Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-01-10
NEW YoRK's BREAD LINE
Famous Charity Continues az a sa
rometer Of Prosperity.

Famous Charity Continues az Ba.
| roneter Of Prosperity.
This Is tale Of the down and outs
of some 100000 men and women who
during the past thirty-f five years have
formed what has come to be known as
"F1eischmann's bread line" in Broad
way, and the cost of whose feeding
during all that period has been esti-
mated at more than $1,000,000 in round
figures. says the New York Sun. OF
these many men and some women who
having classed the dead line," came to
a pass where hope and ambition had
fed and where they felt that there
was nothing left in life for them but
to take advantage of that practical
charity which assured them half q loaf
| Of bread In summer, six nights Of ev-
cry week in the year with the addition
of as many cups Of hot coffee in win
ter as they could drink.
Since November. 1875, in the pierc-
ing bitter cold Of winter when the
streets were deep In snow, and In hot,
humid nights Of summer every night
but one In each week, half starved hu-
man beings. part Of the submerged
tenth, have regularly taken their places
in the bread line, where poverty's tears
ebb and flow.
And here, strangely enough, has
ever been barometer of certain eco
nomic conditions in the United States,
for when times have been good and
work plenty the bread line reflected the
applied for charity in the form to stay
their starving stomachs. This barom-
eter today continues Its indications,
for while when this very practical
charity was established by Louis
Fleischmann the line contained less
than a dozen persons, It rose to an av-
erage Of 1,150 each night, during the
panic Of 1907.
Here, too. at present may be found
an example Of the result OF the high
cost Of living, for those to whom the
continuation Of this charity is due. as
sert that at no time since the bread
line was started, with the exception Of
the panic year 1907, has the number Of
penniless applicants for free food been
greater than at present. The increased
cost Of living has been more strongly
in evidence since last winter, at which
time Of the year the applicants are
greater in number than in summer.
While some 800 men and few wom-
en- were fed nightly during the sum-
mer Of 1911, 1t is said that nearly 500
are now given food each night, the
number in winter averaging 900. Dur
ing the coming winter, with the price
Of the common necessities of life soar
ing constantly, 1t is believed the line
will be even greater than in 1907.
Louis Fleischmann, during his life
time one Of the best known and most
charitable of New York's business men
conceived the idea of feeding as many
hungry men and women, without price
as might apply. No questions were
ever asked of those who sought food.
It was enough for him to know that
some of his fellow beings were hum
cry. To unfriendly criticism he gave
no heed. Critics declared that the
bread line was nothing more than q
breeding place for paupers. He was not
disturbed by this adverse talk nor by
the theories Of charity experts who
shuddered at the thought Of unorgalI-
lied charity and indiscriminate giving.
Sociologists and scientific charity
dispensers more than once protested
against the bread line but their OBJ
jections had no more effect on Fleisch-
mann than have the waves on the baee
Of the Rock Of Gibraltar.
On the other hand, sympathizers
frequently sent him checks to be ap-
piled in aid of his charitable work, but
these he always returned with few
words Of thanks. -as,.L
"This Is my personal enterprise" he
once explained, when asked his rea-
sons for declining financial contribu-
tions in aid of this charity. Call 1t my
fad, If you like. 1t pleases me to spend
my money in this way. Others may
prefer to spend 1t on fast yachts, on
the establishment of libraries, where
food may be had for the mind, but
none for the stomach, on costly paint
ings magnificent country homes, or
what they will. I neither question nor
find fault with the form in which they
expend their cash. have my way
which is to put food into hungry
stomachs. Why should my motives or
my actions be questioned? All ask is
to be allowed to work along my own
individual lines"
And so this man, who sought no
blazoning Of his charity to the world,
who believed in the scriptural admoni-
ton not to let his right hand know
what his left hand did, went ahead,
fostering his bread line, until today 1t
has become one Of the institutions OF
New York, one Of the sights which
strangers are often shown at midnight,
when, the line having been formed, of
ten more than an hour In advance,
food and drink are given to the hum
CRY.
Mr.. Fleischmann was formerly an Of
fcer in the Austrian army. Born In
Austria, August 1S, 1886, Of wealthy
parents, seventy-five years ago, he en-
tered the army when a young man.
fought in the war with Prussia, was
wounded and had two horses shot un-
der him at the battle Of Sadowa, and
received two medals for gallantry from
the hands Of Emperor Francis Joseph.
In 1869 on leave Of absence visiting
two brothers in this country he became
| a strong admirer Of the United States.
In 1874 he resigned from the army and
returned here. He was in business with
his brothers in Philadelphia for time,
but at the close Of the centennial expo
sition came to New York, and In NO
| vember, 1876, established a restaurant