Evening star., 1898-09-14
What Good Women Are Doing for
Uncle Sans Soldiers.
PENSION OFFICE RELIEF WORK
Description Of the System at Old
Potomac Hall.
sANDs'i CHEERED

That's the first drop of sure-enough cof-
fee I've tasted since 1 enlisted said a tall
broad Pennsylvania volunteer as he smack
ed his lips approvingly over the edge of a
capacfous mug down in old Potomac Hall
at 11th street and Maryland avenue south
west one day last week.
A chorus Of approval greeted this an
nouncement, and it came from scores of
other Pennsylvania volunteers Their long
train bearing 800 Of them had come lum-
bering over the Long bridge and had pulled
up at 18th street and Maryland avenue to
give the tired and hungry heroes a chance
to partake of the hearty hospitality of the
Ladies of the Pension Office Relief Associa-
ton, and the appreciation expressed by the
big man was only echo of what thou
sands of soldiers who had been entertained
before had said with equal emphasis. All
over the country the memories of volun-
teers Will ever retain the most pleasant rec
objections of their treatment in the same
way, because since the war closed every
trainload of soldiers, whether regulars or
volunteers have had their hearts and stom-
achs gladdened by the generous ministra-
tions of the pension office ladies'.
Some Startling Statistics.
Some idea of the enormous amount of
good work done at the headquarters in Po-
tomac Hall, may be gained when it realized
that in single day of twenty-four hours.
500 soldiers were fed, and all had plenty.
Upon one occasion 1,1OO were fed in two
hours, and during the steady return of
troops from the south, which continued
until two or three days ago, the average
number cared for each day was about 800.
A Star reporter was initiated into the
mysteries of the admirable establishment
today by Mrs. S A Cornwall the active
archangel of the ministering band, on duty
at the hall. The entrance is on the Mary
land avenue side of the building, and
hight of stairs leads to commodious hall
on the second floor, containing ia bles in
readiness to accommodate 100 soldiers at
time. Everything Is clean and neat, and
sweet On the floor above is another hall
similarly equipped, capable Of accommodate
ing 100 more soldiers.
The ladies in charge are kept posted as to
the time soldier-bearing trains will arrive
and they are promptly met. If the men
are allowed to leave the cars, as they usu-
ally are. they are taken to the hall, If not
they are provided with plentiful supplies of
coffee, sandwiches milk and fruit on the
cars. The sick and the weak are given
soups, broths and and other foods gra tify-
ing to invalids.
Coffee Deserving the Name.
Mrs. Cornwall is the coffee maker. Per-
81 ms who have visited the French market
in New Orleans always remember the su-
preme strength and flavor of the coffee
sold there. Mrs. CornwalPs coffee is as
the same pot, because a Star reporter, who
Knows the New Orleans coffee, drank q
mug OF Mrs Cornwalps today, dipped out
Of boiler where 1t was in readiness for
any soldiers who might come.
Fifty to sixty gallons of this coffee are
always on hand to cheer incoming soldiers
from the south, and when a train is ex-
pected there are from 1000 to 10000 sand
W'ches in readiness, needing twenty big
hams TO make them. The ladies of the
pension office have been Loyalty assisted by
inc ladies' OF South Washington and other
sec tions in this admirable lworl
Inc attention to the hospital tt aims is of
course, characterized by the sama care and
earnestness. These trains usually arrive
in the wee small hours but all are met by
Miss Carrie A. Dent of the hosp tai corps
she Is tireleSs in her good work and has
been auth orized by MajorsJ. W. Bayne,
surgeon, U. S. A, to send all scl; who are
unable to travel to the Arsenal Hospital or
Providence. q
Heavy Expenses.
The work of feeding the home returning
soldiers passing through Washington will
soon reach an end, bdt the attention to
hospital trains will continle- Tile cost of
maintaining the MOBILES establishment has
been $40 or $50 a day, ali of Which has been
expended for actual necessities. The ladies
expect To receive a number of outstanding
bills In few days, and donations of cash
sent to Mrs. Saunders at the pension office,
WIN be very acceptable and promptly ac-
knowledged