“Although I made good money, as the saying is, I was, nevertheless, broke all the time. I voluntarily gave up several splendid positions because objections had been made to my reporting late in the morning for duty, and, having become rather nervous, I practically found it impossible to get along with anyone. I had become a slave to my habits, and finally associated with the 'has beens,' as they are sometimes called. “There is not a man in this room who knows more about the life on the east side of New York than I do. I know full well what it means to be hungry and homeless. I have worked as a longshoreman, newspaperman, cook, bookkeeper and correspondent. I have been running hot frankfurter stands, etc., sometimes I had two jobs in one day. I was given a wonderful taste of the ups and downs in New York City, especially the downs. I certainly am grateful to Providence for subjecting me to that awful experience in New York City, for in that way I learned to know human nature. I learned to know that the so-called submerged masses were composed of human beings, not brainless individuals; that, as a matter of fact, there are better people, especially morally, among the poor than among the so-called society people. “I might be asked why it was that I did not find God again, when I was down and out in New York City. Christ was knocking, knocking all the time to enter my heart, but I had become a cynic and would not let Him in. I used to think in those times that if there was a just God I would not be in such a sorrowful plight. The trouble with me was, I did not have enough sense to admit that my condition was simply due to my own faults and to nothing else. “During my stay in New York I have met many saintly people, men and women who devoted their time, energy and money to the uplift of the homeless and the friendless. Those good people tried their best to have me converted. They did not succeed because I was not willing and because I actually believed most of my friends who were in charge of the several missions that I was in the habit of attending were suffering from hallucinations, although perfectly honest in their self-imposed task. [Illustration: PENNY LUNCH ROOM]