The morning call., 1892-12-27


These were the instructions given TO me
yesterday afternoon, IN accordance with
which set forth on tour of investigation.
Do you know what charity really means !?
Have you ever been "down on your luck P"
Ii not, you will hardly realize what even
a quiet handshake and CHEEKY good wish
from the heart will do toward putting fresh
pluck and strength into the wearied soul Of
an exhausted brother or sister struggling
unheeded In the great cold world.
You don't know, perhaps, that the soul
requires nOurishment as much as the body.
But when you add to this substantial
physical aid in the shape of in MIGRATING
food and warm clothing the effect is Won
derful
There are 400 families in San Francisco
who total up 1900 persons among them and
are ready to testify to the truth Of that. but
not publicly. Many of them are proud and
sensitive people, who ask for no charity and
seek nothing but seclusion In their brave
struggle against adversely.
Any one can distribute goods with ma
chine-lke insensibility.
But THE CALL aimed higher than that.
1t wanted some one with a keen knowl-
edge of humanity to protect its bureau from
impostors, and at the same time some one of
tact and ability to minister for that large
class. the poor bnt proud. So 1t appointed
Ernest c. Stock general manager.
Il found about per cent of our appll-
cants we're impostoTs when l personally Wis
tied them and looked up their surroundings"
said Mr.. Stock Yesterday.
That is not large percentage out Of 1900
TO 1900 people.
The bureau has three depots. There is a
fuel depot with $50 UNDERGROUND bags Of
coal al Gal Mission street, in charge of c. f,
Howell. aud a clothing depot al 6l9-621 Clay
street. where Mrs. Florence Percy Mathe-
son is adding to her already extensive lite
rary work a labor of love which means a
months hard toll from early morn TO dusky
eve.
Then there Is the main depot for groceries
and perishables at $40 Clay street, which is
particularly Ia the charge of Mr.. Stock as
headquarters" from which be superintends
the entire working of the bureau.
To assist him he has Frank H. Robinson,
who has done wonderful work canvassing
the community for provisions fuel, clothing
andsO on. John F. Kelly. Thomas Garrett,
John Garrett, Eddie CampbsI. Willie
Campbell, Tom Shelton, Frank Shelton.
Eddie Winfield. Patrick Grace, George Hell
more and John Boyle are also up TO their
eyes in the great work
The citizens of San Francisco rallied nobly
TO the standard OF The CALL.
Early In December contributions were
called for and the depot at Gal Mission street
was opened. The gifts came in SO rapidly
that extra storeroOm was required. Then
Joseph Music, the marble dealer of Battery
street, offered the use OF the premises at
30 CLAW street as free Gift
When bundles of clothing stood piled In
tiers four deep around the walls and still
kept pouring in the San Francisco Savings
and Loan Society were appealed to. Within
az hour of the appeal Mr.. Creagan placed
the old premises Of The society at 619-621
Clay street at the disposal of the bureau,
rent free.
Still the headquarters were filed to over
flowing. Then Messrs. Whalen 81 Tracy
handed over the basement of $40 Clay street
for the free use of the bureau.
BY this time goods commenced to be sent
out with such rapidity as 10 keep pace with
the incoming gifts. and everything is In full
working order ana methodieslly handled.
1t does ones heart good TO look in at the
headquarters bureau.
Inside the store is piled up with great
heaps OF solid, substantial food. Canned
meats, preserves and vegetables, hams,
bacon, bread. onions, -four. apples, coffee,
tea, sugar, soap aud what not lie in guam
titles around. Busy men were sorting and
filling packing-cases. and wagons were hur-
Tying of to deliver them at their addresses.
Outside small children gsxed In mute
wonder at the inside premises.
Hes Sanity Claws, ne is" small boy
whispered TO me in solemn confidence and l
thought the simile a good one to apply to
the kindly manager.
Il personally examined into all these
cases myself" said Mr.. Stock, showing me
the books. IN which accurate and detailed
record is kept of all the applicants visited
and noted for assistance.
Apart from my individual judgment
got others to look into the eases and check
my decisions l looked into family closets
to verify the fact of empty larders, and
made exhaustive inquiries among neighbors
to prevent being gulled. 1 have, from
motives Of delicacy, kept all addresses and
circumstances perfectly private. In many
cases char people asked for addresses
OF cases published, which / only surren-
dered after obtaining the consent OF the
people concerned.
'THE CALL gave 500 in cash, besides the
salaries Of three members Of its staff ex-
clusiyely employed for a month In this
work.
added TO that is $500 received in small
sums running from 20 cents to $50.
mo money is being paid out to families,
EXCEPT in few cases where it has been sent
for some special case.
Whatever cash remains after paying
rent. postage OF circulars and meals for our
volunteer aids will be spent In buying more
provisions for distribution, and publish ed
account will be rendered after New Years
day"
Then Mr.. Stock plunged into his records,
order-books and permits again, while
walled on to the clothing depot.
Piles of mems hats, piles OF womea's
bats, piles OF boots and shoes and.men's and
women's clothing.
Mrs. Matheson has Miss Pauline Aaron,
.. Mrs. Mary jarrett. Miss Sadie Phillips. Mrs.
5: l.. Steigleman. Mrs. E. C. Smedley, Mrs.
L. NJ. Smith. Mrs. Besser and Mrs, Bona to
assist her.
But she is tbs life and soul of the depot,
and can sort clothes, answer questions and
fit applicants, all at one aud the same time.
Wan-iaced women came In with thin
; clothes and ragged shoes, walking out
again wreathed in smiles, shawls, jackets.
dresses and mysterious feminine apparel.
Little. boys pulled on Christmas Bureau
shoes and stared in admiration ct their
j.. warm-clad toes.
Heres mans underdrawers with only
one leg and an uudervest with only one
arm" said one OF the lady sorters In dlsmay
e Excellent" cried Mrs. Matheson, whose
:. bright. wits are equal to every occasion,
I'VE provide for cripples."
The mems hats are not in great request
neither. for that matter. are the women's.
Only one old rady asked for a hat"
laughed Mrs. Matheson. "She took SO long
trying them on TO get the one most be-
= comm TO her that we pava mn adv;sing an