The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-04
WHAT THE CHILDREN DID.
Captain McFee of the Saliva
ton Army Tells of
80 Their Work.
:Superindent Moulder Heartily Con-
:. - graduates the Generous
=: Little Ones.

The school children of San Francisco are
J. deserving of more than ordinary praise for
the splendid way in which they responded
TO the call of the Salvation Army, issued
some two months ago, for food, clothing
and money to relieve the sick and destitute
of this great city.
At that time mention was made from
day to day of the generous offerings of the
children, though so many small donations
rather tended to surround their efforts
p. with an air of littleness, when in reality
. they were doing a very noble work.
Superintendent Moulder has Just re-
ceiyed the report of Captain McFee of the
Salvation Army as to the disposition of the
goods and money received, and has in turn
issued a letter to all the principals with a
copy OF the report. Mr.. Moulder in his
: letter says:
To Principals: Please read or have your
teachers read the accompanying correspond
ence to ali the classes in your school / am
sure the children viii be gratifed to learn how
much good their liberal donations have done,
and how worthily they have been bestowed.
They have tided a great number of destitute
women and children over the hardships OF a
hard winter.
Thanks to them, believe every case of real
suffering for the necessities OF lie have been
relieved, and even some of the comforts have
been supplied. The superintendent is proud
the public schools of San Francisco. No such
organized work has ever been done by young
folks in any other city OF the Union.
The report of Captain McFee reads as
follows:
During the past six weeks the Salvation
Army, at their "Lifeboat," III Jackson street.
has distributed the provisions and fuel con-
tubuted to the poor by the school children of
San Francisco. Below we give an estimate of
the quantity of the goods delivered and their
value. In mems, women's and ehildren's
clothing and shoes betyeen 60Oo and 1000
pieces have been given away, fair estimate of
their value being almost impossible to give
We have been kept exceedingly busy during
this time receiving. sorting and distributing
these goods.
AS only in a few cases were the contents of
the packages marked, we were compelled to
!: open the large majority to ascertain what they
held In doing this we came across some queer
COMPUTATIONS, such as German sausage tied
up IN an'overcoat, tea in Quaker oats packet,
rice III cOffee-tin, and coffee in q baking
powder can. The grand climax was reached
when the opening OF hour-sack brought to
view lump OF coal, pigs head and few
potatoes. Some OF the cases investigated dis
closed scenes of restitution and privation.
winch were truly pitiable. In one place Wis
fted the mother, having had her foot ampu-
tsleq' was supporting the mutilated limb on
STOOL, while she stood all day long at wash
tub trying TO earn enough to pay her room
rent. In another place visited we saw young
wife sick in bed. Her husband had applied for
assistance, after visiting day by day the relief
committees office, where his name had been
registered lot employment, but which he was
unsuccessful in getting. What great con-
tfast between this and the previous place.
me ntributed and the estimated
value OF the same are as follows: 1910 sacks
OF hour, coal, potatoes, wood, $500; Il, S75
pounds tea, cofee, sugar, rice, beans meal,
$3.50; 700 tins fruit and jams, SIO5; 500
pounds OF salt, So; $50 pounds soap, SIS 1000
pounds OF dried fruit, 500; 100 pounds of
tapioca, $40; 70 pounds sago, SO; SO pounds
butter, S13; $50 pounds barley bacon. crack
ers, $42; 20 boxes macaroni $50: bread
meat, fish, cornstarch, sundries, 5000; 1000
articles of clothing at 10 cents, very low
estimate, 500. Total value of all, S2761.
In referring to this report in letter to
Superintendent Moulder, Captain McFee
says:
The children can never estimate the amount
of good they have done or the amount of suffer-
ing they have relieved by their noble efforts to
help the suffering poor. The goods are dis
posed of, but still have balance OF cash,
Which / am using in extreme cases for rent
and to buy shoes and clothing for children 60
ing to school.
Thank you sincerely in the name of the $50
clal VIM" of the Salvation Army Tor the great
honor you have conferred upon us, and | am
sure can tender the sincere thanks OF the
poor whom the children have so nobly helped
In their time of need.
In addition to this showing in the way