The Washington times., 1894-11-30
DINED THEIR FILL One DAY
Five Hundred Enjoy Thanksgiving at
Central Union Mission.
A MOTLEY But ORDERLY CROWD
Only the Youthful Element Gave Indications
of Being "Tous h'-sacred Songs Sung By
the Ladies in Attendance While Their
Charges Appetites Were Being Satisfied
Everything Admirably Arranged.

The doors of the dining-room of the Cen
tral Union Mission were opened yesterday
morning promptly at IL O'Clock for the recep-
tion, in sections, of the 500 benefciaries Of
the great and beautiful charity of the Mis-
sion
The multitude was not slow in gathering.
For some time before II O'Clock there were
many pairs of young, old. bright. and watery
eyes, blue, black, red, and yellow noses in
relief against the window panes, taking an in
ventory of the viands and odors OF the hall.
On the steps there were more than twenty
colored and white boys pushing and showing
for the first place, and behind these there was
a crowd of men, each with a ticket in his
hand or a badge of respectability - for
Thanksgiving day, at least.
Inside the ladies had just finished pouring
out the steaming coffee and placing the beans
when the Rev Mr.. Bailey said open the door.
The juvenile ragamuffins, male and female,
filed in first and were shown TO row of seats
along the wall. There were three long rows
of tables, with places for hundred people.
The first hundred was about as motley crew
as ever scuttied a ship or devoured turkey.
In 1t there We're twenty colored people, five OF
whom were girls; the rest were a picture of
many phases the originals oil which have been
in the background OF life for several years.
There We're only eight men whose hair was
gray. The rest were young. vigorous. and
sober. Only thirty wore their cOa.s in such
a way as 10 expose their shirt bosoms. The
others were buttoned up TO the throat, the
top button being in four cases match and
IL. a.
not ragged garment in sight, except those
of the juvenile hoboes, male and female. on
the back seat. They were pretty tough-look-
ing citizens, who eat occasionally and sleep
anywhere
AS was expected, there was much difficulty
with the management IN making this a din
ner "a la fourchette." They were ali ready
as soon as they entered to play grab or beg
gar your neighbor.n As soon as they sat
down one Of the managers called the meeting
TO order. Grace had been forgotten by the
host of hoboes, and when they were arrested
by the words: stop while. We will pegin
with short prayer" most of the coffee cups
came back to parade rest with a jingle and a
yariegated assortment of sardonic griGs
After prayer they pitched in, and in a half
hour there was not cOmestible in sight.
They all ordered more coffee, and were served
several times. While they were dining several
of the ladies sang sacred selections. among
the most appropriate being ''Gather Them
In" After the dinner the crowd repaired to
the auditorium, where there was an all-day
service.
The dining-room was filed and refflled
four times. but in all there were about 500
people given very substantial dinner, con-
sisting OF turkey baked beans, cranberry
sa1ce, bread and butter, mince pie, and coffee
ad libitum.
The arrangements for the dinner were per-
feet. There was net the sIightest.embarrass-
ment in the whole affair. The ladies who
superintended the work in the lunch room
and who did it very largely themselves were
Mrs. Pratt. Mrs. Craft, Mrs Dubois. Mrs.
Timpkins, Mrs. Corrigan, Mrs. Hansche,
Mrs. Dunning, Miss Rector Mrs. Harbaugh.
Mrs. Nebins, Mrs. Stauffer, and Mrs. Mox-
ley.
The attendance in the auditorium was very
good and several conversions were made.
The services were held from II a. m to 4
p. m. and from 1880 p. m. to $50 p. m, the
leaders being Rev. Z. D. Bailey. Rev. J. D.
Smith. Rev. Mr. Pos, Rev. DR.. Todd, and
Messrs. George W. Howell, Percy S. Foster.
George w. Wheeler, W. E. Redding and W.
@. McAIichael
Mrs. Macfarlan was the chairman Of the
lunch committee, who with her fellow mem
bers are to be congratulated on the credita-
bic result of their laudable undertaking.