Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-21


the city. Mothers meetings. sewing schools
and children's meetings are also held at the
various branches
The Industrial department Of the mission
has gradually developed and expanded since
the Institution increased its facilities, ap-
parently without any effort on the part Of
the managers for this end. The success Of
the institution in this line has been an au-
tomato demonstration of the great need
that there is In each large community for
some such means of affording the destitute
and the shiftless with the opportunity to
secure their food and lodging on a plane
somewhat higher than that of pure charity.
Opening on Louisiana avenue. so that a step
may carry a. weary wanderer from the
street into a warm, comfortable shelter, Is
the reading room, free and open to all who
desire place to rest or to read or write.
Good reading matter is furnished In abund-
ance, being supplied by the charitable peo-
pie of the city who are interested in the
work. Gifts of books. n igazines and news
papers are always welcome. This room is
also free employment agency for the ben
eft of those who desire to find work. The
superintendent of the room registers the
name. address and occupation of all who
desire employment and efforts are made to
secure places for them. These men come
from every section Of the country. and also
from all parts of Europe. They represent
every trade known to man. They come
from all planes of society, and many Of
them bring with them the remnants Of
former refinement and culture. Frequently
have found excellent material in this room.
The Wood Saving Department
Down nfthe cellar in the basement of the
building is the real heart, SO to speak, Of
the industrial department. Here are stored
cords upon cords of fire wood. and on the
walls hang bright-bladed saws, with ham
dies worn smooth by the grip of tired
palms. Here men saw for the food and
shelter, and right glad, indeed, they are
| sometimes to get the chance I'd do 1t. The
| regulations require that man shall saw
one-sixtee1th of a cord for q meal, and
| another sixteenth for lodging. In return
| for an eighth of cord of wood sawed the
guest of the institution is given bed and
| a days food. In addition to this, men who
apply for the work are permitted to saw
wood for tickets, which may be exchanged
for groceries, coal, or wood, as they may de-
sire. During the winter many such cases
OF men with families and out OF work were
received at the mission and supplied with
the means of earning at least the bare
necessities of life. This wood is sold to
citizens who are interested In the work.
and to others, indeed, who have gradually
come to learn that here is supply of the
best firewood at practically cost prices. By
means of this wood yard the institution is
kept on a self-paying basis. During the
winter coal-deivery wagon was run
through the city delivering coal to the poor
In small quantities at ton prices. This
proved a great boon and the demand was
to supply X. 1t is hoped by the managers
that next winter they may establish four
such wagons.
The lodging house attached to the mis-
sion was patronized far beyond its facil-
tiles throughout the winter, and, indeed,
now the beds are filled each night by men
who are eager to get of the streets. Dur
ing the coolest weather of the winter there
We're frequently upward of 200 men sleep
Ing in the building, some in beds upstairs,
some In cots on the ground floor, and
scores who were glad of q chance to
stretch out on boards on the floor of the
furnace room in the cellar. For every lodg-
ing labor is performed and money paid
varying in value from to Is cents. The
average number accommodated nightly Is
100. Free baths are also given, and there
Is now In course of preparation room for
the fumigation and cleaning of clothing,
In many instances sadly needed.
A Shelter for Women.
A night shelter for women has been
opened since last fall. and from the first
night has never been empty. Here home
less, friendless and penniless women, some
good and some bad, some from the Jail and
the work house, others from once happy
and prosperous homes, have found a well
come. shelter, a bed and plenty of food
During their stay they make themselves
useful by sewing, making beds, washing
and ironing, and assisting in cleaning the
building. AS soon as possible homes and
employment are found for them, and many
nave thus been redeemed from worthless
and sinful lives into better paths. In fire.
quent cases both men and women have
come to the shelter without friends
IN this city and means have been found
10 send them to distant cities, where they
nave families or other persons interested
IN them. The District sanitary officer has
frequently given great aid in this matter.
A Cook Discovered.
The dining room, which has been in oper-
alton for several months, has proved
great success. About three months ago
there strolled in a midde-aged man of Ger
man extraction, who soon demonstrated
that he would work IL he had a chance.
and 1t was not long before 1t was discov-
cred that he possessed the talents of q
first-class cook. Accordingly, after a few
trials he was placed in charge of the great
ranges in the mission kitchen and today he
is a happy, contented chef, daily catering
to the wants of hundreds in 6. fashion that
would do credit to many of the best board
ing houses In Washington. He is careful
of his earnings and is already quite pros
porous citizen. He is assisted by a young
man, who also came from the road, besides
two walters and two dishwashers, who are
kept busy from o'clock in the morning to
in the evening preparing the meals which
are sold at 5. 10 and 10 cents EACH For
10 cents person is furnished with abso-
lutely all he can eat and drink, the meal
consisting of meat vegetables soup, bread
meals are served daily. The patronage
comes from those who have funds to pay
for meals and desire to get the most food
for the least money. from the men who
saw and. split wood, from the women in
the night shelter and from the holders of
tickets from the central relief committee
many hundreds of which were issued dur
ing the winter and are now being honored
by the mission. This dining room Is in the
rear of the building on the ground floor
and opens out on c street.
Many an effective object lesson can be
given in this institution at airy hour of the
day to any person interested in reaching
the real needs of the really poor Just
what proportion of the unemployed men
who are now surely descending upon WASH
ington will reach the mission in search of
food and shelter is, of course, a problem
but IT Is certain that with the additional
facilities afforded by the new building hun
dreds Of men can be cared for in really
excellent fashion at a comparatively little
cost. 1t behooves the good people of WASH
ington to encourage and maintain such an
establishment, which in such emergencies
that which seems to be now impending
stands in such excellent service to the CITY
The Central Union Mission is for today
tomorrow and all time, and Coxey's army
and its attendant satellites raay come and
go, but the great building on louisiana ave
nue. will always be open to aid and comfort
the weary.
Views of n RecoGnized Authorftv