Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-12-22
UNDER KRIS KRINGLE'S BANNER.
The Good Work Of the Christmas Clubs
In Washington.

In Washington.
HOW THE FIRST CLUB OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
OF CHILDREN QUESTS MADE HAPPY-rHE IN
TEEEsr MASIFEsTED By CHILDREN. WHO xIvEI
| INSTRUMENTATION THIS YEAR
Everybody knows that some boys and girls
even in Washington, have no Christmas of theil
own. They know nothing Of the pleasant an
ticipations of hanging up their stockings ant
the delights of finding them full Of the goot
gifts of Santa Claus. The generous dinner, the
candies, the toys, the smiles of kind friends de-
not enter into their lives even at this happy sea-
son of the year. The children who enjoy all these
good things, however, know about those who are
less fortunate. Each year they try to share the
joys and pleasures Of Christmas This is what
the Children's Christmas club of Washington
means. For five years the club has entertained
thousands of children. The members of the
| club have shared their toys with those who had
none Of their own. They have sent them gifts
of clothing and then they have invited them to
| great dinner, where there were all kinds OF
good things to eat Then after dinner, where
the hosts saw that the guests we're beautifully
served, they all witnessed some kind of an en-
tertainment, where the fun and jollity waf
shared alike.
| THIS FEATURE OF CHRISTMAS
in Washington is likely to remain permanent.
The children are interested. They have imbibed
the true spirit of Christmas, and they are will
ing to contribute to the enjoyment of those
| whose joys are few. So this year. as in the
past hve years, great preparations are in pro-
gress for the annual feasts. The children in
West Washington, in East Washington and in
District No. IL have formed clubs. They have
paid their 10 cents as a membership fee, and
with the help of fathers and mothers they have
selected from their stock of toys and from their
clothes, and made up Christmas packages tor
those whom they wish to make happy. Now
| they are looking forward to the principal
event. which is the dinner and the fun which
| follows: There is no limit placed upon the
membership of the clubs. All are invited to
| join who have the heart to wish to help, and
such is the genuine pleasure which these occa-
| sions afford that the older people, who, of
course, stand in the background ready with a
/ word OF advice and strong willing hands to as
sist. frequently regret that they are not children
| again to enjoy the opportunities and privileges
OF the day. 1t has never been estimated how
much good thesr entertainments do. 1t is not
| within the field Of human calculation to make
| such an estimate. But to those who are the
hosts, we'll to those who are the guests,
| the day brings enjoyment, and leaves a recol-
lection which will be a source OF pleasure in
after years.
HOW IT ORIGINATED.
meeting of the first Christmas club five years
ago are no longer members. They have grown
since then. and have become too old and dig
! nified to belong to a children's club. No doubt
| they, as we'll some of the older ones, have
| forgotten how the Christmas club originated
But they have not forgotten entirely the beau-
| tifully written letter which appeared in the
| Christmas number of 81. Nicholas for 1883. 1t
was reprinted in The STAR in full, and there
was word from the editor commenting the
| subject to the attention of the readers, both
| old and young. This letter was addressed to
all the boys and girls in the world, and the
writer told how. the year before, as the Christ
mas season approached, a lady in Portland,
Me-. thought OF the poor homes and the hun
CRY. unhappy children who knew nothing about
Christmas. She thought. also, of the pleasant
homes and the merry children who filed them
| and she resolved to make an appeal in behalf
| of the por little ones And SO she invited
| number of boys and girls to meet at her house.
| They came and the result was the Christmas
| club. That Christmas 600 little guests were
entertained at dinner in the city of Portland,
and after the feast Santa Claus appeared and
| showered his gifts upon them. All this was
related In the open letter and then at the close
it was asked if there should not be other Christ
| mas clubs in other towns and cities. Here in
Washington that question was not asked in
| vain. Two days after the letter was printed
! in The STAR there was a call for meeting 1t
was meeting of gentlemen. They organized
| and cooperated with the ladies, and with their
/ assistance
THE FIRST cHILDREN's CLUB
Of Washington was organized The beginning
was made in the last days of November, and
when Christmas week came around the little
ones were aglow with anticipation. These
| were not selfish anticipations. The children
| were eager to do something to give others
| pleasure. The notices of the club were ap-
propriately taken from Dickens Christmas
carol and are: I'VE choose this time because
| it is time of all others when want is most
| keenly felt and abundance rejoices." Sand
now. as Tiny Tim observed, God bless us
every one"
THE DISTRICTS.
As the city was too large to enable all the
children to be entertained in one place, four
| clubs were organized in the four sections of
| the city. In district No. II, embracing the CEN
trail and northern portions of the city, Miss
Nellie Arthur. the daughter Of the President
of the United States. was chosen president Of
club. All the clubs had grand time that
day and thousands of children were made
happy. The children will perhaps remember
that not only the President Of the United
States attended the dinner of one of the clubs.
| but there was also present Mr.. Corcoran, the
white-haired philanthropist Of Washington as
he was affectionately termed. However, the
guests were probably too busy and happy in
eating and looking at the Christmas tree and
enjoying the fun. and their hosts were too
busy in helping them. to care much for the
presence OF distinguished visitors. How they
all shouted when Santa Claus appeared, and
what a great uprOar of childish laughter and
applause the little entertainment elected Then,
after they had all laughed until they were
| tired, their hands we're filled with bundles Of
toys and packages of candies. and that night
over GOO poor homes were cheered and glad
dened with the joy and pleasure of the happy
Christmas time.
THE SECOND YEAR.
When the next year rolled around none of
the children thought Of giving up the Christ
mas club. 1t was recognized in all the dis
tricts except one, and that was only through
misfortune. The numbers entertained in
creased. and it was estimated that there were
some 1000 children who became the guests of the
three clubs. The President Of the United States
and his daughter did not fail in their hearty
cooperation. Even the dignifed Chief Justice
of the United States became interested and
was a spectator at one of these entertainments,
The grOwn-up children lent a helping hand to
those OF a smaller growth, and the zeal of these
kind friends of the Children's club in the good
! cause caused them to give freely of their time
and money. The columns of the newspapers
were always open when good word was to be
said in behalf of the clubs, and the public
generally co-operated
REPEATING SUCCESSES.
So when Christmas, 1855, came around the
Children's clubs very naturally got ready for
| the usual entertainment. The success of the
previous year was repeated. The president Of
a = - e.