The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-12-12
HEADQUARTERS OF
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Christmas day.
Yesterday the manager of the bureau, in
accordance with the promise made to those
who have already contributed for the bene-
fit of the deserving poor started out on a
tour of investigation of the many cases that
are down on his ledger.
In the district bounded by Market FIRE.
mont, Townsend and Sixth streets he WIS.,
tied iifty-three homes, or more properly
habiiatons. and all but four cases were
found to be worthy of assistance
An inspection of each place showed how
the people " no are poor are forced to exist.
They have small rooms with bare floors, in
many cases devoid of everything except a
table, chair or two-or boxes to take the
place of chRiTs-and a bedstead. In some
cases the bed for the children was made up
on the floor. The bedcoyerng, as a rule, is
very scant. not warm enough TO afford the
sleepers any comfort whatsoever, at this
season of the year
The cupboards of these places were almost
bare Of everything, save possibly half-loaf
of bread and q few dried fish and here and
there little tea.
You don't seem TO have much on hand"
said the manager to a woman, whose rooms
in basement lie visited.
''No, sir" she replied, "and it's for a good
reason. because | have not got ii and there
is not Scent piece in the house to get any,
thing with. / am willing to do day work,
but / have been unable to obtain it. Last
week l went to several places where people
sometimes give me work by the day, and at
every place but one was told. we have
nothing to do this week At the one place
/ obtained half days work and for that
the lady gave me 70 cents"
Not large amount"
'It is not" replied the woman; ''but il Is
all that / have had during the week TO buy
food with for myself and my two chill
dren."
And how do you manage to sustain life
on so small an amount?"
The answer was short but expressive. 1t
was: Have to."
Do the people OF our city who dine at tie
fashionable rotisser:es and pay S. or 81 each
for a meal ever realize that they spend
more a one meal than lie required to sustain
family OF three whole month? Cannot
these people make sacrifice during the
coming week2 Say that they each take a
81 meal one day in the week and donate the
difference between that and what they
would otherwise spend for dinner to lHF
CALLS Christmas Box Bureau, so that tie
money can be invested in provisions for
those who actually suffer for the want of
the Decessarles OF life. If 100 Of these high
llyerS make such sacrifice one day the
coming week and each donate s. 10 the
burrau, that would make 5000 That would
buy good many sacks of -four
In one room in a clearinghouse the mana
ger found man and wife. After stating
that her husband had lust recovered from a
long spell of sickness the woman said
He is so weak that he cannot d any hard
work. and men of his age cannot find any
light work We have been so much L.
duced that last week | was forced TASK
some people who are but q litsstire-1D better off
~ 4-11e-fea take e4sTtwo children and
feed them"
What is 1t that you need most?" asked
The manager
What do we need most?" repeated the
woman, as a sad smile passed over her
countenance. We need almost everything
but we don't ask for everything Ii we
could get little groceries and q little coal
II would help as for few days"
AND !, said the husband, would be
very thankful for a suit of underwear;
what had has been worn to shreds. | ex-
pected that l would get few dollars from
the Government to get some with. bat it
has not come"
Does the Government owe you money!"
! was soldier during the war, and was
one OF those VINO was prisoner IN the pen
at AEdersonyilie. l have applied for pen
sion, but 1t has not yet COME"
at another place the manager met wo-
man who had been recommended TO him as
one worthy 10 receive a Christmas box.
he woman's husband at one time had been
IN good circumstances, but he met with re-
and her three children unproyided for. Ii
did not take her long to realiZo the fact that
those who we're friends during the time of
her prosperity became deserters In the hour
OF her adversely. In order 10 support her.
self and the little ones Who were asking for
TODD she went TO work in factory. The
soft white hands that were unused 10 labor
we're soon covered with blisteTs, but the
continued at The work, spurred on by the
cries of her children. Some time ago she
met with an accident which has deprived
her OF the means TO earn anything for er-
self and the children, three in number.
by dear sir" said she to the manager.
Il hardly know how to act in this matter.
Never before In my life have / accepted
anything IN the way Of charity. but on the
contrary have cften assisted others who
were lD stress"
MADAM" said the manager, "some one
called attention TO your circumstances, and
The CALLS Bureau will be pleased to send
you Christmas box"
Then will, in advance, say thanks
and God bless YOU This is a yerifieation
Of the saying Cast thy bread upon the
waters, and it viii return to thee after many
days."
Away down in the southern part of the
city the manager found family in the
upper part Of a dilapidated tenement. 1t
consists OF husband, wife and three chill
dreD. The husband, who has been i'll for q
long time. mas IN vain tried to use his talent
70 support his family. but without success.
has any use ter his talent. His children
are almost without clothing, and for that
reason he is forced to keep them away
from school Unfortunately he is not
versed as perfectly in the English language
as well as he would like TO be. Were he.
he could undoubtedly find employment that
would be remuneratiYe.
just think for moment that In a city like
San francisco there should be man
anxious TO give lis children an education.
who Is inhibited from so doing by the fact
that they have neither clothing nor shoes to
enable them TO 60 to school.
From the bottom of ny heart / thank
YOU" said the husband. "Wbatever Won
can send us Will be acceptable. for to tell
you the truth we have not got ANYTHING in
the house, aud several times during the past
month we nave oeen on the verge of starya-
tIon."
At another place the manager came in
upon family that was sitting down to the
Sunday dinner, the only meal that thew
were TO have during the day. 1t consisted
of four crackers, one for each member of
the family. and some tea. without milk or
sugar.
"And do you mean to tell me that this
will be your only meal today"
YES" replied the woman, "that Is all
for we cannot afford more"
Yes, sir" said another woman, VINO was
visited in house which gave eviden ce of
comfort. Eve have comfortable home.
that is so far as furniture is concerned. but
outside of furniture there is nothing. MY
husband was always a good proyider for
lii family and was never idle when he
could work. but for many months he has
been on a bed of sickness and his condition
has been such that / have been unable to
leave him. The children are too small to
take care OF MIN and give me an opportun-
ily 10 go out and try and earn living Tor
all OF US. So what little we had saved has
gone ana now we are poor and In need OF
assistance My husband is very low indeed,
ana from what the doctor says dark cloud
p" ~ ehler our home before Christmas day"