New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-12
MEALS FOR A CENT OR TWO
WHERE TRAMPS AND OTHERS CAN MANE
SMALL GIFTS OF MONEY GO
FI'RTIIEST.

. dinner for less than nickel man VINO IN /
tended to go to an elevated station ana eaten d
Harlem train was interrupted the other evening
bv a sorry looking specimen of the genus mono
who said: Say. boss, give me "A nickel. Inc
ether was passing without giving him an an
sWcr when he said.
Boss. if you can't give me nickel, do give
me y cent or two for I'm starvin'. am, boss, /
honest
There was no great hurry about that Harlem
train "a the traveller looked around and said:
what can you get to eat for cent or two
Il en- get "A good deal more than I've had to-
day. boss | en- get coffee and beans ana
bread"
I'm give it to you if you'll take me along and
let me try the same kind of meal
The Specimen agreed and they started down
the Rowery Guess wen go to the Gospel
Joint" was all the ntimation he gave of their
direction.
This was found to he the colloquial name for
the Pcniel Mission restaurant. The restaurant
IS i'm the basement under the room IN when
Gospel meetings are held. 1t is part Of the mis-
sion and certainly does great good by giving
hungry men chance to get something to eat
for cent or two
Are you in earnest about going n|' asked
the Specimen when they came to the stairway
that led to the basement
"Ccrtanly am"
All right. then boss. come on. didn't hardly
think it was your kind Of a joint"
They went downstairs into long basement
on the left as they entered mi-circular
counter. back Of which stood three or four large
stoves. ON each was a good sized boiler used
for cooking food. There were three men back
Of the counter. They were walters and cooks
in one They wore no white aprons or coats.
hut had On everyday garments and looked like
workngmcn from thc streets.
Two long tables ran the length Of the base
mcnt. They were innocent of covering and
there were no chairs at which the patrons could
ST. There were dozen men at the tables eat
ing. Others were coming in They were poorly
dressed Of course and seemed to be much down
on their luck, but it was hard to make out
whether as a rule they were professional tramps
or hard mp worlNngmcn.
soup" said one. coming w to the counter
and LAYING down 4 cent. The waiter went to one
OF the boilers and ladcd out pint tin cup of
soup: reached into big basket got four slices
Of stale bread and gave il all to the man The
cent was not deposited in "A cash drawer but
was lail with lot Of other cents on the bread
board resting on top Of barrel behind the
counter. The man took his soup to one of the
tables and ate. on the tables were lot of
cups Thcso contained salt Their handles were
broken off, and they were all marked with
restaurant Keepers name. 50 it appeared that
they had been donated to the mission. Iron
forks and spoons were the table utensils
What are We going to have" the Specimen
was asked
How much will you stand (or?"
"AIl you want order for both"
I'm mighty hungry and I'll make it a regu-
lar course dinner if you don't kick" answered
the Specimen
Then ne ordered soup and beans bread pud-
ding ana coffee The till for each was six cents
They got a plate Of beans well cooked and good
There was all one wanted. The price two
cents The pudding cost the same. and the cof-
fee, which was in pint cup, like the soup, cost
one cent They went back to the tables and the
Specimen ate
one man with black Whiskcrs had stepped
back toward the rear Of the dining room and
had taken off his suspcndcrs to mend them.
There was big sign on the wall which said,
"No Lodhng Allowed" but his remaining to re-
pair these important articles did not seem to be
classified az oafng for no one spoke to him. ON
the right was man looking hungry at his
empty soup cup, and, divining his thoughts. the
visitor gave him his soup and coffee. He was
thankful and became communicative He was "A
professional hobo and when he started to tell a
hard luck story about wife and seven children
the other said:
Ring of on that now. and tell me the truth"
Guess ! might as well. boss. Guess you're
llto me anyhow. Well amt got no wife and |
no children. I'm "A hobo. like the rest. | was
born in this town. and | guess | could have
work if / wanted it, but it's long time since
I'VE done much work except the 'muSh fake and /