The sun., 1903-12-26
The OTHER HtLF's- CHRISTMAS
GOOD EATING ALL DAY FOR TIE
SELDOM-FED.
"a, 900 People Eat the salvation Army
Dinner. 10000 the VOIunteer's--Brcalk.
fast on the BOwery as Early as q A. NJ.
Wonderful Feats at Big Tins Fea I.

Wonderful Feats at Big Tins Fpa [.
of all the many Christmas dinners that
we're given in this town yesterday to relieve
the pinch OF poverty the greatest by far
ra- that Of the Salvation Army. and the
rcy, goes to the credit of the Volunteers
If Amt RIGA. Twenty-Five Thousand people
onjoyed the bounty distributed and served
" the salvation Army at the Grand Central
Palace. and 10000 more were feasted by
tho Volunteers Of America from their head =
uartors in Cooper Square.
At o'clock yesterday morning the last
box containing the materials for a Chris mas
Inner for family Of five was passed
over the counter in tho hall of the Volun-
GERS. Their 1000 boxes did not by one
hrd meet the demand of the hungry army
At their doors.
When the supply of the Volunteers
vas exhausted the disappointed crowd
Aeut home or TO tho shelters to sleep
and wait for the Salvation Army's nam
moth dinner aud others of its kind.
Five thousand men, women and children
we're served at the Salvation Army's dinner
and to the hundreds that were crowded
ont the story was told aftcrward Of tho
Mayor speech and that the city's chief
executive had called them fellow citizens"
THE GUESTS ALL THERE IN TIME.
Long before o'clock. the time sct for
he spread, the crowd around the Grand
central Palace grew into an eager mob
One hundred and fifty policemen, under
capt German Of the Twcnty-third precinct,
sept the crowd in as good order as possible.
There was one mother who had waited
l,,a f,r 4
she held baby. shielded from the rain by
worn old shawl With her was another
child, who got tired of the prciminaries.
i want sumpn to eat" whispered the
Toungster many times.
One of the officers told the little fellow
that after while he would have turkey
and cake and pie and all sorts of good
thngs But when the doors were opened
The mother had lost her card. She began
~ cry Historically.
That woman's drunk, said well dressed
slgh,seer.
The tears ceased and the woman poured
ont a torrent of oaths.
i want sumpn to eat the little boy
insisted. A Salvation Army lass, there for
Just such emergencies, led tho mother and
her two children into the hall. "Shes not
drunk, she's hungry explained the girl.
TONS OF CLOTHING GIVEN AWAY.
Many in the throng wore new garments
received earlier in the day from the Saliva
rion Army. Two hours of the morning had
been spent in dist tributing seventeen loads
Of clothing. Three hours were devoted to
distributing 5000 baskets, each cont ntaining
a fowl, soup, two vegetables, tea, coffee
ovI>
ers and butter
Mayor Low reached the hall at 8 o'clock.
He was accompanied by two of his young
nieces and Francis j. Lantry, who is to be
Commissioner Of Correction under Mayor
Mcclellan. The Mayor remained only q
few minifss. - p
ddzeSa began the Mayor, y the crowd
thIndered its applause. Il know enough
noT = make q long speech, especially as
yf ;bsa waiting for your dinner"
The tables were pounded again and
cheers ros- to the roof.
Its hard enough to have to listen to a
speech after diner, but it is worse to be
compelled sten before eating"
Once mt y he 5000 voices rose and the
400 newsboys in the north section chorused
approval.
II bring to you the city's greeting and
wish you one and all merry Christmas
and prosperous new year. Applause
ageip.l In doing SO l know / speak for
every man, woman and child in this city.
Five thousand good wishes were ecnoed
back to the chief officer Of the city.
DINNER TIME.
The Mayors departure was the signal
70 eat, and then tae real merrymaking of
the day began. Above the smacking of
lips. the clatter of dishes and the demands
If the hungry, rose the laughter of chill
dren and the happy chatter of older folks
The best fun was at the newsboys' tables.
Slipping plates piled high with good things
down the lines, the boys would pscket the
contents, turkey, cranberries and all,
and pass the plates under the table,
Il got two drumsticks, boasted one little
fellow.
That's all right kid" said one of the
forty policemen there to keep the bows in
order. Begin to eat You lool, hungry"
After the feast there was an entertain
oy Commander Tucker, songs. hymns
and stereoptcon views of paintings from
the life of Christ One of the hymns was
sung to the melody of "Hiawatha" From
the north end OF the hall the -Minrehaha
iiawatha Maid rose above the religious
wording.
Mr.. Lantry said he had never seen any
thing in Europe or any of the American
cities to compare with the dinner.
A BowERY BREAKFAsT.
Christmas cheer came early in this town
and stayed late, Free Christmas dinners
are all right, according to the expressed
views Of the Bowery, but free Christmas
breakfasts just touch the hungry spot.
Over six thousand men registered on that
proposition from to s o'clock yesterday
morning at the Bowery Mission.
That was the. typical Christmas meal of
the mission, whose patrons are the real
down and out contingent of the city's
food seekers.
The Bowery Mission began by holding
regular services on Thursday evening.
After that all who attended got box
dnners-that is, dinners in boxes con-
tanning turkey, ham, pie, crullers. oranges
and apples. II the recipient wanted 10
take his meal away to eat it he could. If |
ne was too hungry to wait he could eat it |
on the spot.
Then. at 8 o'clock in the morning the !
Bowery Mission breakfast began When |
the doors were opened there was line Of |
men extending clear from Canal street to |
Chatham Square. Many in the crowd |
were so hungry that they fell in at the end !
OF the line after eating once and did it all |
over again. The breakfast consisted OF
only coffee and rolls, but it was none the
ess acceptable. Assistant Superintendent |
~. ~