Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-12-21


The Meeting OF the Children at the
Franklin school Saturday-HOw Miss
Cleveland was Received-Arrange-
ments Made for the Dinner.
At the meeting Of Children's Christmas club,
division H., at the Franklin School building
Saturday afternoon, District Commissioner
Webb, who was present, was introduced to the
children and made a brief speech, in which he
said he was glad to see them engaged in such
good work and promised to help all he could.
When he stopped speaking Mr.. Ross Perry pro-
posed to the children to give q hurrah for Mr..
webb. There were three hundred children
there, but one might have imagined from the
shout that arose in response to Mr. Perry's sug-
gestion that there were three thousand. Mr..
nsy m s ns by se
hurrah. While Mr.. Perry was talking to the
children Miss Clevelands carriage drove up to
was coming upstairs. The children were at
once thrown into fiutter of excitement. 81
don't think she would have come if she had
known how many steps she had to climb, said
Mr. Perry, as he tried to get the little ones into
order while waiting for their expected guest
don't object to little cheer" he added, "but
you must not give too much Of one. Mr.. Webb
Is man, you know, and he can stand the noise.
a lady"
HOW MISS CLEVELAND WAS RECEIVED.
Then Miss Cleveland. having made her way
upstairs, came in. acco npanied by Mrs. Law
renee. When she hal advanced part of the
way into the room Mr.. Perry, turning to the
land" and added the admonition, "Not too
loud" The shout that rose made the cheer
Mr.. Perry made a gesture of despair and stood
mute for a moment Then, when his voice
could be heard, he said, "Oh, my! You are all
very glad to see Miss Cleveland but don tell
Miss Cleveland sat down at the desk in the
center OF the room, and remained for some
tlme an interested spectator of the doing OF
the CLUB. MIR. Perry announced that next Sat
urday other officers would be elected. Miss
Moiiie Villas, who was elected president Satur-
day, is the only officer the club has at present.
Arrangements were made for selecting walters,
mot too small and not too large;" the names
of children not b. fore enrolled were taken and
the badges were distributed. These badges are
of white silk, with the inscription, &C. c. G.,
1850, In gilt letters, and little bell, suspended
at the end.
A LETTER FROM MISS CLEVELAND.
Miss Cleveland wrote a letter Saturday to
Miss Villas, the president of the club, in which
she said:
MY DEAR MoLLIE: am glad you are going
To take the lead In the Christmas club for re-
memberlng poor children VINO have no one to
make Christmas for them. II you think 1t over
that is the true Christ part of Christmas, for you
Hi Who'll" life, that it is "morc blessed to give
than to receive" 1t takes q long time to learn
that by heart, and ii we ali began when We were
children we would not be so dreadfully selfish
grown up people and there would be great
deal more comfort ali around. l hope you will
Fnd out every fororn, neglected boy and girl
and surprise them with good dinner and
something nice to take home and keep to re-
member you by, and what is Il great deal better.
to remember Christ by. l shall try to call at
your meeting this afternoon before it is over,
but may be a little late, but as you. dear Mol
lie, are president it will not matter how many
comuOa p*os'i, like me are late.
Yours always,
i.ooE ELIZABETH CLEVELAND.
| HOW THE WORK Is PROGRESSING.
"The preparations for the entertainment OF
| the poor children by the Christmas club of the
second district" remarked gentleman inter-
rSted to STAR reporter, "are going on in a sat
! isactory way, and the prospect is that it will
| be one of the best entertainments ever given.
| The various committees of ladies are actively
ut work, and every thing is in "A forward state OF
| preparation. Great ca"e is to be exercised in
| the distribution OF tht 2vitatiOns, so that only
own will be invited. The invitations are all
| given ont through the police, and in this way
| the class of peor children whom we wish IL
| reach will be invited. AS the South Washing
| ton club will give no entertainment this year
we expect that great many OF the children in
that locality will come to us, although Epiph-
| any church enertains at Christmas some three
or four hundred children and they will prOba-
| bly, hold their entertainment on the same day,
| SO that will relieve the second district. We
| cannot accommodate more than six hundred
| children butfye don't want any turned away.
| The ladies have arranged very nice dinner,
| which will be furnished by Mr.. Abner and an
| attractive entertainment to follow, which will
| consist OF a Punch and Judy show, Il talking
parrot, and other simple diversions which
| lmuse children. They will also have n Christ
mas tree and Santa Claus to distribute the
| gifts
"These gifts he continued, sore all given by
| the children who are members oil the club, and
| who entertain these children poorer than them
| selves The children of the club are asked to
| bring what TOYS they can spare from their owl,
supply, and these are given to the poor children
just oclurc tiiey 60 home. Inc cluD viii NUN
| Der this year expect over five hundred mem
bers, and they attend the celebration and enjoy
| with the poor children the pleasure of that Oc
casiOn. In many cases the Children are SO poor
as not to have suitable clothing, and then they
are supplied with clothes which are donated
and sent to the of Miss Loring The toys
are sent to Mrs. r. Ross Perry. The clubs in
| Georgetown and on Capitol Hill are also to give
| similar entertainments on the 2Sth instant, sc
| that good proportion at least OF the poor child
| rem will have some Christmas to enjoy and look
! back tn. The money which we require is con
| tributcd, and, as you may see from the daily
| announcements in THE STAR, the responses are
not only numerous but generous 1t is a charity
that is so deserving and SO kindly that every
one, without regard to sect or social distinc
tions takes an interest in it and is willing to d.
something to contribute to its success"