The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-11-24

Every pupil in the public school who
gave ever so small a Thanksgiving
offering in response TO the request of
superintendent Howell, would have
been filled with as much wonder as JOY
If he or she could have seen the many
wagon loads of provisions gathered at
the distributing point yesterday. The
whole of one vacant store room and
part of another across the alley from
the board of trade building on Linden
street were packed so full of eatables
that it was with difficulty that one
could walk about there.
The goods are being distributed
among the families of soldiers in the
Thirteenth regiment, families too poor
to buy anything like plentiful
Thanksgiving spread, but deserving,
nevertheless.
PLENTIFUL SUPPLY.
The giving Is according to a custom
of several years in the public schools.
Superintendent Howell has encouraged
it and in so doing has received many
scores of expressions of approval from
people generally in all parts of the city.
This year 1t was announced that the
provisions would be for the families of
soldiers. But the quantity of goods re-
ceived is so great that the sixty fam
lilies who have been receiving aid from
the Relief association could not begin
TO consume the good things in three
meals, so after these families are well
supplied the distribution will be con-
tinued among other deserving poor.
WORK OF DISTRIBUTION.
Brother Francis, relief agent for the
Soldiers Relief association, is directing
the work. He is thoroughly familiar
not only with the beneflciaries of the
association, but knows as much, if not
| more, than any one person in Scranton
concerning the needs of it's poor people
generally.
The school children We're instructed
to bring their offerings to the school
buildings on Tuesday. The great ma
jority brought but one article, either
a cabbage, or a turnip, a squash,
| package of canned goods and the like.
But in every school building a wagon
load of eatables was thus obtained.
During Tuesday afternoon and yes
| terday three teams were busy hauling
| the supplies from the school houses to
| the distributing depot on Linden street
| The articles finally gathered there-and
| the work was not finished until last
| evcning-comprised about every nom
| perishable food substantial found on a
| hotel table. There were huge piles of
| cabbage, potatoes, turnips, onions,
| squashes and other vegetables, canned
| goods, picked goods-n fact, every
| thing. The two big rooms were jammed
so full of good things that the place
| had the appearance of a large and new
| ly-opened market and store where it
| had been impossible to set things in
| order.
| WAS NO CONFUSING.
There was no real confusion, how
| ever. Brother Francis had three men
| indoors and three men and as many
| teams outside to help him. Tags bear
ing the addresses of families to be sup
| piled had been written in advance and
arranged in groups corresponding to
| store delivery sections for all parts of
the city. A half-dOzen or more tags
| were given out for each wagon load
and as many sets of supplies, each set
containing a liberal variety of things.
| accompanied the tags and were hurried
| out for delivery.
The work Of distribution began yes
terday afternoon, was continued into
the evening and will occupy all of this
morning. 1t is estimated that forty
| wagon loads will be delivered.