The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-12-24
HIGHEST Of an IN Leavenng PowerLasest u Govt Report
Re-! B Bsxd:s9
ABSOLUTELY Pure
ABSOLUTELY Pure

fell to eating heartily. On the opposite
side of the counter from the men thus en-
gagged were ten Salvationists engaged in
replenishing the pans and plates as fast as
they were emptied. washing the dirty
dishes, cooking and preparing the food.
Capt. +. III. Fowler, the special in
charge OF this department of the Army
work, said:
This is the eighth time today the
tables have been filled and it viii be the
last time today. Those two tough-looking
fellows who spoke so saucily to me just
now got q meal here q couple OF hours ago
and tried to get another, and I told them
they would have TO wait until tomorrow.
We serve only one meal day from I'LL 5 p.
m, and some of these men try to work IL
30 as to get in at the first and last tables
and thus get two meals day. These
men are usually schemers. but we soon
get on to them. OF course We are i'm
posed on by many worthless fellows. but
We can stand il If they can, and We never
refuse meal TO anyone. whether he has
scent ticket or not. We expect to get our
woodward department IN working order
soon. and We can then get rid of
many of the impostors, because then
everyone must have . ticket in order to
get meal, and these fellows will hardly
do any wood-cutting in order TO earn
ticket"
1t is quite character study to watch
the faces and carriage of the men who file
in from the army reading room-young
fellows with down on their lips and
bright, eager look in their eyes; middle
aged men with a subdued and apologize
look, old gray-haired men with saddened
eyes, on whose bent frames one could in
fancy see the growing burden of poverty.
Some walked Alertly, some shuffied and
sided along. some tostered. some walked
slowly and calmly, little fellows and big
men, white black and tan: in all sorts of
attire, from tramp's filthy rags to the
neat fitting. decent looking clothes of
good mechanic or store clerk. Beneath
the outer skin the minds eye could also
see characters weak aud strong. despicable
and admirable, here n sneaking, shutting
rascal e,bowing his impudent way, there a
calm, dignitied man, erect, but with
hesitating step and painful look of hum
bled pride in his eyes, the weak headed,
clumsy blockhead with vacant counte-
nance. Many of the men had highly in
| telligent faces, and all were sober, as in
| toxicated men are not allowed on the
| premises. As they fell to some removed
| their hats, but most of them kept their
| heads covered. Some chatted and laughed
| and chaffed the walters in hardened and
| good humored way, others ate in selfish or
respectful silence. but all heartily. Most
| of them had ticket for their meal, but
many of them walked impudentiy in. pay
| ing no attention to the doorkeeper and Of
| ierlng no apology for not having a ticket
All surii.y, impudently or gratefully and
| humbly acknowledged the meal as a char
ity gift.
The Salvation Army is now feeding and
| sneltering about 800 of these men every
day, and as many as 500 have been fed in
one day. Each man gets all he can eat of
| plain but substantial food. Adjoining the
| dining room is a reading room of the same
size, with great long table in the center
| covered with newspapers, aud numerous
| benches are arranged about the room.
A large heating stove keeps the place
| comfortably warm, and a coil. of water
| pipe in the stove keeps a 6oo-gallon iron
| tank filled with hot water. Pipes lead
| from this to two bathtubs and a clothes
washing tank in . rear room, where soap
is furnished free. Over 100 men sleep on
the floor and benches of the reading room
every night. and the smell is not pleasant.
With the equipping of the bathtuhs and
/ washing tauA, however, thiS Will DC QOHe
away with, as every one will be compelled
to take a bath and wash his dirty clothes.
| For those who have no change of clothes
there has been collected supply of cast
of clothes. ready to be given out after the
! men have taken bath. Said Capt.
| Fowler:
I'VE started in on this work without
| any money said Capt Fowler, land We
nave fitted this place up and run il
| month and are out of debt. ami have SIS
| TO start our wood yard with. which We
| hope TO do this week. We are now look
| ing for a lot with "A shed so the men won't
l get wet while they are at work. A man
\ who cuts one-fifteenth Of q cord of wood
| will get meal ticket. He can do this in
| twenty minutes very easily. We then will
| resume giving two meals day. but the
| men must have tickets. and if they won't
| work they can't eat. We have three
| women soldiers out constantly seeking poor
| families. whom We relieve by taking food
| and clothes TO their homes. We lind many
who are suffering terrible privations. but
| who are too proud TO let their poverty be
| known. They found one family today
where the mother is dying of consump-
| ton and the father and two children were
so scantily clad as to render IL indecent for
| them 10 90 out of doors. We are very
| grateful 10 the people who contribute food
| and clothes for our work here. The Union
| Electric Company has done all the wiring
| and furnishes US fourteen lights. all free.
and the telephone company has put in a
1 phone free. The city gives US our water
! free, and We are grateful for all these and
other gifts of those who are helping us"
|
/