Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-12-26
FEED 22l PERSONS.
Dinner at the Salvation Army Bar
racks Yesterday.
WERE FED IN RELAYS OR FIFTY

Some Incidents Connected with the
Good Time That Was Had at the
Christmas Feast-Children
Served First
1t was wonderful sight that greet
ed the person who CHANGED 10 visit the |
barracks of the Salvation Army, 223
South Market street, yesterday after
noon shortly after IL o'clock. AT one
side of the room a table running near
ly the entire length of the room was
placed, at which sat forty-seven per-
sons, the majority of them girls, while
on the other side of the room men,
women and children, were standing
looking hungrily ON at the feast that
was spread. An expression of pleased
expectancy shone on the faces of the
diners just before the eatables were
served and those on the opposite side
of the room had an eager, anxious look
that seemed to say sWill be served?"
Will there be enough to go around?"
There was and no one went away hun
CRY. The kitchen was placed in the
rear of the hall and was shut off from
the gaze of the diners by curtain of
bunting, Mattresses, some of them not
members OF the army but charitably in
clined persons who desired to contrib
ute to the happiness of others, helped
to serve the hungry people.
Everybody enthused at the sight, the
reporter no less than the others. A
midget of a colored boy had been I'M
Intentionally neglected in the hurry
and hustle of serving and the woebe-
gone expression on his countenance
was enough to have melted heart OF
stone. It was not pleasant sight and
the pencil pusher set about for means
to dispel it. He found a plate while
the Ensign, after diligent search pro.
cured knife and fork, and on the
way back to the place where the lad
was sitting filled the plate with eata-
bles. The boy did not see the reporter
coming and when the eatables were
set down in front of him the change
was all that could be desired. The
wrinkles in his face disappeared only
to again return in happy smile. An
other boy who was weeping disconso-
lately near the table when he was ask
ed what was the trouble, said he
was afraid he would be forgotten and
that he was hungry. A place was made
for him at the table and the metamor-
phosis was startling to say the least.
Another boy complained of pain in
| the region of his stomach after he had
eaten his fill and explained it by saying
that he had eaten ten slices of bread
and butter, two pieces of pie, two por-
tons of chicken, five cups of coffee and
| other things. No wonder he was not
feeling well. Each person was helped
to all he possibly could eat and salts
faction and contentment 'shone in their
faces. Walters and mattresses hurried
to and fro with huge pans of steaming
potatoes, beans, chicken, plates heaped
| high with bread, cups of steaming hot
coffee and plates of pie. One boy was
helped to pie three times under the
plea that he had been neglected. An
1 other was too hungry to butter his
bread and consequently ate it as it was
cut.
Atthe first table forty-seven persons,
mostly girls, were served. They rang
ed in age from tots of 6 to elderly
women 60 years of age. In addition to
the things already enumerated, cram
berries were served, celery was placed
4 on the table and how the children did
howl for chicken dressing.
AT the second table fifty-seyen per-
sons were served, nearly all of them
boys, and the way eatables disappeared
was a caution, They clamored for
chicken! they howled for pie and they
got lust what they asked for in each
!, case. Hard, grinding, bitter poverty
was visible on but few of their faces
but their clothing betokened that the
4 {e,
cumstances. A few of the boys pre-
from the slums. Others wore white
collars and good clothes but the ma
4 jority, it is safe to assume were the
children of respectable, people whose
circumstances are not the best and
whose limited means would rarely per-
nit providing such dinner as was
placed in front of their children yes
terday. AS soon as the meal was dis
4 posed of the boys We're told to go home
and come back at 1880 in the evening
when the gifts would be distributed.
! Inc dishes were washed and all made
u ready for the third relay.
4 AT the third table fifty-one persons
We're fed, the majority of them old
4 folks. Their demeanor was that of pa.
tent persons used to the -vicissitlides
of life and accustomed to waiting. All
ate heartily and rrioyed the meal in q
quiet way. Gray headed men, who ha6
run the race of life and lost, were
among the number, who, with their
aged wives partook of that which was
!, set before them.
I At the fourth table forty-five people
were servedand at the fifth table TWEEN
Ity people sat down, making in all go