The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-12-26

About q worthy INSTITUTION
There certainly were more sumptu-
ously decorated dining halls and more
elaborate spreads in the city yesterday
but il is doubtful if anyone enjoyed
their Christmas dinner as did the Soo
who were served at the Salvation Army
food and shelter house. 1t was mag
nificent undertaking and the members
of the army did themselves proud.
AS early as IL o'clock men, women
and children began to wend their way
down Franklin avenue, their objective
point being the army house 1t was
not a stylishly dressed gathering, but
the faces of everyone of them were
wreathed in smiles in anticipation Oh
what was in store for them Ana the
children! Tots that had wondered why
Santa Claus failed to put IN an ap-
pearance during the previous evening
were there in great numbers anu ia
most cases accompanied b. their par
ents. Their Joy might easily be
imagined, for upon entering the hall
n huge Christmas tree loaded with
gifts of all descriptions greeted their
ewes. There were lin soldiers, TIN
whistles trumpetS, drums ana Otner
musical instruments, in fact. every
thing calculated TO take chllos fancy.
But first TO the dining halls These
consisted of several rooms in the base
ment and on the ground floor. Tables
nedecked with the whitest of linen. A
corps of walters, all wearing army
badges. were there to attend to the
guests wants and there lacked nothing
TO please the palate through the
courtesy of Galloway, Hoock q Co., the
Main street crockery house, 1000 pieces
OF chinaware were at the disposal
of the army The bill of fare
consisted of chicken, turkey, all kinds
of vegetables. tea, coffee, fruit, nuts
aud CANDY. There was nothing lack
ing to make it a Christmas dinner IN
every respect.
After each table had been served
the children gathered around the
Christmas tree in the hall and were
handed out toys, while the heads of
more needy families were given priv
ilege to select clothing from the STOCK
on hand, which so generously has been
donated by the public during the past
few days. And this programme was
carried out all afternoon until SOC
hungry men, women and children had
been fed, and 500 children been given
toys And there was great rejoicing
and many were the grateful hearts as
they wendell their way home
Prior to the dinner regular services
were held at the barracks, where Staff
Captain and Mrs. G.. d Egner were
the principal speakers. A marriage
ceremony also took place, the contract
ing parties being Mr.. J. A. King and
Miss Lausra Hansen, both enlisted
soldiers in the cause of Christ. After
the ceremony at the hall the bridal
parry repaired to the army home.
where the wedding dinner was served
and the happy couple showered with
congratulations.
The face of Lieutenant w. E. Johns,
the gentleman in charge of the home,
was picture of happiness last evening,
when a Herald reporter called
The dinner exceeded our most san
guine expectations" he said. we
fed all who came and have a great
deal of food left
And the reporter was shown through
the institution. In every room busy
hands were at work. cleaning up after
the rush. The tree which had lighted
up so many faces of jubilant children
was slowed away in a corner, while
a few of the late little visitors We're
engaged in playing with their toys.
Lieutenant Johns feels deeply CRATE
full to The people who so kindly sent in
donations. Auerbach & Bro. contrib
-
there were other donations too numer-
Gus to mention.
If every person interested in works
of charity would visit the Arny's food
and shelter home they would be sur
prised at the good work being done.
The general impression prevails that a
meal for 5 cents and a bed for SINH
lar sum is fit to do service only as a
last resort. This is erroneous. The
food is wholesome and the beds are
better than in cheap lodging houses.
The home occupies a three-story
brick building on Franklin avenue. The
ground sloor is used for kitchen and
dining hall. beside containing the office
of the manager, Mr.. Johns, and the
storage room for clothing. The top
floor is used for sleeping apartments,
each room having from four to six
cots. The ventilation is excellent and
the entire building is lighted by cleo
tIicity. Each wire bottom cot is
furnished with two blankets and a I'LL
low which are kept Scrupulously cIean.
The bedding is fumigated every day
in d contrivance built for that pur-
pose, thus preventing the possible
spreading of contagious diseases and
maintaining cleanliness. Each Iodger
is furnished a bath and clean night
rohe, and all for cents. 49,
Tie basement is also fitted up with
a kllcnen range ana tables, used only
when business is rushing A large
furnace supplies the heat, maintaining
an even temperature in all the rooms
day and night.
The food consists of four slices Of
bread, butter. one cup of coffee, soup
and meat. Those who are not able TO
pay are put TO work in the wood yard
ard thus earn their food and lodging.
A record is kept of all applicants and
"a n who docs r,t RI owl
when able TO is seldom given more
than one chance. The manager sta ties
the wood yard is now bringing IN about
SO per day. Kindling wood is sold end
delivered throughout all parts of the
city as cheaply as by any of the regu-
lar wood dealers. By maintaining the
most rigid economy this institution is
run on about IS per day. This seems
almost incredible, but nevertheless IS
true.
And the most remarkable feature of
ct all is that the men in charge, SOL
diers of = army, contribute their
services absolutely gratuitous, receiv-
ing no other remuneration than the
satisfying pleasure of making others
happy. They are all men and women
who have dedicated themselves to the
uplifting OF mankind, the alienation
of suffering among the poor, and great
est of all, to. lead men and women in
the ways of righteousness.
Do You Doubt