VOW THAT WAS KEPT

Evening Star, Issue 20670, 18 December 1930, Page 11

VOW THAT WAS KEPT

LIFE DEVOTED TO POOR I ONE GENT COFFEE AND HOLD, In 1887 a woman Jay dying of yellow fever in India. She vowed, if eho recovered, she would devote her life to the poor of her adopted city, New York. The woman, Mrs inadriu, recovered and kept ner \uv. ■itil she died in 1908, by supplying a cup of coffee and a roll to needy persons lor ono cent. Her husband carried on. her work until now, invalided, ho is unable to do so, and the lengthening bread lines must go elsewhere. Tbo first of the little green coffee stands was set up in the Bowery, where “drifters” could get a good day’s start for a cent. The menu of thoso days consisted of coffee and rolls, pork and beans, bread pudding, sandwiches, cereals, beef eoup, and clam chowder. Tho price of each dish was a cent. The stands were named after St. Andrew. They grew in number until it became necessary to have a central station to prepare tho food for sale. It was hero tho more elaborate thanksgiving dinners were served. Critics attacked tho founder on tho ground that she did not have to account for tho funds she collected. Their charges did not, however, shut off the supply of cheap food to poor people. Quo of tho important stands was outside the Tombs prison, where it operated for thirty years, being removed by tho authorities, as they feared it might become a shelter for escaping convicts. Neighbourhood merchants who contributed funds were given food tickets, which they in turn passed on to beggars. Tho average man who ■was down on his luck did not fool ashamed to take his place in line. Occasional concerts at Carnegie Hall kept the -project going. As many as 3,000 persons wero led daily. The St. Andrew Ono Cent Stand had an important place in tho city’s life. Now its beneficiaries must flock to tho mission house.