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

morning, wnlie Inc urea 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
larders, and who live in an air OF luxury,
that there is half-starvcd army in this
city against which The doors OF organ.
lied charity are closed. 1t lives-no one
knows where, and 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 glimpse of the
starving army, and the sight is not
pleasant.
1t was between 9 and ; o'clock in the
morning the other day. The wind camo
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 throu III
his clothes in many places. He sank
little deeper into his rags after II quick
glance up the street and moved slowly
toward Broadway.
"Just wait for little while" said
Policeman Mcconnell to reporter who
was on his way home after his nights
work, "and you will see the straugest
gathering that you ever looked at in
this town."
The old man kept moving until he
reached the bright light whicn shown
chccrfully from the windows Of the
Vienna Bakery, midway on the block.
He looked wistfully at the scene of good
chser within, then leaned against a lamp
post with head bowed low, violently
trembling from cold aud hunger.
"He's the first on the liue," said Nc
Conncll, "aud he's not missed the honor
for over year"
The policeman's remark was vague,
but in little while the explanation
came. The solitary tramp soon had
plenty Of company. Men with 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
groups, 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- sone
signal to march. 1t was n silent crowd.
There was not word spoken above $
whisper. Some of the men were drunk
aud hardly ably to stani, 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 apron
rolled a half dozen big boxes filled with
bread on the sidewalk. The bakers
handed out the bread to the men, and
the line moved slowly along with the
shuttle of the 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 pang to the
hunger Of the men, and almost every
one took rsvenous bite from the loaf
as soon as it reached his hand. They
acted like hungry wolves in sight Of
prey, and to many of them the dry
bread appeared fit for kingly feast.
Some sat down on the curb, broke of
large chunks Of the loaf and fairly
crammed it into their mouths until every
morsel of 1t was gone. Others, after {,
few bites, slowed the bread away among
the rags which covered their bodies, and
q few hurried away without to IchIng il
at all. In fifteen minutes the street was
deserted and no sound was heard save
the merry song of the bakers as they
piled up big stacks Of bread for theiI
customers with the feeling that steals
into the human heart when good ac'
has been performed.
"That's the best object lesson," said
Policeman Mcconnell, as the last bundle
of rags moved away, "of what rum will
bring q man to if he sticks at 1t. Mos
of these poor chaps come here night
after night, and many OF them
have told me it's the only food they
have had In twenty-four hours. Th'
gang is made up Of convicts Wit
have lost even the desire to steal, and
druukards who have reached the bottom
OF tue ladder. Among the latter arr
men who have been in good circum
stances, and there is one who about ten
years ago owned largo wholesale gro
Gerry in Washington street. This CHART,
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 1t can b.
found, and most OF them will wind VI
in Potter's Field. No questions arr
asked here il these men are worthy ob
jects Of charity. They IRE all hal
starved and drunkards without homes,
and thieves have to cat as well as an!
one else. Although they are hardened
lot there has not been the slightest dis.
order on the block during the years that