Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-12-24
CHILDREN,s CHRrsrnas CLUB.
A~ introduction and Developments in
the City of Washington.

IS introduction and Developments in
the City of Washington.
HOW THE CHRISTMAS CLUB IDEA oRrGISATED-THE
ORGANIZATIONS IN THIS CITY-ExPEKIENCEs OF THE
PAST THREE YEiRs-TBE CARDINAL IDEA OF THE
CLUB.
The success OF the Children's Christmas Club
mas been so great in this city; its vitality seems
% strong, this being the fourth year OF its con-
tnuous series OF Christmas festivals to the chill
dren of the poor the interest OF all in its welfare
Is so strik1ngiy shown that brief history OF the
origin OF this club and OF its deeds during those
four years may not be unwelcome 10 the public.
On Sunday, December 10th, 1882, lady was
sitting In her warm. comfortable parior In Port
land, Maine watching the snow flakes rs the keen
wind sent them scurrying this way and that She
shivered involuntarily as she looked and then she
thought OF the poor children to whom that snow
brought the real and not the counterfeit shiver;
she thought OF the happy Christmas time last
coming on, but bringing with II no relief TO them,
unless some one should remember and help them.
She said TO herself, Il VIII do anything for them,
but alone can do nothing, must have a hundred
hundreds OF helpers Where shall i get theln?'
the inspired idea, 'srhe warIn-hearted, generous
Portland children VIII help you" And they did
help her, and not only the children, but their
parents and their elders, ana at the head or all
came the mayor of Portland. space viii not per-
Init the telling OF all that was done that Christmas
Tor the poor children OF Portland Suffice II 70
say that many laughed who, but for this one
woman's inspiration, would have cried; many lit
tie bodies were filled and crammed that would
otherwise have been empty; many little tongues
learned to speak of Christmas and Kris kripge rs
known instead OF unknown quantities
THE LIGRT SHINES FORTH.
such light could not be hid under bushel nor
under anything else. In December, 1881 along
came the century company with its Christmas
number OF est. Nicholas" and way in the back
part OF it the story OF this hrst Childrens'
Christmas CUB aud OF what it had done for the
poor little girls and boys OF Portland. This maya
fine came TO Washington about Thanksgiving day,
and although the story was in the back OF the
had read it. And as they reaa it they said: ''Our
sun is warmer than that OF Portland; our hearts
must not be colder" And when they came TO the
legend at the end, $50 Thou and Do Likewise"
they said: '+Our Washington children VIII surely
lack the help of their elders" And they set them
selves to work TO help, and thus the Childrens
Christmas Club was born In Washington.
THE FIRST YEAR.
number OF separate clubs were formed Of one
OF which Nellie Arthur (then a small girD was pres
ident. On Saturday OF the same week The EVEN
ING STAR published the 81. Nicholas story In fun,
and called attention TO it editorally. On the fol-
lowing Monday call was made in THE STAR for GER
tain gentlemen TO act with the ladies who were
aiding the children; the gentlemen met, the city
was divided into four districts. funds were sub
Bcrioed, the district clubs were organized and all
mas entertainments one in each district All, but
especially the ladies and children enthusiasts
souls into the work. And when the Holy
InnocentS' Day came, on the 2Sth day OF
down Of rather a s3ood hS to en the ons
lines OF tables loaded with turkey, and the Gus
tomary belongings TO a Christmas feast; then they
had Punch and Judy and other amuSemeDtS. and
shey went home with a present, box OF candy
Ind a Christmas card for each. At the dinner of
District III. the tables had been beautiied by plants
Ind evergreens sent from the Presidents green
houses. The President himself, the Chief Justice
N the United states, and the venerable Mr. W. w.
ma IN Wit ba n inns nd N Qy-
press their sympathy with the chldren's joy.
