The age-herald., 1901-11-29
NO QUESTIONS ASKEO;,
 ALL BASKETS FILLED
But There Were Brighter Scenes at the Theatre, the Football Game and Among the Holl-
 day Crowds.
BY ANNIE KENDRIck WALKER.

Thanksgiving day in Birmingham was one sf those cloudless days that come in Southern winter. when poverty. misery, want-that is clothed in tatters and rags seems less real, certainly very far away from that ether world that fits to foot. ball games. it's clubs, it's fashionable din ners. It requires cold. 1eaden skies and biting winds that sweep down the ave nues to bring the world of poverty nearer to us But yesterday was a beautiful day of sunshine and poverty did not SC sternly impress one.
 There were hundreds of poor people made happy yesterday by mementoes of Thanksgiving. There were hundreds of homes made brighter by little acts of kindness that were tied up in packages of good things. or that reposed in huge baskets filled with things for the Thanks giving dinner.
 Charity Nobly Responds.
 The appeals made by the different charity organizations of Birmingham were so generously responded to that through the various authorized agencies the poor of Birmingham were not for gotten on Thanksgiving day.
 The value of organized charities, while recognized at all times. is less empha- sized at Thanksgiving than at any other season. For instance, at the office of the United Charities all investigation is dis pensed with on Thanksgiving. The inn portance of organized charity was, how ever, none the less valuable yesterday Al Charities the city of Birmingham re- sponded nobly to the appeals made for the poor of the city Contributions of money. clothing, food and fuel were sent to the headquarters where com. mittee of women attended to their proper distribution.
 Scenes at Headquarters. At the headquarters of the society tn, I Tha nksgiying scenes were pathetic. Ther I were hundreds of applicants from tn, moment the office was opened early yes to-day morning until it was closed lat 1 in the afternoon.
 They surged through the door until tn, | little room could not hold another per | son, and outside near the entrance there were ragged little groups awaiting to go in. There were men, women and children, poorly clad. wan looking hope less. Bp: irrespective of color Or condi tion. the little door at the United ,,harI. ties opened for each che IF turn, and nc one passed out again withoot being pro. yided with a Thanksgiving dinner Ir the rear room at the headquarters theri S an exhaustless supply of provisions There were bsrrels of flour. sacks o. meal, boxes of crackers, meat, packages Of coffee, tea. rice, Srits, besess th, oranges. apples. cakes. candies and othel good things that go with a Thanksuivins dinner.
 Distribution Was Systematic. The distribution was conducted sys tematieaIly. Almost every person whe called at the headquarters brought a bas ket, ana as each pJsket was filled tn. applicant was required to give his or hel name to the secretary. No other ques tion was asked. The society dispenses with all Investigation or Thanksgiving day, but a list is retained of those per. scns receiving aid. The secretary was kept busy throughout the day. The crowds continued to surge through the littls room. The walks were lined with womer and children, and while the committe. of women in charge of the distribution hardly paused moment, the throne scemed to swell in number
 The baskets were handed through s rear door. They were filled with sub. stantial food as we'll as delicacies. and many poor woman hurried away to her bare lodging, happy in the thought that her children would not go hungry or Thanksgiving day. There were dozens of women with little ones to feed ana clothe and for these there were warn clothing and shoes and fuel, as we'll as food.
 Little Ones With Mothers.
 Many little ones were at the head quarters all day. They clung to their taste of good things. The day was so sunny that the little things were not shivering, but they were very hungry.
 There were types requesting all condi- tions of poverty. All classes of that less
  prosperous world that shivers beneath its rags and sometimes starves. They come from Castle Nowhere and no one cared where the Thanksgiving dinner would be eaten. But 1t made little diff ference in the weight of the baskets. Those were generous hands that filled them, and no person was turned away without being abundantly provided for. In some cases there were persons who did not even possess a basket and it was pathetic sight to see these poor women holding up their faded shawls to receive the contributions. There were any mum. Der of dccrepid old negro women whc hobbled in and out and awaited their time to be supplied with food.
 There were those who tottered in, and when their baskets were filled they trudged out together and down the street their trembling old figures in the ragged gowns. their old gray heads bared to the sun. They disappeared down an alleyway. Then the door at the United Charities would open again. This time a pale. gaunt looking woman, with a baby at her breast. basket on her arm. appeared She was, hurrying awy to keep the wolf from the door. There were oxyf,