The record-union., 1893-02-18
Only One Cent a Dish for Good
Meals.
An Institution Founded by Philan-
thropic Citizen of San Fran
cisco.
[From the San Francisco ChronIcle.l


tables and the rooms where meals are
served at this Incredibly small figure are
comfortably furnished. The Young
Women's Christian Association has the
care of the institution where all this is
done, and the address is 5l4 Howard
street.
The story of the establishment of this
lunchroom for working girls is simple
and interesting. Some years ago W. +.
Brown spent a winteri in Berlin. and there
learned of philanthropist who had con-
ceived the idea of providing meals for
young working girls at piennig and
fraction for each dish served. He was a
man who could have easily afforded to
support the establishment entirely: but,
sppreciating the fact that the idea of
charity is often distasteful to those who
are willing and able TO earn living,
however humble, he made some sort of
calculation by which a dish was furnished
10 any girl, provided she were known to
be respectable, at the price named.
A year ago next April Mr.. Brown made
proposition TO the ladies of the Young
Women's Christian Association, the con-
ditions of which were that if they would
agree to charge one cent dish he would
pay the deficit Which would be monthly
incurred by the maintenance of such a
lunchroom.
The ladies took hold ofthe scheme with
energy, and in speaking of their work
generally Mr.. Brown said he did not be-
lleve that there was an institution in the
city better managed or maintained with
less funds than that which the ladies of
the Young Womens Christian Associa-
ton control.
They found that the old-fashioned
house, Ola Howard street, was suited adj
IN "a " 70 Fl.nTvs
set about making such little changes as
they thought necessary. At first the
lunch rooms We're little patronized, the
attendance varying from thirty TO forty,
and, IN fact, 1t seemed doubtful for a
time whether the plan could be carried
out. Just when there seemed to be least
Likelihood OF success a change came over
the condition OF affairs. Young women
who had been attending pretty steadily
told others, and the numbers began to
increase SO rapidly that the kitchen was
found too small, and the parlors would
not accommodate the lunchers. spec
lai permit was obtained to enlarge the
premises, as they are in the fire limits,
and Mr.. Brown spent about Sl,j00 last
August in building fine large kitchen
and in enlarging the lunch room. Nor
did the changes end there. The front
parlor was lifted up as a reading room.
1t was carpeted, books and a bookcase
were supplied, periodicals, particularly
tnoSe OF class which young women are
interested in, were furnished, and then, TO
cap the climax, piano was introduced.
During the last eight months the aver
age daily attendance at lunch has been
ll0, the highest OF any one day having
been l53, and in that time As IA l-cent
dishes have been served. The outlay has
been between 81, 500 and 81 400, so that
Mr.. Brown has had to make good deficit
Of about SlUO month. Considering the
TACT that there are two mattresses, a cook
and a superintendent TO pay, as well as a
rental of $40 month, it is indeed surpris-
ing that the monthly deficit should be so
little. MIR. Brown himself expected at
the outset that it would be not less than
double the sum named. In order TO avoid
the handling of bronze cents, tickets are
sold in quantities from five upward, most
OF the girls purchasing five cents worth
at time. For every dish served the
luncher gives up one of the tickets. The
meals served are plain of necessity. They
are, nevertheless, very good. AS Miss
Pond, the superintendent, says, the
butcher, and for that matter the baker,
grocer and all those who furnish supplies
10 the institution know that they have in
II steady, prompt, paying customer, and
they take care that the meat, bread or
vegetables which they supply are good.
The menu is not elaborate, that goes
without saying. In addition TO tea, cof-
-
the bill OF fare varies each week from the
following: Monday, usually corn beet;
Tuesday, corn-beef hash; WednesI day,
rice-tomato or macaroni soup; Thurs
day, pork and beans; Friday, boiled beef;
Saturday, soup. AS this bill of fare with
variations is kept up pretty much week
in and week ont, there are on certain days
particularly large attendances. There
seems 10 be a general appreciation of the
institutions pork and beans, so that
Thursdays attendance is usually the
largest. AS each one enters the room
there is friendly nod TO the Superin-
tendent, followed often by kind inquiry
from Miss Pond.
The young women must be regularly
employed and well behaved. Though no
one is refused admission, a new customer
is obliged to register, and inquiry is made
as to her home, habits and employment.
In this way, not only has very comfort
able lunch room and lunch been pro-
Vlued, but those who are benefited are a
class well worthy OF encouragement
The young women are chiefly employees
of the overall, shirt, clothing and shOe
factories in the neighborhoOd. They are
allowed to bring their own lunch, and
Tor cent can supplement it with cup
of hot coffee or bowl OF good soup,
while for three cents an excellent meal is
furnished. The average outlay Tor each
customer is two and one-half cents 4
meal.
After the lunch, at which girl will not
spend more than from ten 10 fifteen min
utes, the reading-rOom, comfortably fur
nished, and having, in cold weather, q
bright fire in the CRATE, is at their disposal
for thirty minutes or three-quarters OF an
hour. Most of the girls, except those
who do piece work. have an hour for
lunch.
At the meal, the buzz of conversation is
like the ''babel ofa woman's war" They
talk as if they never had chance to speak
before, and laugh and enjoy themselves
in a way which would be impossible in a
public restaurant Most OF the girls live
with their parents; some OF course are
strangers in the city and are alone. To
the latter this lunch room is the brightest
spot in the days round and it would not
be hazarding much to say that many of
the former too look forward to the hour
as the pleasantest in the twenty-four.
The wages earned by the girls who attend
range from 50 to SS or sic week, the
highest sum being a rarity. Where man
would look shabby these girls on their
slender pay, all. or a large portion, ire
oueutly contributed to the support OF the
home, manage to make a very bright ap-
learance. and with the love OF tlnery
comlnon to the sex, many a one is able to
s'titiyatev so that she looks quite smart.
Every now ana then the Superlntend-
ent, at her discretion, hands Daeh tne . or
10 cents. She knows whether the girls
are out of work or not, she knows Wnat
the conditions of their home lie are, anu
though the little kindness is a secret pc
tween the donor and the recipient, IL is
none the less sincerely appreciated, an q
the girls meet on an equal footing. Inc
dining-room is long apartment Win
small tables on each side set against tne
wall. Each table seats four, ana the