Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-03-08

stead OF giving them away, 1T is be-
! lieved by those in charge, has been one
| of the most potent factors in its appeal
| to those it seeks to help. There are
! few more disdainful of palpable char
| ity, 1t is explained, than are those
actually in need of it.
Reporter Samples the Lunch.
| The Star reporter sat at the counter,
too, and lunched with the friends of
| the mission. He saw an old, white
haired man bow above the simple meal,
and heard the mumbled blessing asked
Nobody laughed. The reporter talked
to the ruddyfaced Irishman at his
side and learned that he was a ped
dler of candies and toys F street.
Candies and toys, said the Irish
| man, and his blue eyes twinkled. There
be worser things to sell, young man
though perhaps one gets more coin for
| the selling. My wares make the kid
dies happy"
1t was a better advertisement than
he knew.
One hundred and twenty-five thou
sand meals are served over that coun-
| ter each year, and the average price
| paid is " cents per meal. The walters
who pass the meals to the purchasers
| are what Mr.. Kline terms redeemed
| men," as are all the employees at the
mission. None of them, save Mr.. Kline.
receives more than 50 week for his
| services. The superintendent receives
| SO. The Star representative asked
| him how he retained the men, at the
! price paid, and got any work out OF
| them.
They love the mission, said Mr.
| Kline. 1T gave each of them a boost
| when they needed it, and they feel they
owe it a debt.
! One hundred and twelve babies are al
| present under the supervision of the
diet kitchen station of the mission
! Taking these babies at the most crit
| ical period in their lives. those in
| charge of this branch of the work in
| struct the young mothers, who would
| otherwise be unable to procure such
| advice, as TO how properly to clothe
feed and care for their children. There
| is free milk dispensary operated III
| connection with this branch of the in
| stitution.
Inspection of the Alleys
, In the afternoon The Star reporter
went out. with those in charge of the
| visiting work of the mission, into the
alleyways of the District. He saw d
| family of sixteen negroes living in two
tiny rooms: while the seventeenth, q
baby, lay dead He saw an old mar
and his wife living. sleeping and eat
| ing, and doing these things with pa
tience and cheerfulness. in a single
almost unlighted room. He saw fam
lily of five immigrants living in a room
upon which the family slept was dis
closed complete and thoroughly
| equipped chicken coop.
In many of the homes he visited lie
| heard the words mo work" whispered
IN dazed. hopeless sort of a Way-but
no one whimpered save the littlest
| la bies, who hadn't yet learned to bear
| hunger silently, and to each of three
| brought words of cheer, news of u
| possible Job, some little gift, and from
| each they took away the dumb graft
| tude' of the truly grateful
| The gospel mission, in asking for
| financial assistance. points out that d
| gift of IS will provide lodging for fifty
| Of the SO who crowd the dormitories of
| the institution each night-W1ll give
| them shelter from the cold, bath and
| coffee and rolls in the morning.
| Perhaps the letter printed below will
explain the attitude Of those whom the
| mission has been able to help. 1t Is
| written by little girl, one of family
| of four who walked all the way to the
| District from New York state, sought
| ont the mission and were provided with
| the job they sought. a little farm
| house was procured at BrandyWine,
| Nd, and the mission provided the nee
| essary furniture and assured the hus-
band and father of necessary work.
John Likes the Place.
The letter, dated Brandywine, Md,
March 5. reads as follows:
Dear Miss Kline:
John said that he like the place very
much and / am working every day.
John said that he like Edwin. John
| said that he love Miss Kline for getting
| US the place. We are very nice In the
place. Father is roofing up trees. We
are going too plant the garden pretty
soon and we will all have too work for
our vegetable too grow and then we
will not have too buy anything for the
winter and we have got other stove.
Mrs Harvey brought 1t for us and it is
not cooking stove, it is a hank stove.
Mother has got some pets that she
is very fond of. Too pidens one tom
cat one hen and John is working for a
other hen. Mrs. Harvey is letting him
clean the arches for her. He plays
with the little boy.
Mother says that il is the peace she
love. John said kisses for all. He
goes fishing. brings minnys home and
iced them to our Tom Cat. Good bye
bye too ALL MARY"