Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-07

Misery came with the ron-fistsd frost
which gripped the city yesterday and
last night ana the mer, and women
who devote their time relieving the
sunerings of the poor heard many a
pitiful tale yesterday. II was the
families where little children cried
from cold that seemed to bs most In
need, and babies crying from the
misery of a deathly chill were common
enough in the four sections of the city.
Despite the hard work of the Asso-
ciated Charities bucket of coal would
have been a blessing from heaven in
many a poverty-stricken household.
The vanguard of the snowstorm
which the weather bureau promised
yesterday made its appearance at mid
night. when q fine white powder began
drifting earthward from an overcast
sky.
homes. either-gathered in TIE warm
mOtto-bedecked rooms of mission
houses last night. These men were
several hundred in number, and form
ed Washington's bread line. They were
glad enough to get hot coffee served
without cream, together with cold and
unbuttered bread. Even the morgue-
such lodging place for the night as
was sought out by cold wanderers
along Water street.
Any Place Better Than Streets.
Any place that held stove was bet
ter than the streets, but The missions
were the most popular of all barriers
against the biting cold. They were bet
ter than saloons, and Vilon himseif
would have seen the grim and deathly
hunlo: Of the situation. The saloo!
offered red liquor for those who had
the price, and a warm nook until mid
night. when. without ceremony, the
lights go out and the street alone Is
left for lodging. The missions offered
gospel and hymns. and many man
sang hymns for his supper OF bread and
coffee. with warm bed to follow. The
missions won out over the saloons.
Although the THERMOMETER went ny
slightly after noon yesterday. when tho
mercury was at -, It did not go be
yond IL. The weather bureau WOuid
still have it that big storm would blanket
the city before many hours. Its coming
only means still more suffering, according
to the expert charity workers Many and
many a man who works as day laborer
will have to lay on for days to come.
thereby losing the meager pittance that
drives the wolf only day away at a
time.
The pinch is just beginning to be felt,
and by tomorrow the Associated Charities
will be up to it's neck In work. Not that
the organization has not been working.
for the 2. 500 people under the care OF the
charities are all being looked after wher-
ever necessary. 1t is coal most Of them
need now, but 1t will be food before long.
Experience of One Worker.
a Star reporter found a worker OF the
Associated Charities in the northern dis
trict station on Rhode Islanc avenue last
night and asked her what sort of a day
she had experienced:
I'VE have been busy all day she re-
piled, '.and have received a great many
calls for assistance. In some instances L
and We have provided II. but of course
we have to be assured that every case H.
one of genuine need.
''The lack of coal and other fuel seems
to be the principal trouble with the poor
of the city Just now. Cold weather al
ways suggests suffering among the poor.
and II il true that this cold snap which
makes even the well-to-do shiver in their
homes pinches the poor
families pitifully.
"The cold makes suffering doubly bard
for the poor Hundreds of men have
been made idle in the last few days be-
cause OF the weather, and as they all de-
pend on their daily wages they cannot
endure a period of idleness. We expect
10 hear from this cold snap for days to
come. We will have more cases OF gen.
uine distress next week than We have
today. because the rub will come later
when the money and coal give out en-
tirely.