The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1893-02-15
BREAD FOR ALL WHO ASK,
A DAILY EARLY.MoRN1Na SCENE
BEFORE A NEW YORK BAKERY.
Human Wrecks Stunning Past Big
Bakery Door In Lock Step for
stale Loaves-A Weird Spectacle.


TTHERE is a weird scene every
morning, while the tired city
is fast asleep, at Broadway and
Tenth street, which tells in
eloquent silence of the depth Of human
woe and misery. 1t is probably known,
but not always remembered by persons
who have loving families, cheerful
homes, downy beds and well-stocked
arders, and who live in an air of luxury,
that there is d half-starved army in this
city against which the doors Of organ
lied charity are closed. 1t lives-no one
knows where, aud it comes out on the
streets, like rats from hole, after dark,
seeking food and everything that it can
devour. 1t is only the night workers
who see the big city when the lights are
turned low who catch a glimpse of the
starving army, and the sight is not
pleasant:
1t was between 2 and 8 o'clock in the
morning the other day. The wind came
piping with North Dakota chill
through East Tenth street, and nearly
ripped the tattered clothing from an old
man who came stumping along Fourth
avenue with feeble step. He stopped
at the Tenth street corner. The lamp.
light showed the skin peepiug through
his clothes in many places. He sank a
little deeper into his rags after a quick
glance up the street aud moved slowly
toward Broadway.
! "Just wait for little WHILE" said
Policeman Mcconnell to q reporter who
was on his way home after his nights
work, sand you will see the strangest
gathering that you ever looked at in
this town"
The old man kept moving until he
reached the bright light which shown
cheerfully from the windows of the
Vienna Bakery, midway on the block.
He looked wistfully at the scene of good
cheer within, then leaned against lamp
post with head bowed low, violently
trembling from cold and hunger.
"He's the first on the line" said Nc.
Connell, "and he's not missed the honor
for over year."
The policeman's remark was vague,
but in a little while the explanation
came. The solitary tramp soon had
plenty OF company. Men with want and
poverty stamped on every feature o
their gaunt faces and every shred o
their eloquent rags turned into Eas
Tenth street from Fourth avenue ant
Broadway. They came singly and II
groups, and fell in behind the first ar
rival.
At 3 o'clock the line extended around
in front of Grace Church, and ther
we're over 200 men standing closel
together, waiting, apparently, for som
signal to march. 1t was a silent crowd
There was not a word spoken above
whisper. Some of the men were drunl
and hardly ably to stand, but they wer'
held in place by their comrades il
misery. One fellow dropped on tn
walk and rolled into the gutter. N
one disturbed him. Not even the pc
iceman.
There was flutter of excitemen
along the line as the doors of the baker.
we're thrown open with loud bang an'
several bakers in white caps and apron
rolled half dozen big boxes filled will
bread on the sidewalk. The baker
handed out the bread to the men, an,
the line moved slowly along with th
shuttle of the lock step, we'll known
apparently, to many of the gang. L
every man was given loaf of bread
day old. There was more than enoug
to 90 around aud some got two loaves
The long wait in the open air seeme'
to have added an extra pang to tn
hunger of the men, aud almost ever
one took a rsvenods bite from the loa
as soon as it reached his hand. The
acted like hungry wolves in sight o
prey, aud to many of them the dr.
bread appeared fit for kingly feast
Some sat down on the curb, broke o.
large chunks Of the loaf and fairl
crammed it into their mouths until ever
morsel of 1t was gone. Others, after
few bites, slowed the bread away anon
the RAGS which covered their bodies, an
few hurried away without tolehlng
at all. In fifteen minutes the street wa
deserted and no sound was heard saw
the merry song of the bakers as the
piled up big stacks of bread for the
customers with the feeling that stea
into the human heart when good az
has been performed.
, "That's the best object lesson" sal
, Policeman Mcconnell, as the last bund
of rags moved away, ''of what rum wi
bring man to if he sticks at it. Mo
, of these poor chaps come here nigl
after night, aud many OF thel
/ have told me it's the only food the
2 have had IN twenty-four hours. tt
gang is made up of eX convicts wi
. have lost even the desire to steal, an
: drunkards who have reached the botto
of the ladder. Among the latter a
, men who have been in good circun
, stances, and there is one who about te
years ago owned large wholesale gr'
Gerry in Washington street. This charl
I Is a godsend to them, end it's all the d
cent treatment they get during the da,
They are kicked and summed by ever
body, sheek shelter wherever 1t eau
found, and most of them will wind
q in Potter's Field. No questions a
G asked here if these men are worthy o
v iects of charity. They are all Id
5 starved and drunkards without home
3 and thieves have to eat as well as al
S | Altbour,h kbau orp "a harleQl