Finally the propretors OF the large livery and
hotel stables sent all OF their cOnveyanceS and
took the little guests safely home after having
1oyed at least one happy day. We cannot stop TO
Speculate about the thoughts OF these poor little
ehildren-waifs many OF them-aS they pOndered
IN a confused way over Christmas and Kris Krin-
giles, TO whom that day had first introduced them;
them by a real live Santa Claus, and as merry a
one as ever wore white beard and fur cap.
CHRISTMAS, 1884.
As Christmas, 1884 came around In the course OF
the swiftly flying months, the first OF December
found all of the clubs save one, which unfortu-
natey did not survive the first year. organized and
ready for work. As the InnoeentS' day fell upon
Monday, 1t was thought best TO postpone the din
ner, ETC., until Tuesday, the Goth, and on that day
$50 poor children came as guests TO the Christ
mas Club feast of District III. In the three districts
&c is estimated that about 900 children We're en-
tertained- Again came the President, the Chief
Justice and Mr.. COrcoran. The Marine band.
kindly sent by the Secretary OF the Navy, has fur
nfShed appropriate music at all the dinners OF this
district. This second year was, its predecessor
had been, most successful in accomplishing he
suits for which the Childrens Christmas Club was
formed.
LAST CHRISTMAS.
In 1885 there was some difficulty in the reor-
ganization OF the club in District H. as some OF the
ladies who had acted from the first, and who had
been earnest and assiduous workers were COM
PEELED most unwiilingly to give up their arduous
task However, Miss Rose Elizabeth Cleveland,
with promptneSs and spirit which endeared her
20 the people OF Washington consented to act
president OF the ladies' committees. and Commits
sioner Webb acted in the same capacity for those
OF the gentlemen. Molie Villas. the youngest
president OF the club, and Nellie Arthur became
one OF the vice presidents This year, 1885, the
number OF the children members OF the club was
about 500. The dinner was given On the limo
cents day, and more than 80 children We're guests,
each OF whom had the inevitable turkey dinner,
lee cream cakes, apples and oranges: box OF
candy, Christmas card and present In addition TO
The entertainment and the view of santa Claus in
the 1esh. Again the Kindness OF the livery and
hotel stable keepers was renewed and ii the chill
dren were tired when they got home it was from
too much motion OF the jaws and not OF the legs.
This year the President, VINO took a deep
interest in the work and contributed literally, was
prevented by public business from coming; the
CHEZ Justice and Mr.. CoTcOran came again. thus
making the third continuous year OF their attend
ance. The wife OF The Secretary OF state came
also, and 1t is pleasant thing 10 recollect OF her
that her words and looks showed that she took a
tender interest in the little ones before her. OF
coined by the children with a shout that made the
walls ring All viii recollect the Christmas mes
sage which she wrote In the form OF little letter
10 the child-president OF the club and how She
touched the key note or the club the teaching
children TO give of their abundance to their needy
brothers and sisters. This year a change was
made In the manner OF serving the dinner: during
the first two years contributions of cooked trr-
KEYS and OF almost everything else in the shape OK
provisions, were made, and the committees at
tended TO all the carving, table-layfng dish-wash-
Ing &C, &c. IL was found that this labor was I'M
necessary and would be intOlerabe If this organi-
Ration were 10 become permanent. Accordingly
a caterer was employed 10 furnish the dinner
and everything accessory thereto, and the ladies
were thus spared much exhauSting labor The
experiment was entirely successful. and VIII be
repeated at The dinner OF this year upon the 18th
instant.
THE LITTLE WALTERS.
One OF the regular features OF these dinners is
the attendance as walters, under the supervision
Of the ladies in charge Of the various tables OF
twenty girls and an equal number OF the boys
members OF the club; the boys all have their club
badges and the girls neatly and plainly dressed
each completing her costume with q dainty cap
ana a white apron--a pretty picture one sees
them running from child 10 child, bringing a new
supply OF turkey or some other proyision-for the
guests are not denied second help; nearly all OF
these Ike Oliver, ask for more, but with different
results.
we scenes which witnessed BY some OF the
ladies and by the police (who have always eagerly
given every aid In their power to the club while
they diSfrfn aff