The San Francisco call., 1896-11-27
ONE THOUSAND
f: BOYS AND GIRLS
::
Hungry and Worthy Guests
: of the Volunteers of.
America.
The Tables Were Spread Thrice
and No Applicant Was
i. Turned Away.
The Department of the Children Was
Excellent and Many Adults
i. We're Admitted.

:. One of the happiest events of Thanks
giving day was a free dinner given by the
Volunteers of America to 1000 boys and
girls and quite number of destitute men
at the old Y. NJ. c. A. Hall on Sutter
street.
The tables for the first relay were spread
at Il O'Clock and speedily as many little
boys and girls as could lie seated were ad-
'rhitted to the hail. While the 'ins" were
dining sumptuouslY on turkey. ham.
cranberry sauce, fruit, vegetables, coffee
and pies, there was an eager throng on
the sidewalk waiting for the second relay.
Z The tables were cleared and spread
again at o'clock for the second INSTALL
ment of hungry urchins, ana at o'clock
another feast was laid out for the third
relay. The third or last division of the
applicants for a square meal included
many adults. In fact every applicant was
welcomed and no one went away hungry.
Upon leaving the hall every one OF the
little folks received bag of candy.
. Inc Volunteers OF America are COM
manoed by Ballington Booth. The organ
lzatlon Is American in me IN bershIp and is
conducted according to progressive Amer.
lcan methods. Major w Washington Back
hurst, commander of the Pacific Coast B at
talon, was master of ceremonies at the
free dinner yesterday. He was ably as
sisted by Captain Robert Gardiner, chief
e. OF staff, Captains Brundage, Mills and
Williamson and Mr.. Carmany and a de-
tachment of police officers.
Mrs. Coon and pupils of her day school.
Mrs. Hodgkins and her work. rs and vol
'unteers from the Christian Endeavor as
sisted in waiting at the tables The
. crowds OF delighted youngsters were full
. of life and animation, but good order was
MAINTAINED.
When Major Blackhurst announced that
there would be.a stereopticon exhibition IN
the evening TO which all were invited he
asked how many were coming. The mum.
Der of hands that went up as the boys
shouted approval indicated unanimous
acceptance.
Every plate on the table was abundant
ly stocked with food. Many of the little
fellows were yoracious eaters. The major
III command was astonished at the GUAM
tlty OF food that the small boys were able
TO STOW away. In this kind of charitable
work Major Blackhurst has had wide ex-
perlence. he was with General Fielding
In Chicago last Christmas, when a dinner
was given to 1000 men and 1000 women
and children. He regards California boys
as bright, interesting and easily man
aged.
The Volunteers of America make a
special study OF the deserving poor. In
this line of wcrk in San Francisco Cap-
tain +. M. BIundage Is remarkably eff
cient. -Four years devoted ID investiga-
tlon IL this particular field enables him to
Judge the situation with accuracy. He
says there are many deserving families n
Il destitute condition. The Vo. unteers
distribute al the provisions and clothing
which can be obtained, yet Captain Brun-
dage has been compelled recently to turn
away without help women with children
who really should have had assistance.
This would not be so if the people of Sa
Francisco We're familiar with the facts
In giving the Tree dinner yesterday,
special care was taken in the distri button
of tickets to reach the worthy poor. Many
of the children who were served were
fairly well dressed and tidy, and exceed
ingly well behaved. The composition of
the throng. and especially the deport-
mentof the little girls, indicated clearly
that the tickets had not been promis-
cuously given out on the streets. No
doubt many home, where destitution is
in sense concealed, sent children to the
dinner spread by the Volunteers.
Major Blackhurst says the organization
of American Volunteers is increasing
rapidly on the Pacific Coast. The San
. Jose post has sixty active mem bers rep
'Eesenting the best material The San
: Francisco post has a membership OF fifty.
>. he major has just returned from a sue
cessIul recruiting expedition to Los An
geIes and San Diego. and will leave
shortly for the north TO continue the work
Of organization.