The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-12-26

Old and grizzIed and gray; un-
snaven, unkempt and unfed; ragged
and footsore, so OF Washinzton-s
submerged tenth" beseiged both the
Central Mission House and the Gospel
Mission about noon today. eager for
Christmas dinner.
They were all there. young and old
some looking as II they had Just
begun their excursion into the portion
OF society which pIaywrights and
noyelists love 10 gnare as the ssJ1r-
derwOrld," and others VINO had been
born there. lived there and saw moth
ing before them but the prospect Of
dying there But there were few
downcast ones among them
The spirit OF Christmas, somewhat
diluted It Is true, but still the spirit
Of Christmas, was abroad IN the vvorId
and a little OF It had found its way
into their lives, for were they not 10
receive that desideratum of mankind.
that which they craved all year and
obtained so seldom that which most
Of them considered the ultima thule
Of existence 50 .tare meal?
Guests OF Central Mission
At the Central Mission, on Louisiana
avenue. the dinner was advertised TO
starr at noon Not that Il needed
any advertisement for every one who
knew the Mission OF old knew that
every year at this time the officers
OF the house give a good, substantial
Christmas dinner 20 all who apply.
a Christmas dinner such as few o.
the men can set anywhere else dur
ing the year. one with all the trim
mings Of the old home dinner and
with the slogan, @eat all you can,
out remember there are others wait
ing
Long before the appointed time the
little room in the back Of the house
vas filed with the fotsam and Jet
sam swept up By the tide OF society
Old and young white and black.
ragged and fairly respectable. all
herded together attracted by their
common impulse Of desire for q good
meal
First Can for Dinner.
Promptly at u the big gong in the
lCwer hall announced that the long
waited for pOment had arrived. and
the first instalIment Of men marched
into the assembly hall where the ia
bIes had been laid
Il avid Bill don't il look like
Hee-y - exclaimed one OF the mem
sight Of the roast turkeys. the large
bowls Of cranberry sauce, the plates
Of celery, and the dishes Of potatoes
which sraced each of the ten tables
Yes, 1t do replied Bill. "and I'm
going to make noise like an angel.
too"
After an Invocation pronounced by
Superintendent Francis Lukens. thu
men were told 10 go 10 it and fheV
waited not for further Instructions. but
kept the walters busy piling IN the vari-
Gus eatables-
The Menu Was Varied.
As a sort Of reinforcement FOR the
turkey, or, as the superintendent said.
so that the men would not get sick on
unaccustomed diet, large plates OF pork
and beans and slices Of bread and but
ter fanked each plate. while coffee was
served Is desired.
AS fast as one installmeut would fin
/ ish their meal anoth would be mus
tered in, while the otners went out to
/ the ante-roo-l TO Increase the appetite
Of the unfed with tales Of the good
things to come
It was nearly + O'Clock. before an the
hungry 500 had had their fun. and
there was left little Of the large amount
Of good things which had been il stock
at the commencement Of the meal
Most Of the people fed At the Central
Mission, as well as at the Gospel Mis-
sion. were men. although here and there
would appear some woman, accom-
panied by little children and carving
a basket. which would be filed with
/ good things 10 take home TO her family,
for II was thought best not TO feed the
men and women IN the same loom
Gospel Missions Dinner
At the Gospel Mission. I250 Pennsvl-
vania avenue, practically the same
/ scene was enacted. except Tor the fact
that there were no tables laid. but the