Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-26

VA TON
Arm Y FEEDS (
: 1000 GUESTS
HUNGRY THRONG TABLES AT
DINING HALL
cARIsTMAs FEAsrs ARE GIVEN
TO ALL coMERs
Children Join with Adults in Merry
making Following Rich Banquet
Spread at Organizations
Expense

Thronging the street surging to and
fro, jostling each other in good-natured
rivalry and causing no small amount OF
work for the police detailed for that
duty, the thousand persons, men, women
and children, thronged San Pedro street
yesterday morning for the free Christ
mas dinner of the Salvation army.
Early in the morning the people began
to gather in order to be among the hrst
to enter the Salvation army, there to
be given a good square meal.
People of all ages, old and young, eacl
with that peculiar longing look that be-
tokens the hard battle with life and In
maay cases spells vanquishment, were
ali gathered, ready to make the rush to
the tables laden with many good things
The majority of the number were men,
but here and there. were women, many
of whom showed they had seen better
days. They made the best appearance
possible yesterday. Calico dresses were
clean and made as neat as possible
while the children that accompanied
them were clean and neat, although In
many cases extremely poorly dressed
Mothers with their children and wear
ing a tired, despairing look were there
to be greeted with sunshiny smiles
All Enjoy Feast
In contrast to this instructive shrink
ing on the part OF the women. many OF
the men took it as q joke and seemed
to enjoy the prospect of the dinner, en-
joying themselves In many ways
Everywhere the members of the army
exhibited cheer and great pleasure in
doing all they could in providing good
substantial Christmas meals for the
throng of hungry people who had crowd
ed the street in front OF corps NO.
since early in the day.
At times the throng was so great and
the pushing so excessive the police Of
Ulcers were compelled to force the throng
of hungry humanity back until the gates
were opened to the dining room. This
was NECESSARY several times IN order
to keep good order.
The tables seated $50 people and 1t was
a study of metropolitan humanity to see
the 1000 people who surrounded these
tables from 11:30 a. m. until 4:3O p. m.
Many devoured their meal with feverish
haste and many an exclamation of pleas
ure on the unaccustomed food and the
plentiful amount given each. for every
person who entered the hall was given all
he or she wished to eat and in many
cases that amount proved surprising.
Dinners Sent Out
In connection with the dinner a large
number of baskets of provisions were
sent out by the army on Tuesday to
the needy families. The mammoth din
ner served yesterday was supplied by the
army through the donations and money
received in the boxes on the streets,
amounting altogether to over $1,000.
Major and Mrs. Waite. who were in
charge, were everywhere present. with
their work of good cheer They were
amply assisted by a large corps of the
army workers
Captain J. Norton handled the crowds
with much skill, cordially greeting all
with comical expressions and witicisms.
which gave hearty welcome to the
throngs.
Captains Renert and Hale had charge
Of the walters and mattresses, who were
as follows: Mrs. Ensign Schwedler, Mrs.
Muir. Mrs. Loper, Miss Myrtle Colvert,
Miss Mabel Waite, Miss Myrtle McAllis-
ter. Miss McGleashan, Clarissa Brayton,
Mrs. Messenger, Mrs, Nellie Messenger,
John Mackay, William Shaw. Charles
Bailey. Captain Hobart, Captain and
Mrs. Oliver, Milton Eluris, George Nc
Alister, John Otto Hagan III. e. Roberts,
W. II. Hunter. Ensign Storksbury and
others.
along the line. The dishes were even
taken into the back yard and washed in
the bright sunshine.
The walters and mattresses, neatly at
tired, cheerfully waited puon the throngs
of hungry people, gladly spreading the
Christmas cheer to those who otherwise
could only look to the day with sadness.
In Los Angeles it was not day of glad
ness for the prosperous alone, for all were
given word of welcome yesterday at
the army dinner, and extended cordial
invitation to attend the army services.
Salvation Army Notes
The Truelove home, in charge of Staff
Captain Mcdonald, provided dinners for
the women in the city Jail. Captain Alice
Butler and Mrs. ]. w. Bill served the
dinners. The women appreciated the
kindness of the army, and one said that
before another Christmas she would be
one of the army.
Mrs. Nellie Messenger distributed
tracts to those who passed out Of the
building yesterday. She does not belong
to the army, but is in hearty sympathy
with the cause and is an earnest worker.
Miss Marion McGlashan is a lassie who
has been a member of the Salvation
army since 81 was years old. She is
a good singer and began singing when
she was little tot, standing on drum.
She is the only member of the army in
her family
The united brass bands of the two
corps rendered excellent music during
the hours of dinner. 1t was led by Capt.
Charles Gearney.
Sergeant B. T. Sloan of the Soldiers
home handled the crowds as they passed
around the bc-.S OF the buildings 70 the
side gate after the dinner, thus avoiding
all confusion.
Ensign James Muir did himself proud
at the head of the distribution of the
Christmas presents from large tree
last night