St. Paul daily globe., 1895-12-26
FED THOUSANDS.
Thirteen Hundred Poor Families
Were Remembered.

If it is true that charity brings
greater blessing and reward than any
other virtue, then, indeed, should Min
neapolis be exceeding glad. 1t often
time happens that Christmas is not
Merry Christmas" because of the
abounding poverty that prevails ev-
erywhere and which makes the day
one of many dismal memories. But
Minneapolis yesterday did not feel
the shadow and sadness of oppress-
ing poverty. The great, generous
heart of the city responded so prompt
ly and so efficiently to the call for
assistance and help that the thou
sand homes where live the poor of
Minneapolis enjoyed as fine a Christ
mas dinner as any in the city. The
yesterday looked very empty and bare
in comparison with the previous day.
The great walls Of flour, the mighty
pyramids of meat, the vast piles of
coffee and sugar which covered the
walls to the ceiling, the massive
pile of oyster cans, the great monu-
ment of vegetab bles and apple bar
rels-all had disappeared, and lit was
a great satisfaction to think that
every article of food had found it's
way to some lowly home of poverty
to shed abroad therein the real joyful
light of Christmas day.
1t is absolutely impossible for any
one who did not visit the headquarters
before the distribution Of the articles
to form any idea whatsoever of the
magnitude of the Christmas charity
distribution. 1t is saying a great deal
to say that there was not a hungry
family in Minneapolis yesterday, but
it is quite probable that it is the truth,
and at least the families who did not
receive Christmas cheer were very few.
Thirteen hundred families were fed by
the city yesterday. That is a large
number, and it probably represents the
number of poor homes in Minneapolis.
1t is safe to say that at least 1000 peo-
pie were given royal dinners yester-
day by the earnest efforts of the citi-
Zens' committee. Seven thousand peo-
pie fed on Christmas, made happy and
moved, if only for the time being, from
so many human hearts-surely that is
a great work, and, as William Henry
Eustis well said, it Is a work which will
be an influence in the public opinion of
the community and serve to eradicate
that common feeling of difference be-
tween rich and poor.
Most of the deserving ones were sent
on their way happy Tuesday evening,
and but few applied on Christmas
morning. Most of the work done yes
terday was individual giving, of which
there was considerable throughout the
/ city. The churches sent committees
around with little contributions wher-
| ever there was any opportunity to
| brighten up any home. The school
| children scattered relief with the most
! willing hands and made many a home
happier for their kindness.
Mayor Pratt said that he had never
| seen a more systematic work of char
! tty than that performed by the citi-
zens' committee. Everybody connect
| ed with the work did his work well,
and there was no hitch in the perform
ance anywhere. The mayor said that
he thought that, with a few possible
exceptions, the deserving poor were
all helped, and that very few of the
lazy and undeserving received the
share that should have gone elsewhere.
The street car conductors report that
they were almost overwhelmed with
the poor people and their bundles, but
they all accorded to the common riders
the kindest consideration.
Taking it all around it was a great
Christmas day in Minneapolis, and
certainly the real spirit of Christ pre-
vailed and lent It's benediction to the
day.
The Christmas distribution has de-
veloped the fact that the poor of the
city have increased 10 or II per cent
over last year.