Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-09

dropped and other names from time to time
were adopted.
As to the Tenth street theater the writer
knows Of no occasion when any theatrical per-
Torrance was given there after the assassina-
ton of President Lincoln, and tt can be said
with degree Of certainty that the property has
been continuously In the possession of the
Government since the fatal night Of April
II, 1865.
Speaking of lunch rooms in washington per-
haps the most interesting one Of its kind was
opened here to the poor on January 81, 1878.
Its exact location the writer does not recall but
it was on = street somewhere near Twelfth,
or, at the most, only two or three blocks from
Frank K Wards Attorney Dairy, and it was
particularly unusual for this kind of an estab-
hshment even during q panic period since it
was operated exclusively as q Penny Lunch
Room, and further still, because the one who
conceived the idea and who took over ifs man.
agement was without any experience along this
line
was the one who finally succeeded in launching
this wonderful bit of charity, but not of course
without obstacles and difficulties, for few thinas
even Of merit, succeed without effort and de-
termination 1t was at time when hundreds
OF people were seeking employment in Washing
ton and elsewhere, and professional beggars ara
said to have filled the streets to OVERLOOKING
One could not walk the street without being
tmportuned, and the door bells Of private houses
were being constantly rung by those in search
Mrs. ROBERTS, who was then writing for
the Sunday Capital, edited BY DOM Piatt,
and published here from 1871 to 1889 In q
building at 927 D street northwest, one door
east of Wards old building, nrst launched her
idea 70 the public in . letter in the Capital
On January 6. 1873 she had looked shout for
remedy against giving to the unworthy and
- H.
and she finally decided upon the penny lunch
plan, which would 90 to the very root q
poverty and help it.
Her thought was to issue tickets Ct cent
each, good for one meal, and 10 be bought BY
the citizens in packages of Is cents each and
By them given to the poor instead Of the Gus
tomary money, which she said might I'm soms
instances 50 for drink and not food and which
would not aid the needy wife and hungry httae
ones ct home
She showed how bowl of good SOM. or n
bowl of coffee or q plate Of beans. each accom
panied by piece Of corn bread, could be given
every hungry person II the citizens would huy
the tickets for its support
In few days." we are told, MRS Roberts
was inundated with letters heartily approving
OF the plan some inclosing money one WA
from w. w. Corcoran asking for an infervfew
She went to see nim- He told her Il was the
most practical plan for charity he had heard
OF; that it was benefit to the rich rs wen
a. the poor, for it would enable people TO DO
some real good ON q smaller sum, and said he
would pay the rent Of place for two months
II tt was started
up to this time Roberts had no idea Of
herself undertaking it, as she was wholly IN
experienced. She went to see the head Of enc
OF the leading charities then in the city. cffer-
Ing e give ner help and influence for tlae
experience and perhaps better Judgment II they
would add this branch to their already eatah-
Asneo institution, but her proposition was
received coldly and she was told Il was mt
practical and could not be made to pay.
MRS Roberts then arose in her wrath and
walked out thinking within herself Il Nc
strange that charity should be u.erelv 1900
az IS paying business and resolved 20 start tTla
penny lunch herself. Seeing on her wav home
vacant store on + street near Twelfth sra
engaged 1t, and on the 18th of January the
Lite pace was opened formally, Gen. Le DUO.
W. w. Corcoran, members of Congress Mrn
Briggs (Olivia) and members Of the press heinr
present and partaking of the soup On TIA
2lst II was opened TO the poor and hungry.
The citizens provided themselves with tickets
and for the first time Mrs. Roberts reaIirn1
what an undertaking she had entered 80
They came by hundreds. OF All kirds -
classes, with kettles to take It home some "a
eat It there. As many as a thousand . Arw
nave been led in that little place In two
weeks 1t stopped the begging for money ON the
streets and put an end to professional berufur
for these street Arabs. finding that none
would not be given. only tickets for food, sougks
pastures new.
NHE merchants helped her along willingly.
stiil that could not always be kept UNI.
and the demand was so great that MRS. Ro,erta
saw she would have to 60 to Congress for heln.
Without saying anything to any one she wrota
TO the Committee on the District Of COLUMBIA.