Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-04-03

bed. but not until he has been given some
thing warm to eat, a bath and his clothing
placed in a fumigator. In the morning, in
stead of walking out to the clerk and ask
ing the amount Of his hotel" bill he sur
renders himself to the foreman of the
kindling department. He then proceeds to
chop enough kindling to pay for his lodg-
ing and meals.
The services thus rendered do not in re-
ality pay for the accommodations extended
him, but then it is some help to the in
stitution, as the kindling is put up in little
BUNDLES and sold for a penny a bundle. TIL
object Of making those work who have not
a nickle or a dime with which to pay for
p paelp iisT.'s While u il t the majority aGaa yn Of the fuai huD q.
dreds Of men and boys who are sheltered
and fed at the depot weekly are in reality
paupers, yet they are made to feel self
supporting. In fact. they do labor for what
they get, but at the same time they could
not find the same accommodations else
where, even if they were willing to perform
twice the amount of labor. In short, the
shelter depot is a home for the hundreds of
homeless men and boys in Kansas City,
Kas,. and they look up to Mr.. and Mrs.
Ensign Dodds as their parents. Mrs.
Dodds. who. assisted by a corps of four
Salvation Army soldiers, superintends the
depot. is known by no other name than that
of Mother" She is an elderly woman, and
her form is bent from toll. but she gets
around the depot and performs more actual
labor than the bulk of the men who are
classed as laboring men. She does it with
IL IN llidl toiNi IN Xix = tlLdl lie
whole heart and soul are wrapped up in
the work.
But as to the sign which appears in the
introduction. ] will tell how 1t came to be.
posted at the depot. Among the regiment
of wanderers who sought refuge from the
cold at the depot last winter was a man,
formerly a well-to-do merchant in a Kan
sas town. He was once prosperous, but a
large credit business finally ended his bust
ness career and send him adrift. a wander
ing vagabond. He stopped at the depot
! Gatrarol riohtC or6 hafNrp la1rinp hn told
the story of his past life. 1t Is by his sug-
gestion that the notice appears at the
depot. The composition was not original
with him.. but it was n lesson he had
learned after 1t was too late for him to
profit by it.
The Depot.
The depot occupies the ground floor and
basement of a brick building 30x150 feet
in dimensions. Mr.. and Mrs. Ensign Dodds
have quarters in a little room in the north
west corner Of the building and the opposite
corner is utilized for the Office. The center
room of the building is used for a reading
room and in which religious services are
held. Next to this is the dining room. then
the kitchen.
In the rear of the building is the bath
room and the %fumigater. The bathroom
opens into a large sleeping room. which
contains about twenty double deck beds.
Another sleeping room Is located between
this room and the dining room. The beds
on the ground floor are very comfortable
] ana are the CHOICEST dl TIE uepOl. 1IeIc
are about thirty beds in the basement which
are not SO inviting. However. they are
used only during the coolest weather INC
laundry and kindling department are 10
Gated in the basement.
A regular schedule of prices has been
adopted. The beds range from 5 to 10 cents
and the meals are valued likewise. The
accommodations given for 10 cents consist
of a good shower bath. hot and cold water
and plenty of soap. All clothing is taken
49,. -,,apfc orl yIooaI IN fho Fprpfratar
where It remains over night. They are
given a clean night shirt upon leaving the
bath. which they slip on and then go to
bed.
breakfast IS served at 6 o'clock and all
of the guests are supposed to be out of bed
III that hour. The 5 cent meals consist of
casionaIly meat is served and as a treat
hot biscuits. Every Sunday pie and cake
appear on the tables. For 10 cents meat
and vegetables are added to the bill of fare.
bread and butter. coffee and a piece OF
pie.
Free Soup Department.
During the winter months a free soup
department is maintained. Beef and vege-
table soup is prepared in great quantities
and served to the poor people who lived
about the city. They call at the depot at
Nearly 2.000 gallons of soup have been
given away at the home during the last
winter. In addition to giving away the soup
Mrs. Dodds states that she has distributed
neary a carload of old clothing.
The food and shelter depot was started
two years ago by the Salvation Army. The
people OF Kansas City. Kas., to be used for
a like purpose the year before, but that
enterprise failed. The army then took up
, where the others left OF and now have the
depot running on a basis which will soon
make 1t self-supporting.
Ensign Dodds and wife have been in the