The San Francisco call., 1898-01-02
Thousands FeaSted With out Charge by the Sal-
 vatiOn Army.
The Mechanics Pavilion Pre- sented an Animated
 Scene.
Speeches, a Christmas Tree and Pray CT Helped to Make the Affair
 Success.

At the Mechanics Pavilion last even ing over 5000 of the city's poor were fed by the Salvation Army. All day yesterday an experienced man was preparing the feast. by roasting whole carcasses of mutton and beef in the empty lot opposite the pavilion, and the scene drew large crowds which were held, partly by the unusual sight and largely by the appetizing odor which fioated through the air. Coffee, bread and butter helped to swell the bill of fare and many hungry, helpless nor tai was sent from the building rejoic- ing at the fact that such an organiza- tion as the Salvation Army is allowed to exist by the laws of God and man.
 A sight was presented to visitors never to be forgotten. AS the feast was spread, Commander Booth Tucker entered the pavilion and the shout that issued from thousands of throats tingled. the blood of every individual there, and thanks were given, some silently and others aloud that a man who works for the interests of his fel- low beings was to be seen at such a busy and eventful time.
 The hall presented an animated ap- pearance. At one end a Christmas tree IBnlGu was WlIn tokens of the season for the children, and the speakers platform in close proximity was decorated with the na- tional colors. At o'clock Mayor Phelan made an address of welcome. He was followed by Commander Booth Tucker, who was received with an ova- tlon and spoke amid rapt attention; w. H. l.. Barnes, who spoke on Cali fornia, the Land of Promise;" George II. Maxwell on the New Emancipa- tion;" Frank McGowan on Waste Land and Waste Labor;;" Professor E. w. Hilgard and James H. Barry on "Opportunity-Not Aims
 Then the feast began. Lassies in neat dress waited upon the hungry and friendless visitor, and the appetiz- ing morsels disappeared as though be- fore cyclone. Again and again the empty plates were replenished, and not until the last visitor had been served did the labors of those in charge cease. Then it was seen that there was food in plenty left for those who had eaten their fill but a short time before.
 As some who were religiously in clined left the hall they praised the Creator on pended knees for the meal which had been prepared for them in the hour Of trials and tribulations. Others left without a word possibly feeling their position, but not one was there who departed with anything but a smile Of satisfaction upon his coun- tenance.
 The remarks of George H. Maxwell on the New Emancipation" were at tentively listened to, and his words proved that he was thoroughly con versant with the subject He referred to the deplorable state that men were reduced to at times, although they were willing and anxious to work. but he thought that ivy r1 ness would dawn with the passing of the new year. Among other things he said:
 So long as the laboring classes of this country continue to seek for re- lief from these conditions by creating more opportunities to labor in cities. just so long will they continue to throw themselves under the wheels of the car or Juggernaut which is destroying them, for in the end it is the poor who will suffer rather than the rich by the coming of The Man on Horsebacl<' whom the corruption of our cities will bring, as sure as fate, unless their overgrowth can be checked There is but one way in which this republic can be prevented from following in the footsteps of Rome, and that is by turn ing back to the land the great masses of the people who must labor to live and roofing them to the soil in rural homes where each yeoman citizen, by his own labor upon his own land can produce his own living directly from the soil he tills, and where his hearth stone may be the center around which his children will grow up surrounded with comfort and plenty and in the pure air Of the home life of the country every man who must toll to live can achieve absolute individual, industrial independence.
 For it is sucL individual, industrial independence which should be the end and aim of every laboring mans efforts. It should be the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night which should guiIa his footsteps until he shall have reached it as a promised land. And every such ru- ral home, as our Secretary of Agri- culture said in his last annual report, will be sure safeguard of the Re public.
 five would accomplish this greatre- suit, the whole people, and the Govern ment itself, if it is to continue to be & Government of the people, by the peo- pie and for the people. must unite to turn the tide of population from the cities back to the country. And to do this, we must do two things; first, we must change the ideals of American life. As nation we are training our children that the chief aim of life is to get money. If we continue for an- other generation as we have in the past we will by that time have canon- ized Jay Gould and forgotten Abraham Lincoln. Instead of this every boy should be taught that his aim should be an honorable independence in a home Of his own upon the land.'