The San Francisco call., 1906-07-16

meals, but many other others be-
cause they felt they could be more
independent in purchasing their
own edibles. For though | saw
numbers who looked as if they
were living better than ever be-
tore, and many more who seemed
determined to grab up everything
in the way OF relief, the general
impression given by these
stricken people was of troubled
folk who were anxious to be as
independent as possible.
Numbers Not Followed.
AT ten the next morning | re-
turned for a fresh try at getting
an order. But no attention was
paid to the numbers we had been
given the day before as a reward
for our long wait, and those who
fought their way to the door, to-
gether with those who could man
age to catch Mr.. Chenhall's eve
and show him doctors certifi-
cate, were waited upon.
What is the use of our stand
ing here?' grumbled one woman.
Il want an order for a mattress,
but there are none in the ware
house and | am wasting time
standing"
Probably a quarter of that
closely huddled crowd wanted to
get mattresses or cots. Many |
spoke with told me that they had
slept on boards since the earth
quake. AS for pillows, some few
might have them, but the great
majority didn't seem so much as
to think that they ought to have
them. Little complaint was made
OF Mr. Chenhall. Most of the wait
ers realized he was doing what he
could to help them. But the NUT
terings through the crowd show
ed a dissatisfaction with a some
thing they could hardly name.
Where does the money go that S
sent to help?" was the burden of
their cry. "Why don't they have
people enough to look Out for us
and things enough for u.s."
Over and over again | was as
sured that days of waiting had
brought not quarter of the
things on the precious order Sc
cured by SO much effort. | was
reminded that as Mr.. Ruess and
had passed the string of women
stretching away from the ware
house he had said, "You would
think that these people might
earn enough to buy what
they need in the time
they spend here" But his argu-
ment seemed unintentionally fall
lacious now that | had learned
how many were already earning
small sums and yet needed what
could be bought only with a
goodly number of dollars, and
what was bequeathed to them by
sympathizing fellows.
While we waited for our turn
wiry little woman with a long,
inquisitive nose came dancing
about the crowd. Il know you
all. / know which is repeaters,
she cried, waving one of her ex-
pressive arms. Il can tell new
faces and | know the old. See
that woman with the sleeping
child in her arms. Poor thing, to
stand there with sleeping child
in her arms-a five-year-old boy.
Soon they'll take pity on her and
let her in and give her orders, all
the orders she wants. That's her
game, bringing around her sleep
ing boy in her arms, and she has
tent loaded with things, while
some of the rest of us haven't
been able to get anything we
wanted. There's another woman
over there. Her husband and son
have clothing store out on Ken
lucky street, and more than one
suit have they sold that came out
of the relief warehouse, while |
haven't been able to get one suit
for my boy"
"Cone, come" said the supply
officer, appearing at the door,
didn't | offer you a tent once
and didn't you refuse it?' The
mob jeered and the woman snick-
cred sheepishly. Nov come in .
he said, "and I'll try to fix
you up"
Reward for the Brazen.
That's it, muttered gaunt
creature on the fringe OF the
crowd near me. "He means all
right, but those showing, impu-
dent ones are the ones that get