The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1893-02-03
BREAD FOR ALL WHO ASK.
A DAILY EARLY.MoRNINo SCENE
BEFORE A NEW YORK BAKERY.

Is fast asleep, at Broadway and
Tenth street, which tells In
eloquent silence OF the depth ofs-human
woe and misery. 1t is probably known,
but not always remembered by persons
who have loving families, cheerful
homes, downy beds aud well.stocked
Isrders, and who live in an AIR OF luxury,
that there Is balf-starvcd army in this
city against which :hc doors OF organ.
lied charity are cioscd. 1t lives--no one
knows where, and it comes out on tho
streets, like rats from hole, after dark,
seeking food and everything that 1t can
dcvour. 1t Is only tho night workers
who sec the big city when the lights arc
turned low who catch glimpse OF the
starving army, and tho sight is not
pleasant.
1t was between 2 aud 3 o'clock in tho
morning the other day. The wind came
piping with North Dakota chill
through East Tcuth street, and nearly
ripped tho tattered clothing from an old
man who camo stumping along Fourth
avenue with d fcebTestcp. He stopPed
at the Tenth street corner. Tho lamp.
light showed the skin peering throu IN
his clothes in many places. IIc sank n
little deeper into hi, rags after quick
glance up tho street and moved slowly
toward Broadway.
"Just wait for little while" ssid
Policeman Mcdonnell to a reporter who
was on his way home after his nights
work, "and you will see the strange't
gathering that you ever looked at in
this town"
Tho old man kept moving until he
reached the bright light whicn shown
chccrfully from the windows Of the
Vienna Bakery, midway on the block.
lie looked wistfully at the scene Of goo1
cheer within, then leaned against lamp
post with head bowed low, violently
trembling from cold and hunger.
"IIc's the first on the nnc," saia Nc.
Conncll, "and he's not missed the honor
for over year"
Tho policeman's remark was vague,
but in little while the explanation
came. The solitary tramp soon had
plenty OF company. Men will, want and
poverty stamped on every feature OF
their gaunt faces and every shred OF
their eloquent rags turned into East
Tenth street from Fourth avenue and
Broadway. They came singly and ir
croups, and fell in behind the first ar.
rival.
At 3 o'clock the line extended around
in front of Grace Church, and there
were over 2J0 men standing closely
together, waiting, apparently, fo- 80 ne
signal to march. 1t WAS silent crowd.
There was not word spoken above s
whisper. Some Of tho men were drunk
aud hardly ably to stanl, but they were
held in place by their comrades in
misery. One fellow dropped on the
walk and rolled into the gutter. Nc
one disturbed him. Not even the po
liceman.
There was futtcr Of excitement
along the line as the doors OF tho bakery
were thrown open with loud bang ant
several bakers in white caps and aprom
rolled half dozen big boxes filled with
bread on the sidewalk. Tho bakers
handed out the bread to the men, and
the line moved slowly along with the
shuttle of tho lock step, we'll known,
apparently, to many Of the gang. Tt
every man was given loaf Of bread
day old. There was more than enough
to go around and some got two loaves.
The long wait in the open air seemed
to have added an extra panS to the
hunger Of the men, and almost every
one took rtvcnols bite from the loaf
as soon rs it reached his hand. They
acted like hungry wolves in sight OF
prey, and to many of them the dry
bread appeared lit for kinsly feast.
Some sat down on the curb, broke oil
largo chunks Of the loaf and fairly
Crammcd it into their mouths until every
mOrscl Of 1t was gone. Others, after Z
few bites, slowed the bread away among
the rags which covered their bodies, and
q few hurried away Without toIchrnG il
at all. In fifteen minutes the street was
deserted and no sound was heard save
the merry song Of the bakers rs they
piled up big stacks of bread for theil
customers with tie feeling that steal:
into the human heart when good "c'
has been performed.
"That's the best object lcssou," said
Policeman Mcconnell, as the last bundle
of rags moved away, "of what rum vii!
bring g man to if he sticks ut it. Mos
of these poor chaps come here night
after night, and many OF them
have told lie it, tic only iood they
have had IN twcnty.four hours. TM
gang is made up of cx convcts wht
have lost even the desire to steal, and
druukards who have reached the bottom
OF tho ladder. Among the lattor art
men who have been in good circum.
stances, and there is one who about ter
years ago owned n largo wholesale gro
Gerry in Washington street. This charity
is a godsend to them, and it's all the de
cent treatment they get during the day.
They are kicked and stunned by every
body, sheek shelter wherever it can b.
found, and most OF them will wind VI
iu Potter's Field. No questions ar'
asked here if these men arc worthy ob
jects Of charity. Thew are n! hal
starved and drunkards without homes,
and thieves have to cat as we'll MS an.
one else. Although they are hardened
lot there has not been the slightest dis
order on the block during the years that
they have been coming here. New