A Dinner for One Penny.

Waikato Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2060, 19 September 1885, Page 6 (Supplement)

A Dinner for One Penny.

There is an organization in London for furiiis l iing pooi chtldirn with a dinner for a p p nny ; and from a recent published report it seems to bß^'o prowd acacoes^ful er>p?xioicnt, in a pecuniary as well 83 b°m Client nrn?o ; ao much "o, ia fact, t) ' ri ~ ' r society has undertaken to furnish u. • .ij to poor childipn in tho poorest and most populous pirt of London for balf a penny. It is eaid that the children who take their meals at the penny establishment show a marked improvement of health, are most regular in attendance at eohool, and accomplish better work iv their studies than when they commenced thoir new regimen. It may interest philanthropists who arc engaged in ameliorating the condition of the poor in our large oities, to know the materials of whioh these dinners aro composed. Tho bulk of tho ingredients ip, of conr3e, vegetables and bread, potatoes and peas holding a prominent place. Both meat and milk are used in moderate quantity. From the report just made it is calculated that each child receives 12 or 1,1 ounces of soup or other kind of nutriment each meal, and this quantity contains from one to ofie and u half ounces of meat. The ohildren enjoy their dinners, and appreciate tho kind attention they receive at their meals. When one considers how scanty and unpalatable is the food furnißhed to many poor ohildren at their homes in the great oities, like London and New York, it is not surprising that tho poor ueßleoted ohildren thrive better, learn more at school, and arc happier for a hot palatable dinner and a kind word from the attendant?. The la?t experiment of furnishing a halfpenny dmner for tho very poorest children from tho*raost squalid parts of London has not been established long enough to determine if the receipts will meet the expenses, but it promises well, and the supporters of tho enterpri?c are confident that it will nearly pay its way. As many as 303 children were fed on the first day ; the number hss to average about SGG A ohoicewilhin a certain limit is given, and care is tuken to maka tho food agreeable and wholesome. Tho first courpe consists of n. rich stew or bacon Bandwiohe", the second of bread and jam or bread and cheese. That the children rind the dinner ample to satisfy their hunger is ehown by the fact of their continued attendance and tha liUlo waste made. It is domonstrated that, with the cook's wap;e3, coat of gas and implements excepted, there is no loss, and that they can be made self-support-ing. 'j/be panny and half penny dinner associations of London suggest a plan which it seems wight bn advantageously adopted in our largo cities, and, if conducted on tho econoraio scale of the London =ooieties. not only poor children, but unfortunate adults, might be relieved of much suffering without imposing any tax upon our benevolent citizens. Any one wishing to know more of the penny dinnor enterprise may obtain copies of a pamphlet on the subject from Messrs. Alexander Suephard, 21 Castle-street, Holborn, London. It is sold for one penny.