
Twist in demand for more.
1t was motley crowd that sat down at
the tables. Thew came not single spies,
but in battalions." and 300 were feasted at a
time. The work went on all the afternoon
al the three tables. Among the recogniza-
bic faces Of the men were theater "snpes, -
wallpapers, waterfront bummers, coal
passers, sand -shoVelers, n very few hood
lums, paupers stranded from the counties,
and a number who seemed to have been
worth money in their day. 1t was cos
mopolitan crowd, also.
The cOlor-liDe was not drawn, and no
man was asked, "Where did you get that
hat?" or why he had not a wedding gar
ment. Shirt-collars were at a heavy dis
count, and soap appeared to have ruled at
famine prices in the ''homes" from which
most had come. A few took surrepttious
swigs from whisky-bOttles Of the fiat stow.
away pattern, secreted in their inner coat
pockets
The Salvationists. though, asked no uues-
tons aud interposed no remonstrances, con-
tent if they could win recruits here and
there from so promising mass of raw ma
terial. The credit of managing the affair is
largely due to Captain McAbee and his WIFE
under orders of Major Kyle. Captain Nc
Abee was quite severely injured by the burst
ing OF gasoline stove the night before, but
his wile-besides nursing him through the
night-held the fort bravely at the repast
In the afternoon the Salvationists took
the opportunity of demonstrating to their
guests and friends that they can spin, sow
and toll as well as preach They held a
Trades Union Congress-" in which the
working members appeared at their toll,
some as biacksmiths, some as tailors, some
as printers and all highly busy. The man
who Zines the army" with the idea that an
hours tramp and song behind a drum at
night will give him fat living is apt to be
dislllusioned in the light of yesterdays rev.
Citations.
The barracks were inspected by many Wis.,
itors during the afternoon. The evidences
of metbodical management were every
where apparent, and a very favorable i'm
preston was created.