The New York herald., 1873-12-26
THE CHRISTMAS CHEER ON TIE
ISLANDS.

their predecessors, the members OF the Reform
Commission OF Charities and Correction made not
the slightest effort to bring pleasure ana happiness
to the thousands under their care, by providing
the usual extra bill OF fare, and for the first time
In years the prisoners the insane, the sick and the
feeble put in Christmas that will long be remem-
bered as one that brought them neither choice
viands nor pleasant remembrances that they were
not forgotten by those those who have them In
their keeping The failure Of the Commissioners
TO provide the usual Christmas cheer, on the plea
Of economy was severely denounced by the occu-
pants of the institutions and criticised by the vsi
tors, who expected to find that some attempt would
be made TO soften the hardshps Of prison and
hospital life by the expenditure OF a.few hundred
dollars at least once year. The former Commits
sioners used to furnish an extra dinner or fowl,
pudding, cake &C., on every honday-New Years,
Christmas. the Fourth OF July and Thanksgiving
yet not dollar has been expended for this pur-
pose this year by the new Commission. The old
Commission permitted the free transportation OF
the poor to the islands on the Commissioners
steamers to see their friends; but the new ones,
not satisfied with cutting or the Christmas dinner
OF the poor actually charge 80 cents for each per-
son visiting the islands to carry any little delcacy
rate OF lare than Is charged on the railroads or
any OF the river steamers to the travelling public,
and yesterday visitors freely expressed the opinion
that the Commission was unduly depressing the
poor instead Of beneftting them. Notwithstand-
mates of few OF the institutions were made happy
by the officers thereon.
THE cHILDREN's NURSERY
on Randall'S Island, under the superintendence
Of Warden Stevens, who takes deep interest in
the little waits, was supplied with toys candles
and other remembrances by private charity. The
boys spent the day IN play, In military review OF
their Randai's Island Guards and the girls in
ments The warden at ate eleven s O'CLOCK A. M. H gave
an enterta nment OF which the following is the
programme
CaroI-Chrsmas Treeh Large girls
Children Can You Sts .'s small a boys boys
CSrstmas Sddres Miss onsa Snai h1n1s gs
Dialogue" Medley" Masters Graham and Holden
Hymn".The Little Brown Church. -. All the Children
A number or visitors were present at the exer.
Bents.
THE HOUSE OF REFUGE
on RandAll's Island, over which Mr. Jones exercises
charge, has about l,100 inmates all OF whom we're
supplied with the regular Christmas dinner includ-
distributed. No religious services were held nor
addresses made IN the morning. In the evening
entertainments We're given. both by the boys and
GxrlS at which addresses were made by visitors.
during the year there have been but two deaths,
and only 257 patients have been treated in the IN
stitutiOn, which Is private corporation.
OTHEB INSTITUTIONS ON THE ISLAND.
Inc usual fare was served in all the other insti-
9utlOnS ana nothing unu6ual occurred except re-
ltgtous services. Tonight Dr. Macdonald, chief Of
the surgical stan. will give the inmates OF the
Cnarty Hospital concert under the auspices OF
the sadie Cole Troupe, and on this night week Mrs.
Scott-Siddons Will read for the entertainment Of
the inmates.
The prisoners confined in the Penitentiary made
their Christmas dinner Of corn beef, vegetables,
soup and bread, and enjoyed very dulI Christ
maS4 an e4 Ndeed Mf: Tweed the most prominent one
friends, who are permitted TO supply him with lux.
ur1es consistent with the rules. Clerk Langley de.
MES that he either eats at is supplied from War
Den Lisc0mbs table, and states that his fare is the
regular articles supplied to all the prisoners. The
Omctals report him In excellent health, ana quite
cheerful He IS especially timid OF visitors. and the
officials allow no one to visit the hospital where he
may have business with. He declines to see any
representatives Of the press lest conversing with
them might result to his injury.
BELLEVUE HOSPITAL.
Warden Brennan, Notwithstanding the economy
OF the Commissioners was determined that the
day should not pass without bright spot in the
memory OF those under his charge, and while he
with turkey. chicken, pudding ETC., he made am
PIE preparation for their intellectual entertain
ment. DR.. J. r. Wood placed at the disposal oil the
warden sufclent turkey to supply the seventy In
mates OF his division: and these were all VINO en-
10Sed Christmas 0inIer. In the evening the little
Warden collected all the cOnvalescents in the am
phitheaIre and gave them q theatrical exhibition
repertoire consisted OF " Paddy Miles, the Limerick
Boy" 30. Well. It's No Use" Bad Whiskey,n
and POmpey's Biunders.r Vocal and instrumental
music, Q masquerade and an irish break down
were among the amusing ieatures oil the evening
entertainment that closed about midnight.