Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-12-29
CITY AND DISTRICT.
rO0R C.ElLDREN'S CEaRISTMAS.
How the Guests of the Christmas Club
Were Entertained.


NEARLY TWO THOUSAND CHILDREN MADE MERRY
SCENES AND INCIDENTS At THE DIFFERENT EN-
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES OF LITTLE ONES AT
TACK THE CHRISTMAS TUaKEY-KRIs KRINGLE's
TREASURES or TOYS AND sWEETNEATs DIsTRIB-
UTED TO THE LITTLE GUESTS PRESIDENT ARTHUR
SPECTATOR OF A MERRY SCENE
Nearly fifteen hundred children, who have no
Christmas at home. were cn ,rtained Yesterday by
tie Christmas clubs in the four districts into
which the city was divided for the purpose When
the sick children and other children who We're IN
able TO attend and To whom packages OF toys and
Christmas subStantaIs and luxuTies were sent are
added TO the number. il is estimated that upwards
o. two thousand poor children were enabled to have
merry Christmas through the efforts of the Kind
little members Of the Christmas club THE EVEN
ING STAR OF December 1st introduced the Christ
mas club idea, by publishing the report of the
doings of the Portland. Maine, Christmas club,
which appeared In the 81. Nicholas Immediately
steps were taken by kind-hearted ladies and GEN
temen TO interest the little ones of WASHINGTON In
the PLAN The children fOcked at once in large
numbers around the standard OF the Christmas
club, and the zeal and energy with which they
worked We're evidenced in the results reached yes
terClly Though the older folks who Contributed
noerly to the eXchequer ana to the larders OF the
clubs are also entitled TO much Of the credit for me
success OF the festival, 1T is generally conceded
that the interest and activity OF the members is
what contributed chiefly TO the results attained.
Khe First District Club.
Two hundred children were made happy for at
least once in their lives yesterday Afternoon at
Curtis hail, and the sight Of four hundred bright
eyes and busy hands, and two hundred active
mouths, was indeed feast to those who looked
On The behavior and cleanliness OF the children
was excellent Turkey. chicken. pastry, sauces,
CAKE, and fruit We're dealt out with liberal hand
every child being served by the busy ladies who
had charge OF this section with all asked for yet
provisions We're lett on hand, and afterwards sent
10 the Aged WOnan'S home. The committee OF
ladies in charge of this part Of the program COM
prtsed the following: Mrs cooke. Mrs Downman.
Miss Woodward, Mrs and Miss Moore Mrs Zeller
Mrs. Whelan Miss Janney, Mrs. Sawyer Mrs. Pat
ten, Mis-. and Miss NOurse, Miss Dodge, and Miss
jackson.
The little oens were then conducted to the han,
where a large Christmas tree was placed upon the
platform. and became the center of attraction:
near by was an open fire place and chimney down
which came Kris kringle rosy and frosty from his
Each chid's name was called from the cards. and
tie Iirst present that came To hand handed over
candy was also presented to each. All the toys
Were new. Being wrapped up in packages few
opened the packages 1t was curious to watch
them as they received their presents. the most not
Opening their bundles until they left the hail. as if
long it.
The Investigations were carried on at the first
Convenient doorstep. and formed Interesting scenes
enJoyed By the paSsers-by. The ladies In charge OF
The Christmas tree were Mrs. j. T. Mitchell, Miss
bertha MITCHELL. Miss Della Jackson, Mrs. f. L.
Moore, Miss Sarah Brooke. Miss Ella Cunningham
Mrs ". McG0Wan and Miss Bessie McGowan The
committee OF gentlemen was as follows: Josiah
DEM, j. T. Mitchell +. L. Moore, c. NJ Matthews
'" A Gordon. assisted by j. II. Gordon.
The Second District.
The difficult task OF enabling some 800 chndrent to
entertain individually and personally 500 more was
accomplished yesterday at the National Rifles
armory with so much apparent ease and pleasure
70 ali concerned that it seems little less than mar
Vicious, now that 1t is all over There was no con-
Ilsion or disorder. The children, who We're received
As guests. arrived on time Were given their
proper place. ate a good dinner, then
were marched in order TO the hall IN
stairs, where with their entertainers they enoyed
an amusing program, and. after receiving presents
OF toys and candies, We're to their homes with
nothing To mar the pleasure OF the afternoon 1t
must DE- said that the children who came as guests
did their share towards this desired result Many
OF the little faces bore the pnched hungry look of
poverty their clothes were mean, and in some cases
inadequate for cold weather. but their hands and
faces were clean, and rs they became little accus
TONED 10 the uHwOnted sight OF so many good
Things to eat. and heard the kindly voices of their
IoStS thelf poor little faces frightened and they
began 10 chatter and laugh together in the childish
freedom Of genuine enjoyment.
