The San Francisco call., 1909-11-26
FEAST SPREAD
FOR POOR AND
HUNGRYCROWD
Turkey and Roast Beef Dinner
Provided for Needy in
Lower Pacific Street
Religious Workers Celebrate
Thanksgiving by Serving
Meals With Music


happy day for many on the lower end
Of Pacific street. One thousand hungry
men were fed at the Whosoever VIII
mission Yesterday afternoon in addi-
rion 20 the 500 poor families that We're
supplied with baskets of provisions
from that institution.
Crowds gathered outside the mission
early in the afternoon and were ad-
mftted $50 al a time the last hungry
men being seated just before the dark
ness fell.
Three long tables extended down the
mission hall, covered with clean white
paper Pans Of baked fish, plates OF
bread piled high rosy apples, oranges
and deep purple grapes. fresh crisp
celery, plates Of potato salad pans OF
Baked beans and cups of soup and
coffee greeted the men as they filed IN
A blessing was asked by Rev. J. r..
Souires before the men were seated and
with a hearty Amen. Boys. fan 10, J.
C. Wesuenberg, the CHEEKY superlh-
tendent Of the mission, coatless and
! with his sleeves rolled up, began the
work OF serving
So hungry were some of the guests
that they were unable TO wait for the
order 10 fall TO-" but nibbled sur
reptitiously at the food One old man,
evidently a peddler of wire coat hang
=.
table bearing his wares on his arm,
rushing and pushing to a seat. He
sank down, grabbed his cup Of soup
and drained ii greedily before he TODD
with the others.
Mission workers and relays of help
ers from the earlier tables distributed
plates with bountiful supplies of tur-
key. beef and mashed potatoes, while
other Jealous aids-one an old man
with smiling face crowned and bor-
dered with white hair. another pic
turesque young Italian with corduroys
and high boots, yet another sweet
faced girl-carried huge pots Of coffee
10 MI the empty cups
WOMEN PROVIDE MUSIC
In the gallery above the front door
sat Mrs. Westenberg and group OF
workers who sang to the music of
tiny organ. Westenberg, hearty, jovial,
urging the men 10 eat, encouraging one
and another with a kindly word,
stopped the singing once TO ask the
men if they would rather eat without
il, but the shouts that followed left
no doubt as to their appreciation.
One man, evidently more familiar
with the bar than the barhtub. stopped
as one crowd filed from the room and
asked for another verse of God Be
With You Till We Meet Again" 1t was
repeated and he joined in with husky.
raucous voice. bowling deeply and
thanking the singers aE the close.
As soon as one relay Went out
always a dozen or more remaining in
response to a request for dish washers
the tables were cleared entirely, fresh
paper laid on the boards and then reset.
WAITING CROWDS ENCOURAGED
Out in front the men, hungry and
tired, waited patiently most of the
sfr,-e Inns orra ciora IL coT71DlainfC arOSp
Then Mrs. Westenberg went to the edge
Of the platform over the entrance and
spoke few consOling words. Weston
berg al times gave the waiting crowd
an encoura ging word and little Dorothy
Westenberg. the o year old daughter
Of the mission superintendent added a
gentle admonition, saying; Don't push.
hGvst You only make il harder if you
crowd. We have plenty 10 eat in here.
Wait your turn and you'lIabe fed If you
are good"
Most of the provisions are given by
merchants and charitable persons, al
though "A heavy demand was made on
the funds Of the mission. Christmas
Is near and another dinner viii be
given 70 hungry men. The feasts are
forcible eXempiifcations Of whose
ever WILL for no man is turned away
so long as the food lasts, provided he
IS not drunk enough 10 be annoying.
More provisions VIII be needed Tor
Christmas. and the mission workers
hope that many viii find it possible to
give freely.
Feast at Industrial Home
The Salvation Army did not give a
dinner save to the 20 men who are in
mates Of its industrial home in Mission
street. For these, however. boun-
tiful meal was provided with turkey as
The principal part.
At the City Prison
There were fewer inmates IN the city
prison yesterday than at any former
Thanksgiving day for many years. A
feast Of good things was provided by
. Sergeant Clarence Coogan. who has as
sumed the duties of commissary during
the illness Of Commissary w. J. Shaw
and prepared by Chef Rammizzina.
There We're only so prisoners COM
pared with 12o last year The bill OF
fare consisted of turkoy and cranberry
sauce, mashed potatoes, nince pie and
coffee. Each prisoner had all that he
could eat.