New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-26

on the way 10 the front bands play
cav national airs 70 hide the depres-
sion. But music cannot cheer-the
populace stands silent on the SIDE
walk. Occasionally tear triekles
down a cheek. The soldiers keep eyes
front, faces set and rigid. There are
no comforting smiles, no cheers no
waving hands.
One evening at midnight as ! cross
tho Thiergarton ! pass small process
sion Of new recruits. Midnight my
friend tells me. is the favorite hour for
selling fresh food for cannon. There
is something sinister in choosing DARK
hours, when the city sleeps, for TINS
deed. On this occasion the recruits
number a hundred or two. Ihelr ages
vary They might be fathers ana sohS'
Women at Work Everywhere
Such is the fate of the men, nor IS
life any better for the women. They
are ia he seen everywhere; in the
streets digging and cleaning sewers;
on the road with pickaxe and shovel
helpiug Russian prisoners relay rail
road tracks: in the sub~ays. clad IN
bloomers. acting as train starters; on
the trains. wearing husbands motor cap
and coat. At night they come home 20
hungry children and empty larders:
Their tiny savings 30 for bread and
potatoes.
The day laborers cannot frequent
citv feeding kitchens. They cannot al
ford IL. Berlin prepared to feed 3d.
600. Last winter 10000 ate at the
Kitchens. In summer the number de-
creased 20 5000. The meal served is
pint bowl of food. which 10 cross be-
tween soup and stew. IL contains po-
tatoes. barley. rye, vegetables or any
thing 70 be had. and on the meat days
some odds and ends of meat. bow
full is 40 pfennig, or 10 cents; hair
bowl % pfeanig, or 8 cents. A mother
earning 30 TO so cents day cannot
pay 10 cents head for food. II IS the
bourgeois class that ratronize the
kitchens.
/ visit these feeding stations.
large central market turned into a
kitchen prepares the food. Here are
big watts in which the food is steamed
or boiled in bulk. From here the cooked
product is sent TO feeding stations m
different localities. Women of means
preside over these places and conduct
them we'll. The stewed mass is usually
very eatablc.
Kitchens Aid Middle Glass
Such places are a godsend to the
middle class, the small storekeepers.
whose business has failed, clerks and
stenographers, but for the unskllled
laborer the price is prohibltive. The
eating rooms are not large. for people
come and 90. At noon watch a little
stream move in and out. They we're
all comfortably dressed. They pause
TO have their cards punched. potatoes,
bread, meat, -four. according to what
that DAYS bowl contained.
As | look my eye is caught by two
small children. They have crept in the
big door and sit on a bench side by
side, hand in hand. The Oldest, a boy
Of eleven. is clad in ragged, dirty coat
and trousers. His face is streaked with
dirt. save for spots here and there
cleaned by falling tears. A small Sis
ter of five snuggles up 20 him. She,
too, possesses only boys ragged,
dirty coat and trousers. Her face IS
shrugged with black, but it is rounder
with more color, than the boys. Her
baby eyes arc shining blue. She
seems to rest serene in her brothers
care. IL is evident the boy is fighting
manfully for his little sister. The lads
face is pinched and blue and lined with
anguish.
call the attention Of the women
workers to the children. They are
probably waiting for scraps of food.
Wen give them something by and by"
! am told. But" protest, those
children are'suffering."
Story of ctaryin0 Children
With the aid Of friendly policeman
get their story. These were their
answers: Hungry terribly hungry.
Mother dead; father in the war; no
home, slept anywhere; ate anything J
drop some money in the boys hand.
His little clswlike fingers snatch eager
~ at mine. ! can feel their touch yet.
Then he slides from the bench and
starts for the door
But by this time the women workers
had Joined me. go get in line and
you can have some food" they order.
The boy hides his money beneath his
coat and runs at full speed toward the
steaming food. Behind him is the tiny
sister, her naked little feet flying after
his, her tiny baby hand clutching the
end of his ragged jacket. / turn away.
couldn't bear TO see them eat. God
pity MS, why must such suffering be?
Probably there are as many children
in New York and London without any
food AS in Berlin. The tragedy in
Germany is not'quick starvation, il is
the undertaking of a whole race.
Mothers and babies arc gradually go
ing down hill.
Tvortu horo tho cirua of dacllnp aro