The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-12-30
c. c. c.
The Fourth Annual Dinner Given by
the Club,
At City Hall, is Enjoyed by Seven
Hundred Guests.

commenced to gather in the City Building
and at twenty minutes to one, two long lines
of children were waiting in the corridor in
the first floor, making no noise but alive
with eager desire to catch the first glimpse of
the good things in the hall above. In Re-
ception Hall, the tables were cleared and
under Mrs. Staples careful supervision,
everything had been made ready. The car
vers were resting from their attack on the
40 turkeys, which could not have been sacri-
feed in nobler cause. Passing through the
ante-room, where hive of Bees had left
their sweets, and entering the large hall, one
saw the tree, glimmering through the mel
low light as frosty as when standing in its
forest home. The tree was presented to the
club by the Sunday school of st. Luke's
Cathedral
On the stage behind the Christmas tree
was table filed with all the toys that the
stores and shops could afford, everything
dear to childhood's heart-skates, sleds,
jumping jacks, harmonious, illuminated
books-and what not?
From the gallery, already occupied by the
800 members of the club, the view Of the
hall below. with it thirty-five tables, cover
ed with snow white cloths, on which lay vari-
colored napkins and plates for 700
guests was pleasant. On the tables were
all the delicacies of the Christmas season,
besides agenerous store of bread and butter,
pickles, cake, ETC., for the hungry little folks.
Previous to the entry of the guests, little
lame girl was led in by Mrs. Spaulding and
provided with a chair at one of the tables.
At just 100, Mr.. Gilbert struck the bell
calling all to order and Immediately after, to
the inspiriting strains of Chambers orches-
ira, the guests of the club marched into the
hall by the door leading from the ante-room.
Headed by Harry Clarke, who serves as
leader, the line passed down the hall, and
then back and forward, winding in among
the tables until each guest had found place.
1t was amusing to see the many curious
glances cast at the Christmas tree by young
sters who half turned as they walked in or
der to see its glories, and it was pleasant to
note the smiles of recognition with which
they greeted the ladies whom they had known
at former dinners or while preparing for this
one. Seats at the table were provided for
100 of the smallest among the 700 guests.
AS the stir occasioned by the entrance Of
the guests subsidized, President Edward Fl.
Little stepped to the front of the platform
and extended the welcome of the club in the
following well chosen words:
Members of the Childre1a's Cristmds Club:
We have met here today to celebrate the
fourth annual dinner which we have given
to the children of this city. 1t is with pleas
ure that extend the hearty welcome of the
club to its gueSst. From all appearances, the
festival this year will be as great success
as those which have preceded it. will now
introduce to you His Honor the Mayor, and
after the Bishop has asked Gods blessing,
dinner will be served.
At the conclusion of his remarks, Mr.. Lit
tie proposed three cheers for Miss Sargent,
and they were given with will by the
guests, the members of the club applauding
from the galleries Miss Sargent responded
by kissing her hand to the:children and wish
ing them Merry Christmas. Mayor Deer
ing then briefly introduced Bishop Nicely,
who spoke as follows:
Dear Children:-Y our friends have again
provided for you a very beautiful and boun-
tiful Christmas feast. They have been
moved to do this doubt not by the consider
alton of God great gift of love to them,
manifested at this time by the gift OF HIS
they have remembered also that God loves
YOU Just as well as He does them and gave
His Son to be your Savior as well as theirs.
1t would be shameful in them II they did
not love and care for those whom God has so
loved. If God so loved lis we ought also to
love one another and hope that you, my
dear children, so love one another, because
God has SO loved you and all others. Now
your friends do not ask you to thank them
for what has been prepared for you for they
1rr 1nd
is more blessed to give than to receive and
those who have prepared this feast have had
Just as much enjoyment in it as you will find
and | trust you are just as ready to do such
acts of kindness yourselves. But let us al
thank God for His love and for his just gift
of love to all; and before you partake of this
feast let us ask His blessing upon it and up
on ourselves and all who are dear to us.
Bishop Nelly then invoked the Divine
blessing in the following words:
Almighty GOD, the giyer of every good and
perfect gift, who hast loved us all and sent
Thy Son to be the Redeemer of us all, we
praise thy name with thankful hearts. Send
thy blessinglwe beseech Thre upon these dear
children; bless them in their homes, in their
labors, and in all their, ,enioyments; bless
them with all spiritual blessings in Christ
Jesus; bless the food here prepared for their
use, and give them and us the blessing OF
grateful hearts for all thy gifts and mercies
through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
The children proceeded Immediately to
give an exhibition of good healthy appetites
and the eatables went the way of all their
kind with ready movement of hand to mouth
The walters attended to every want of the
guests almost before it was expressed in
words. After each child had eaten his or
her full measure the BUSY Bees" distribu-
ted bags of candy. Then the tables were
deity cleared from the floor and the children
were seated IN proper order.
The children have been taught by Mrs.
Merrill to sing many pieces correctly and in
excellent tune for small folks. First was
sung "Carol, sweetly CAROL" in which the
young voices blended heartily. Then came
charades acted by members of the club on
the stage in pleasing manner. The chill
dren on the floor at the close of each charade
sang the answer.
The Icharades given were Little Jack
Horner," Little 30 Peep tom, the
Piper's Son." "Jack and JILL" Little Boy
Blue" and Merry are the Bells" the parts
'c'-,g acceptably taken by Nathan J. Cliff
f,, Elliott C. Mitchell, George Deake,
Howard LittlefeId, Philip Sawyer, Brewer
Smith, Frank Fessenden, Clifton Fowler
andiMabel Moore.
A banjo duet by Messrs. Armand and Day
was rendered to the great satisfaction of the
children and the song by Mr. Armand to the
accompaniment of the banjo was capital and
elected great applause The trio by the
Misses ingalls, and Master ingalls, was re-
ceived with equal favor.
Mr.. George A. Thomas acted as Santa
Claus and distributed the presents from the
tree, and five Japanese young ladies, from
the store of Owen, Moore & Co., dressed in
the costume of their native islands, distri-