THE SCENES AT THE TABLE.
1t was amusing, and then again pathetic, to see
them eat One boy dashed in with all the ardor OF
q real, hungry growing yOungster, and in a twink
Ing he had his plate clean as whistle, made way
with fresh supply and was doing great execution
begun; Others ate gingerly, as If they wanted to
make IL last as long as possible, not seeming to be
able to grasp the unaccustomed idea that there
was really plenty more. Some OF the little ones
were so excited by all the strange things about
them that they lost their appetites and could eat
but little
1t was cOmical TO see the children manage the
charlotte rlsses One boy sliced OF the top OF his
with knife and then dug out the rest as If he
what ne was eating replied with great promptness,
ice cream" little girl was so much pleased
with her first experience with acharlotte russo that
she asked II she could have to take home to her
little sister One little fellow was asked what the
napkin lying besides his plate was He looked at
1t with some perplexity and then said that he did
not know. But IN an happy after thought he sug-
While many of the children were evidently not
used TO the usual customs of polite society ar table
We etlg was no ga6on and the rights OF others
70 children better dressed and better brought m
They seemed 10 be grateful for what they received
anu dppirthty enjoyed every moment OF time.
THE ENTERTAINMENT IN THE HALL
The scene upstairs In the hall was one OF great
interest. over thousand children were collected
there, ranging from three years to fifteen and a
more orderly. appTeciatye and goOd-natured audi
ence he's rarely. II ever, been seen After the per-
foTmanCe. which Included some sght-of- hand
tricks by Mr. Frisble the children were given can
dleS and TOYS. and rs they passed out OF the door
1lIot The street each one was handed tin horn by
NJ Frank NaTd-and there was mighty noise in
the street. The children were escorted 10 street
cars and given'tckets. and thusrhe first Christmas
i'Ht4Ntll 4Oi lLc pOOI tuUtu Win happiness al. /
around.
THE COMMITTEES.
The following committees Of the members OF the !
club waited on the tables Girls-Ella Ramstell, !
Louise Shaw, Hattie Blaine Maud f. Moves Agnes
Beach. Maud Noble, Hattie James, Mathilde |
OToOle. Jennie Reese, Eleanor Sicard, Mary Sher- !
man, susie Walker, Carrie Gibbs, Mabel Hemen- |
way, Nellie StineInetZ. Brynina Clarke. Lucretia |
Siockb-fige, Lizzie King, jamie Gibson, Mary King
susie Dawson, Ethel Hall. Ruth NJ Sites Bessie !
Copenhaver. Marie Smith. Mary Howe Rena smith |
BESSIE Casey, Edith Carruth Helen Monroe IoSje |
Perry. Nan Hudson. Edith Horne, Blanche Wales |
BOy5-Nell SdCGet, George Greene, Morton Rams !
Cell. Charlie Nckenney, Edward Whitemore Brook |
BAKER Richard johnson, Seymore Carter, Fred |
htgg.eS. James Cheeseman J. King, W. H. Tappan |
Lester Davis, Willie King. Arthur Merrill Jessie
Hodge, X. ID. Weaver, George Howard, Horace !
WYE, walter Willard, Thomas C. Noyes. L. c. |
GtlneI, Charlie Stone, Frank Reeves, Charles |
Gray, ChdrleS Rug5eS Charles Sawtelle.
The reception committee ia the hall up stairs was
composed OF the following; Frank Sacket, Rowen |
Stevens, Thomas c. Noyes, VI. X. Waite, c. c. Nc
Michael, Lloyd Chandler.
Christmas tree committee: Claytie NcNjrhael |
EinDry McMlchael, Willie O'NeiI, John Hams, Frank
Sacket, NJ r. Waite, Marie Howard, Edith Card |
Mamie Green, Nellie Arthur, Saiie Walach Alice |
TOttcn. ~
A Christmas glee was rendered by the following |
cnOruS: Fanny Walker, Alice James. Mamie Greene |
Maud Ashford, Nellie Arthur, Sadie Wallach Alice
Tottcn. Louise Hon. Edith James, MAY O'Retlly |
ortiz Hon.