Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-12-30

Christmas Festival Of the Boys Of the
Hale orphan Asylum.
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The dinner given by the Women's
Christian Temperance Union, assisted by
the Ladies's City Mission, TO tine poor Of the
city yesterday was great success. Fully
a thousand hungry men, women, and chill
dren presented themselves at the door OF
Old Market Hall, where they were received
by the ladies and treated In right royal
style. There were twelve long tables, and
each plate was piled with turkey. meats,
pie, cakes, fruit, and coniectioneries. Toys
were given to the children and hot coffee
was served TO the old women.
Each person was furnished a paper.bag
in which one might. II one chose, take away
the edibles furnished.
Mrs. William ii. Pleasants, president OF
the Women's Christian Temperance Union,
and Mrs. Frank Baker, president OF the
Ladies City Mission, were present, and,
assisted BY corps Of young and middle
aged ladies, managed the undertaking and
satisfied the appetites OF all who presented
themselves.
THE ORPHANS DINNER.
Although the weather was cold and wei.
vet quite number OF persons were present
10 witness the annual visit OF Santa Claus
10 the orphan BOYS at the Male Orph.f
Asylum. Mrs. Gill bad prepared a sort "I
rostrum, surrounded by rocks covered
with snow. reminding one Of some OF DR..
Kane's history Of the North Pole. Ferns
were seen here and there among the rocks.
After the boys sang the Xmas Carol old
Santa Claus, dressed i'm white furs, was in
troduced. He inquired for the new boys
\, t,a.l .la,, Cd
visit, took each by the hand. and expressed
his qualification in seeing all look so well,
and after dance with Lilly Trahern and
her cousin, Miss Talbot, took his de-
pariure.
The president OF the Society called on
Mr.. Sleigbt. the we'll known Sabbath. school
worker. for talk, which was given
most successfully.
Mir. Gentry. OF the State. was then called
on. lie read an original poem appropri-
ate 10 the season and occasion.
While MIR. Robert L. Richardson, secre-
tary Of the Board, was responding to call OF
the president and addressing the boys,
Governor Lee and lady entered the hall.
He was at once recognized by all the boys,
and they gave him most hearty welcome.
The president of the Society stated that
he had been personally acquainted with all
the Governors OF Virginia for the past
forty.four years, hut never had he known
any one Of them to take such deep inter-
est in the rising generation as our present
Governor: that such love of children was
evidence Of KIND heart, and he hoped the
Governor would satisfy the boys by few
kind words.
The Governor, in reply, said that when
he accepted the invitation of Mrs. Gill, the
supernte endent. TO be present on this occa-
sion, he had expressly stipulated that he
would not be called on for speech; but
bow could he withhold lis hearty endorse
ment Of such noble charity as this? He
referred TO the better entertainment down
stairs, OF which he got glimpse on enter
ing the hall, and took 1t for granted the
boys minds were bending IN that direc.
ton. He closed with happy anecdote OF
war times and scant ratiOns.
After the presentation OF books to four
morItorious boys-the gift Of Mr.. Thomas
J. Todd, member OF the Board--by Mr..
Sleigbt, the company was invited below TO
the dining-hall.
After the boys had dined the Board OF
Directors partook Of an excellent replst
and left the asylum highly pleased with
the entire entertainment. One OF the new
directors (Mr. ID. o. Davis inquired, with
evident pleasure and surprise, "Do you
have this sort Of entertainment every year,