New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-02-04
Mr.. HUNTER EXPLAINS.
Children Not Absolutely Breakfast
less, but U4lderfed.

That any one Of seventy thousand children may
arrive a. school IN the morning hungry is true but
4 "a also, fortunately exceptional" was the state
nsut made yesterday by Robert Hunter, who has
besn credited with the announcement which flashed
c7er the city and answered by immediate offers
e. aid seventy thousand children go breakfast
lass daily 70 New-York City schools.
MY statement concerning seventy thousand
school children, continued Mr. Hunter, refers sole
y 20 those children who underfed and under
nourished- There is q great difference between
hungry. starving and breakfastless children and
children who are underfed and undernourished.
There IS means Of knowing how many hungry
or brezkfastless children go TO school daily in the
city Of New-York- Neither the teachers nor the
CHARITIES give any idea the number,
but any familiar with the lives of the poor
and familiar with the figures of distress il this city
viii not question that this large number Of chill
dren underfed and undernourished- It may be
thai they have coffee and bread IN the morn
ing, OF that they spend penny for food at some
stand about the school. but they are. neverthe-
less children who suffering from lack Of proper
nour1shnent and unable. in consequence. TO at
1in The best results physically mentally.
Al meeting Of committee a few days since
several representatives Of the leading charitable
organizations in the cry considered that my esti
mate o. underfed children was unreasonable.
One or two thought that 1t was probably under
estimate. But 70 have this whole statement used
IS Il Il referred TO children actually hungry starv-
ing or breaktastless is unfortunate. and gives cur
rency % q seriously erroneous conception. It is
hoped that the School Board will investigate the
whole question OF undertaking, and that II viii
perhaps. many Of the foreign cities have done,
make some provision for dealing with the evil.
There is question that these children are seri-
ouEiy Handicapped al the very beginning Of their
lives, and when the undertaking is chronic It
means that they viii probably not be able to de-
relop into men or women who sufficiently
obstacles vrIjcI confront them the greatest Of
mo-
selves
The estimate Of seventy thousand underfed
schoo! children Is ! believe conservative. It IS
based upon carefully gathered and supposedly &C
c1tsie statistics concerning the number OF eve
tons The number Of unemployed and the num-
Der q persons dependent upon charity IN the city
DR. ELsING's VIEWS.
Among the men actively interested in charity
who from The beginning Of this discussion, were
disposed 70 question the truth o. such widespread
restitution the statement credited TO Mr. Hunter
seemed u prove. is d.. " I Elsing, pastor OF
ne De Witt Memorial Church, At No go Riving
ion-st u. EIsing has been 3 city missionary for
tTenty-three years working 81 the congested dis
tlcts surrounding his church. and seldom, indeed,
nss he o. his eight regular assistants find
ls1aly absolutely without food When ne read OF
he Seventy thousand breakfastLess children he re-
soFst 70 investigate fer himself. with the result
"a; al present he IS giving aid 70 one family that
9e 70 food IN the house
began my Investigation" he SAID. yesterday
Slter1oon, % Tribune reporter, with ne cld'en
= our CITY Mission Sunday School visited every
qepsTtnner1. passing even the infant classes
&c said 70 them, I have read in the peIs
last thousands % children 70 70 school hungry
every morning. II YOU know OF any children in
~ school. or fl the house or DOCK where you
.ss VIC are hungry, please give ne their names
slo addresses
Il had II this way q lookout committee Of about
- hundred persons VINO live il the most con
CSC part Of New-York 70 assist ne. but not
st-gs case O. hunger was brought 10 my notce- /
= had g personal interview with the residents
re Alfred Corning Clark Eelghborhood house.
baese are thee kndergartens connected with the
-s-SSS. III not 81 the teachers was able 70
49, ( single instance where child came 70
100! = sucn hungry condition that II attracted
= DenJon- next visited Two large public schools
"Acn there are about I've thousand children
- yI.ncps4s Informed ne that they do NOT
80 q single instance Of hunger IN the schools
1870 a. one school that the majority OF the
- loLea brought halt-a loaf OF bread 10 eat during
- Ear "a rny observation goes continued Dr.
-~e--s mere Is unusual distress among the
-. q me lower East Side this winter. II Is
N.9elS.y true that thousands OF school children IN
isssn-1o-h. Through ignorance. poverty or SHIFT
ssssaeSt. are not properly nouFishe6 but I do not
-4e'e that they are actually bread hungry. Any