The Wichita daily eagle., 1896-11-27
FILLED PLUM FULL
NEWsBOYS AND BOOTBLACKS WELL
TAKEN CARE .OF.


Match Served in Abundance to ths
Hungry Youngsters. Who Have Had
Their Appetites in Training for Some
Time for the Great Event-SaIvation
Army Serves Dinner at Their Hall While
ME-. Goidstein Entertaias at the Keyston.
Yesterday morning the bootblacks and
newsboys of the city were all expec-
fancy; for it was Thanksgiving day, and
they had been promised a great dinner
at two places. and they had the choice
Of accepting either invitation. Mr.. Gold
stein of the Famous Clothing house was
one of these, and the Salvation army the
other. The Army have been preparing
for the dinner they served for some time,
and noon yesterday found them ready for
the fray. Their doors were thrown wide
open to everyone, regardless Of age, sex
or station in life; and If any partiality
was shown the better part of it went TO
those who bore evidence Of being the
poorest 1t was noticeable that all those
who came Were from the poorer classes,
and these are who the army prepared
their plenteons dinner for.
Shortly before IL O'Clock the doors were
thrown open and those awaiting stepped
inside and found as fine dinner upon
the tables as they could wish. Food there
was in plenty, and they had prepared 1t
with special view upon the substan-
tiais, and plenty of them without a sup
srabundant amount OF unnecessary
style, 10 detract from the enjoyment of
the meal Several tables were required
and il was found necessary to seat the
hungry boys and some older folks at dit-
ferent periods. Thirty persons could be
accommodated at a time, and they re-
mained at the tables until completely
satisfied. then the tables were cleared,
reset and thirty more were accommo-
dated. There were $50 people served.
ninety of whom were children, and they
all had all the good things they could
hold.
After all were served considerable was
left, and this was neatly placed in bas-
kets and taken to poor families about the
city. The army members distributed
quite an amount in this manner. and still
had some left which was sent out last
night to homes of poor people farther
away on the outskirts of the city.
Mr.. Goldstein also had promised the
boys who sell papers and polish shoes a
dinner which would gladden. their hearts
TO the capacity of their stomachs. The
little fellows gathered at the Famous
Clothing house, Of which Mr.. Goldstein
IS proprietor at an early hour, and wait
ed impatientiy for the momentous hour
to arrive. When the time came the
entire crowd. headed by Mr.. Goldstein,
formed In line and marched up Main
street to the keystone hotel, where e
fine spread had been prepared. If Mr..
Goldsteia had simply told the boys to
just go up there II would have been a
foot race royal, but he went along him.
self and the boys followed, but it seemed
as though they would break away at any
moment, so anxious were they TO ease
the snawing pain amidship which they
had been cultivating carefully SO long.
When they arrived at their destina-
ton. they stared in open-eyed wonder
at the heavily-laden tables, and when
invited to be seated, did so with speed
which would do credit to a fire depart
ment, and with the move the noise began
Noise? we'll, yes; II was something like
a riot crossed with streaks Of an Irish
wake Of the regulation pattern. The
feast had been prepared with an eye to
surprising the stomachs of some of the
little fellows, IL possible They started
out with oyster soup. and some of them
stopped there. Fearing some one else
would get more than their share, some
of them filled their plates full of crack
ers, and before this one dish was dis
posed Of some OF the youngsters stuck
fast. their capacity having reached the
limit. Beside this, there was turkey. of
course, roast beef, roast pork. pie, cake,
coffee, celery, bread and butter; and all
the trimmings of a regular first-class
Thanksgiving dinner.
The tables v ere very prettily decorated
with flowers, and the dinner was serv-
ed just the same as if the diners were
grown folks. There was no discrimina-
ton shown in the least, ragged or we'll
clothed, white or black, it was all the
same They disposed of the good things
set before them with wonderful speed,
and the noise continued unsurpassed du-
ring the entire meal Some of the boys
have not put away such a dinner for a
long time; they had all they could put
away, but none were noticed attempt
Ing 10 carry any pie away in their
pockets. When asked about how much
they eat, by a reporter for the Eagle.
the unanimous answer was: II eat all
! could" They could say no more, and
were even too full 10 play much.
Nine tables were set, and quite a num-
ber had 10 wait until room could be
made for them. The way those young
sters cleared away the viands was a
caution. but after ii was all over there
vas enough left TO feed as many more.
Strange though it may seem, no dishes
were broken in the onslaught. If any
were broken ii was not noticeable. Some
o. the little fellows ate straight through
the bill of fare, taking care not TO load
up too heavy at the start. In this dis
cretioL was truly the greater part of
valor But others were swamped on
oyster soup and crackers at the start.
II was indeed pitiful to see these few
little fellows who went az il in such a
rush. and loading up so heavy were un-
able TO try anything more TO any eN-
tent, but the torture they stood with
great fortitude.
The boys will long remember Mr.. Gold
stein. and the money spent for them in
this manner will not be lost. The army
are preparing already to give grand
dinner On Christmas. 10 all the poor peo-
pie or the city. Captain Stanley has the
matter in charge and he knows how to
do IL He managed an affair of this kind
In Kansas City last Christmas. where
over 400 people We're fed These af-
fairs are memorable ones 10 every par
ticlpant. and work a greater amount OF
good than one would at first imagine.
The engine Will not so without coal. and
who would blame hungry boy or man
Or woman il they were not working ex-