The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-12-17
HEADQUARTERS OF
THE CALLS CHRISTMAS Box BUl

The manager of the bureau takes this
occasion to return his sincere thanks to the
many kind-hearted ladies of this city who
have made such liberal contribution Of
good clothing for the needy poor whose
wardroDes are very small, and announces
that the amount of wearing apparel on hand
and the contributions that are yet to be col
iected will clothe all those who are in need
of such.
The manager calls halt on clothing, but
finds that he has hardly enough groceries to
60 around, so he makes an appeal to those
who can and who will to donate -four. beans,
rice, pearl barley. oat meal. cracked wheat.
canned goods. and anything in the line of
groceries.
Sugar is also needed.
Tell your grocer 10 send your c0ntribu-
ton from his store to the bureau, if it Is
only five pounds of sugar. a few pounds of
tea. some biscuit or d ten-pound sack of
pearl barley, or anything that may be added
to others of the same kind and go far to ward
increasing the amount to be donated 10 each
family.
The ladies OF this city who have already
done such good work In the cause are asked
to do a little more in the worthy cause in
which THE CALL is engaged. They are
asked to consider themselves special
pleaders for the poor ana plead with their
grocers and induce them to send contribu-
ton. no matter what. in the form of gro-
ceries to the bureau. Now where is there
lady in this city who cannot by her per-
suasive ways and gentle words induce her
grocer To add to the stock of goods already
on hand In the bureau. He would be
hard-hearted grocer who could resist such
aaf hn a rod m,
give a mite from their stock Of goods have
already commenced to send in contributions
and due credit for these is given at the
close of this article.
Yesterday the contributions came in with
q rush and many Of them were most accept
able.
The number OF applications for Christmas
boxes were not as large as they have been.
These were placed on the conditional list"
That is, if it is possible to investigate these
new cases and they are found to be worthy
ones, they will be assisted.
Yesterday some individuals, male and
female, entered the bureau and seemed to
think oil they had to do was to ask tor
Christmas box and il would be handed over.
One party SAID. IF you cannot take my
word for what say, then you need not come
out 10 my house to investigate my case A
society that assists me never investigates
cases"
Several ladies volunteered their services
to assert the w0men's Clothing, the gar
ments for children aud do up parcels. Their
services VIII be required from Monday.
Several who are of a retiring disposition
sent letters, with request that their names
be not published. Others did not.
Mrs. Smedley, one of the ladies of the
Grand Army of the Republic. makes n SEN
eI inn in har Isf4a io
below:
Mr.. Ernest C. stock-DEAR SIR: The good
work of THE CALLS Christmas Bureau INFER
ests me very much. and an opportunity To render
some assistance l. gladly accepted.
would also like 10 ask If the bureau viii re-
crive. next week, contributions Of cake and pies
tproviding the latter are all sent wooden or
tin piniesl for the Christmas boxes. | think
many hOusekeepers would be glad 20 have the
opportunity 10 send something OF the kind aud
IL seems As il one oil more pies OF cake es.
peeiaiy II IL should be a '-fros ed cake" would
be final glory 10 The Christmas feast.
III my Offer 10 assist Is accepted my time Is at
Jour command. very respectfully.
Mrs. ELLA {. SMEDLEY.
Certainly. pies and cakes will. be accepted.
Mrs. Robert Haight has already promised a
contribution OF this kind. Pies and cakes
will 60 well with the roast that the butchers
have promised. These will make an excel
lent Christmas dinner Ii others will follow
the example of Mrs. Haight and act upon
the suggestion of Mrs. Smedley they houId
send their contributions 20 THE CALLS
Bureau or the 22d. 23d or 24tl, as THE CALL
will not be able to send for them.
Another lady writes that she would like
to contribute something but she is unable to
do so. Now she fiDds an opportunity to do
something in behalf of the good cause, and
she offers her services for three DAYS.
Another in her letter writes: MAY your
good work 60 on, and may il touch the hearts
of all, no matter how little. / will do nv
share by assisting"
One of the letters which was written on
Wednesday, and which reached the Bureau
yesterday when the morning mail was de-
liyered. reads as follows:
Mr. 9. C. Stock Manager of the Colps Christ
mas BoI-DEAR SIR: have favor 10 ask OF
you. hav five small children To support ana
my husband has not been working for some time
have done some sewing. but canno, GET much
OF that TO do. 1 hone you will kindly receive
my application and investigate my case.
Please do not put my name address In the
paper. for have uevrr been in such poor cir
cumstances before and IL Is only for The emil
dren's sake that do this. Yours,
Another letter written on Thursday is as
follows:
1 called on n lady on Bush street last evening
and told her OF my condition. She spoke OF HE
CALLS Christmas Box Bureau. This is the first
time In my lie that apply for charity. When 1
went home aud told my poor husband what /
was about TO do he cried like child. Ally bus-
baud is very sick ano is In the last stages of CON
sumption. L would not ash for myself. bus IL is
for him. have had an operation performed for
the removal OF lumor and the result has been
rupture. have tried TO raise little money 20
purchase a truss. but have not been able 10 do
so. l Will suffer. but will try 10 manage with
Gods belp. Ii IS but question of a few days
with my husband, who was a hrstciass carpen-
ter used 10 work a sewing.maehine, but since
the operation have not been able to run n. /
lock the picture OF health but God only knows
what have gone through.
shall eBdeayor 10 look on the bright side OF
life. even II have poor Christmas. for know
that there are people who are worse off than
4 ia
before applied for charity. The lady L spoke
10 was kind TO me. She gave me quarter and
milk cents. bread C n;s and chopped meat D
cents. That will do US for three days.
Yesterday the manager Of the bureau WIS.,
tied thirty families. Many of the families
and In the cupboards there was little or no
food.
In one house the parish priest had been
there but few minutes before, and had
left small supply of salmon and little
groceries. That fsh-about pounds-was
to furnish the neal for a family of eight
children besides the father and mother
The mother said that the evening before
there was but cents in the house. and
that she spent for bread for the children.
A scent loaf for eight chidren! The cause
of the condition of this family is attributed
to the father. Ii is said that he will get un-
Ger the influence Of liquor. ''Such man."
said a police officer whose beat Is near
where this family lives I'm ramshackle
building, fought 10 be punished by impris-
onment for so negleeting his family. You
ought to get after him.
Il get after him?" said the manager,
why, what could do in the case, but I'll
tell you what would do If was an officer
and knew what you say about his habits.
l would arrest him and see If that would
not make him a little more careful of his
home. would not prosecute him ON the
hrst arrest, and deprive his family of what
little support he does give it, No, would
have him make q promise TO the court to
mend his ways and then have him placed on
probation for thirty or sixty days. If that
did not have the desired effect then / would
adopt other measures"