The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1896-04-01
DOLE OF BREAD"
A Century Old Charity In New
York Still Exists,
Distributing Loaves OF Bread to
Hungry Wanderers.

FOREMOST among the many prncti-
cal charities or this great, big-hearted
metropolis, says the New York Jour
nal, is the old bread-giving benef-
cence, long established and faithfully
kept up for many years. No happier
way of helping the really worthy poor
could be conceived than that of sup
plying to them the staff of life, the
bread that is to keep them alive.
None but those deserving, or in sad
need OF aid, would apply for this sort
of assistance.
Two million loaves of bread have
been given to hungry unfortunates in
this city since this most commenduble
charity, verify, a salvation from star
walton, was established. Few New
Workers know of the "Leake Dole of
Bread. v which has gone steadily on in
its estimable work since 1872.
John Leake millionaire of the late
century was devout churchman, and
throughout his life an active philan-
thropist. Living. as he did, in aris-
tocratic New York, he was of course, a
constant attendant upon the services
of Trinity church and a patron of
what was then and is now, one of the
best conducted chapels in the city, old
81. Johns chapel, on Varick street.
When the benevolent old man died,
he left 81, 900 sterling "to the rector
and inhabitants of the Protestant Epis-
col church of the state of New York, I"
to be put away safely, where the inter-
est from it would be sufficient to pur-
chase ix-penny wheaton loaves to a
goodly number, to be distributed Ito
such poor us are most deserving, after
every Sabbath morning service.
OF this interest, S174.20 has been
expended yearly for the purchase of
the bread. This enables the chapel
to distribute sixty-seven loaves every
week. The day of delivery, however,
has recently been changed from Sun
day to Saturday. The most effective
division of the loaves has been
adopted Eighteen women of the
parish, who have large families call
at the gray stone house of the old SEX
ton, John Watson, every Saturday
morning, at 0 o'clock, and take away
enough big whito loaves to keep the
wolf from the doors of the little
homes they love. They are no men
among the pensioners. In the 104
years of its existence, this single bene-
faction has been the cause of making
happy thousands of families.
Although not so old as the Leake
Dole of Bread, the benevolence of the
Fleischmann Vienna Bakery, at Tenth
street and Broadway, is quite as we'll
conducted and quite as meritorious.
Nearly million and half loaves of
bread have been given out from their
bounteous bake-house to twice that
number of hungry wanderers, in half
loaves, in the last twelve years.
In 1876 Louis Fleischmann ordered
that all the leftover bread of the day
should be distributed every morning
at two o'clock to whom should first
apply for it, half-loaf to each man.
In cold weather each beneficiary was
to receive tin cup of hot coffee with
his bread.
AS if to make things equal, the wan :
derers who are fed at this haven are
all men, just as they are all women who
benefit by the Leake Dole Of bread.
Between four and five hundred men
of all ages. some fairly we'll dressed,
others in rags, but all hungry, line up
at the side door on Tenth street in the
middle of every night. AS early as 10
o'clock the hungry line commences to
form, although the wandering waif-
who make it up know that they can
not expect bite before two o'clock.
There are usually enough men to ex-
tend all the way to Twelfth street.
The old watchman, William Grevel,
and pair of trusty tramps, old pen
sioners, give out the bread. On holi.
days they give large piece of cake
with each half loaf OF bread, and the
battalion of beggars is happy.