The evening world., 1907-12-25
BIG TIM FEEDS
6,OOO.ON BOWERY
AT XMAS FEAST
The Annual Sullivan Dinner
Brings Cheer. olHost Who
Know Not Home.
SHOES AS SOUVENIRS.
Each Guest Given Order for
New Footwear, Besides.
Pipe and "Baccy."
SHOES AS SOUVENIRS.

More than six thousand homeless men
aud boys were the Chrisunar guests Of
Big Tim" sullivan. at No. 20, Bowers=
to-day. II was about the biggest and
most successful Christmas party OF
big Tins career and the dry. pleas
ant weather went long way In adding
to the festive spirit OF IT.,
The one thing lacking was the con-
,lnuous presence OF big Tim" To thu
frequent demands for look at his
smiling face. Little Tim. sullivan gave
assurance tina. he would be around later
in the day. 1, is the custom OF the boss
OF the Bowery to make but one appear
ance ut his annual Christmas dinner
when he is In town. and to make that
appearance bries.
III he tried TO stay here through 1t
they'd tear the clothes from his bacA =
explained Johnny White. chairman OF
the Committee of Arrangements.
There were four thousand men in line
when the doors ,wtsire thrown open at
II o'clock 1t was pathetic. ragged
line, but cheerful Hundreds OF the
men In II hado not eaten satisfying
meal for weeks. and do not know when
they will eat another after they q .,rst
the food furnished by big Tim" But
there WAS whole lot OF consolation
for them in the fact that somebody had
thought about them and was trying TO
uke hrfs 81.
else than mockery.
sombre Human Documents.
Human documents In sombre tlnts
were these guests of big Tim" suIli-
van. Most OF the faces In the line were
weak faces-indexes of characters e,sily
swayed. Greas moving history of
wrecked lives. misdirected energy. hard
luck. slavery 10 inherited tastes. men
tai and physical handicaps and down
right meanness lay buried In the mind,
OF the men who partook OF "Bis Tim s."
bounty.
Before the doors were thrown open
20 tho rush Little Tim" Sullivan pa ssed
along the line and picked out the Grip.
pies The lame. the blind the epiIeptic
and those upon whom consumption had
set Its indelible mnrke were given pre-
ferment. They had favored places nj
the long tables In the hall and the
walters were instructed to pay particu-
lar attention TO their comfort.
The men were servei In relays OF COO.
They were not allowed to sit down. but
there was no disorder and no man Was
compelled TO leave Until he had eaten
and drunk his MI. Few OF the M
fortunates betrayed any sign of, indul-
sence In liquor. They were earnest and
hungry and, secure In the knowledge
that there was plenty for all comcrs.
surprisingly considerute.
Joshed Tuxedo Walters.
Each man war given a ssice of turkey.
several slices OF chlebcn. a--aig plate OF
potato salad. half pie and ali the
beer or. coffee or both. he wanted 10
drink Unlimited quantities OF bread
were scrved Tho waitefstsup,lied by
a Broadway hotel. wore Tuxedo coats
and came In for lot OF good -paturcd
joshing from the crowd.
"Dis reminds me- said one Bow
eryite. "o[ de days when used 10 isel
me face res'iar n, pel's. an ! never
cleaned up me chuck dat l ,Adn't give
ne waiter n gold watch"
7 Prof. Jimmy Carroll and his or
ches,rn furnished the music, The nov
OF melody was broken occasionally by
the announcement OF the professor that,
his orchestra was positively the only
orchestra In New York that would not
play the merry widow waltz.
I When tho men had eaten all they could
hold and ~erc passed out OF the hall.
gaaping, each was handed a package
containing smoking and chewing to-
baceo and .a-cent pipe and d ticks
caIiingfor pair OF, shoes. The shoes
ara to be distributed on Feb. g.
Shoes for All on Mystic Date.
why big Tim" settled upon tho dat.
Feb. for his annual distribution Of
shoes he has never explained His
frsenis say that In his 5hoyhood days
something happened on certain FEB. d
that prompted him to fix tha; date and
a pair of-.shuus In his mind Xtrahy
rate. every man presenting one or the
tickets issued to-day nj the Sullivan club
rooms on Feb. 9. 1905. Will be given q
new pair of scrvicenble shoes.
I.ittic Tim sullivan. as master or
ceremonies. spen, tho busiest day OF hts
busy career. lie Wa ABLY assisted BY