The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-06-30
ALUMNI or TIKI. BREAD LINE
MEN WHO MAKE GOOD WHEN
THEY GET A CHANCE.
II q Man Gets Down on His Luck There's
Capt. Henry 10 Find Him Q Job as Wei
as See That He Has BreAd-And IT'S
Wonderful How Wei the Men Do.

- wv INV hhC AAe8 81 ~
Wonderful How Wen the Men DO
There was CONSERVATION on Broadway
the other night when word was passed
that FleiSohmann's bakery vas going to
move The new that Grace Church would
absorb the Tenth street corner for aGothio
tributary and a parish grass plot in no way
restored confidence. Even q later report
that the bakery wouldn't move far left its
hearers uncontrolled.
Not that. the groups Of unkempt men
gathered on corners and in doorways were
antiquarianS lamenting the fall Of q historic
landmark. Not that they were ePicures
fearing the loes Of a magic favor In the
uI heaval. Instead they were q band OF
starving, luckless men patiently waiting
for the food which at the stroke OF IL would
be theirs 1t was the bread line listening
for its death knell.
They were O wandering tribe OF the under
world. The professional beggar. keen
eyed and quick Witted, the feeble con-
valescent, the furtive jailbird, the aged
unfortunate, the bewildered foreigner,
josted one another as they formed the long
line; on all Ill luck had ret her seal.
1t was the night watchman who assured
a reporter that the bread line would sur
vive its old quarters. In fact, while thu
Fleisohmann business lasts the bread line
will never lack food. The senior Fleisch-
mann, who died three years ago, looked
after this.
Thirty years ago, the story runs. Mr..
Fleischmann discharged a misguided en-
picys4 Who turned away 9 woman asking
for food. That was the beginning OF the
bread line and that mistake has v
been made since. Indeed there 10 a super
stition rife among those on the Vienna
payroll that the senior baker would not
only turn in his grave but might walk
IL such an offence were committed.
This 10 why the notice at the side door
invites all inquirers to apply 10 the watch
man intsead Of to the Charity Organization
Society, and why though men only line up
at midnight women and children may
get bread during the day.
That 10 why the jovisl night Waterman
is not troubled by the fear Of pauperizing
the 500 starving men he feeds at midnight
and why he knows his bread line as
no charitable investigator or discriminating
statistician understands the eternal rrin-
oiple OF charity
Moreover, that is why Capt. Henry,
lately Of a European army md for eighteen
years night Waterman at the bakery. Is a
staunch friend Of the luckless, who cares
more about getting a man a job than finding
out whether he is worthy.
Nov, aren't they a good natured lot"
SAID he proudly with q sweeping gesture
when the last private clutohing his loaf
Of bread had been swallowed up in the shad-
ovs Of Fourth avenue.
you know they are all good people,"
he vent on confdentially as he directed
the sculion who was clearing up after the
fray. Just out Of a job and down on their
luck for 6 time. All they need is q little
help and a bit OF encouragement.
That old gentleman who wal full to-
night he apologized. lis the first drunk
we've had in the line for a month, and that
was an accident. A gentleman took him
In a saloon and gave him plenty to drink
and nothing to eat. 'Twasn't his fault,
OF course, but l had to put him out Of the
line for a week.
Next time he'll see that he gets the right
menu. OF oourse l don't want any com
plants about the bread line, 90 l have to
be pretty strict II a fellow doesn't behave
right, makes a disturbance or begs from
passersby, ] lave to put him out Of the
line.
"You see | don't want the police inter
%fering," went on the captain. whose Drawn
and girth would have qualified him for a
star member OF the force. SITS like this:
! do my best for the line and they like me,
90 I'd rather handle them alone.
you saw the man | was talking to in
German2' Capt. Henry had ushered the
reporter into his cage, n seated on his
high stool under the haring night lamp
was well launched on the story OF the bread
limo. That man has spent half his time
in universities. He can read more Ian
guages than you ever heard Of, and he
knows all about philosophy.
well. he's been in the line for six weeks.
He came over here to teach in a school.
but there was some misunderstanding
and he lost his job. He didn't have any
friends. couldn't speak the language, and
he was up against 1t.
You know u man like that couldn't beg.
He'd starve first. Some days he earns a
few cents doing odd jobs and then again
all he has 10 the bread he gets here.
He sleeps around the power houses
when the cops don't chase him of. Well,
I've Just got him q place in an uptown
restaurant TO wash silver. 'Tisn't a very
fancy job when you think Of what he knows.
is 1t?
1T will put him Of his feet. though.
He'll save up money and 60 back home or
get into something more in his line.
YES. / get lots Of jobs for my men,"
went on Capt. Henry. the unlicensed en-
ploynent agent. you see. my friends
telephone to me and say send me two
good men for janitors.' So / 60 out In the
line and l ask a man what he's done be-
fore and IL he thinks he could do this work.
Then II it's all right send him around the
next morning. It's very simple.
Lots Of the graduates Of the line send to
me for men, y the captain continued. why.
you'd be surprised TO know how well the
men from this bread line get on
You wouldn't believe IL II | were TO tell
you how many gentlemen in silk hats stop
me on the street and say. 'How's the bread
line since | was In. Capt. Henry Scarcely
a day passes but that / hear from some OF
them.
sOne Of the clerks in a drug store not a
dozen blocks from here was in the line all
winter two years GO. He'd lost oil his