Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-12-26

BERED THE NEEDY ONES
The celebration of Christmas dav was broad
ened considerably by the remarkably fine
weather with which Gen. Greely's bureau sup
piled the city. The spring-like air and the
warm sunshine enticed not only the able-bod-
led but the feeble also. out of DOORS The
churches were well attended and the choirs did
their best to please the most critical of their
wOrshipers. Al the sanctuaries were decked
with evergreens, and in some instances the
decorations were profuse and artistic. SO far
the President and his cabinet we're con-
eerncd the occasion was an transformations one
Mr.. and Mrs Cleveland went to the Presi-
dental church in the morning. and in
the afternoon were driven ont 70 Oak
view ami back to the White House.
They dined alone. The only member of the
cabinet who was not in the city was Secretary
Endicott. and he ate his New England Christ
mas dinner at his home in the wintry atmOs-
PhCrc Of Massachusetts. Throughout the en-
tire day the streets were well filed and the
crowd did not seem To diminish very mate
rially in the evening. ELECTROMAGNETIC
Christmas trees were visible through the I'M
cUrtaIncd windows of thousands of homes and
the noise of newly-acquired tin horns and other
musical and unmusical instruments was heard
until late hour. Everybody seemed to be
happy. There were few exceptions of course.
but they were not conspicuous. OccasiOna lly
'crOakeT would De found who referred with
melancholy prOpheses to the old adage which
intImates that verdant yule-tide is always
and inevitably the fOrerunner of busy season
in the undertaking business but his Cloominess
was without marked effect The day was. to
the great majority, happy one.
AMONG TIE ORPHANS.
1t would have been hard to find iollier or
happier children than those in the various
benevolent institutions yesterday. At st.
JOseph's orphan asylum games of every
description were distributed among the hun
dreds of boys. and play was kept up from
morning until night. with the exception of the
time it took to demOlish good Christmas dim
ner.
There were similar scenes at st. yincents
orphan asylum. Rules were set aside. and
Santa Claus reigned supreme. Dolls in endless
variety were carried, dragged, and wheeled in
dainty wicker baskets all day. A royal dinner
was served for the girls AT o'clock.
Upward Of two hundred children at the
Protestant orphan asylum celebrated Christmas
with much mCrriment. An elaborate dinner
was served about noon. The children all re
ccivcd presents.
when the ninety waits at St AIMS infant
asylum awOke yesterday morning. a large
Christmas tree Respondent with tinsel and
toys was awaiting them. Everyone received
present.
\ great effort was made to give the little
ones at tbs Chldren's hospital a merry
Christmas. \ large Christmas tree was dis
played TO the wondering gaze of those able to
be about early III the morning. TOYS in end
les variety were distributed. and the dav de-
voted to pleasure. The donations were unusu-
ally large.
N THE AIMsHoUsE.
Five hundred pounds of turkey and 800
pounds Of pork were required to satisfy the
Christmas aPpetites at the Washington asylum
yesterday. to say nothing OF vegetables innum-
cradle, celery by the cord, mince pies by the
bushel. and quantities Of fruit cake beyond
enumeration. IL was menu fit for any house
hold and to say that II was thoroughly appre-
ciated and enjoyed by the inmates of the insti-
tuition would be but mild expression of the |
facts. TWAS decided at the last moment Mon
day night. To postpone the distribution of
sweets. toys. and other presents from the
Christmas tree in the almsEoUse until after
dinner, and IN consequence the morning was
spent IN very quiet manner. AT about IL
O'Clock about a dozen ladies, representing
TIE FLOWER MISSION
of the ". c. 4. u. headed by Mrs Robert
Cohen and Mrs. LaFetra. arrived in a herdic |
coach accompanied by great wagon heavily |
laden with barrels and baskets and proceeded
o. storm the m-hOU-e. They found the capi- !
tulatlng iutendent ana mdtrOn in the reception |
room and explained that the cause of the at |
tacA was desire on their part to add some !
thing 20 the Christmas happiness Of the in |
mates OF tine alm-LOusc. They first held a |
short ITrrOmtU service in one OF the corridors
into which al able 20 walk crowded to hear the
singing and the words OF Christmas praise |
Then the barrels We're quickly emptied and |
each room visited. Every inmate received an
apple. q banana. an orange and few cakes.
TRoorING To THE DINNER.
Hardly Was the distribution accomplished |
before the changing of a triangle was followed |
10y thu sound OF feet descending the stairways |
and shutting along the corridors toward the |
mesl hall. where that long expected feast was |
smoking. One hundred inmates sat at the |
boards and waited with bowed heads while the |
visiting ladies sang song of grace. The word |
was then given and the notes of music were |
followed By the ringing of knives and forks /
ana the mIruurlugS Of content that passed [
along the tables. Al. were too busy and haupy |
10 grumDie at anything, even old Mrs Mae /
Neil. who halls from North Carolina and I
from whose C1-kv CuUntruaHcc come habitual /
expressions OF dissatisfaction at everything
Even on that warm. beautiful Christmas dav 1
and III those comfortable rooms. She wore a 1
heavy cloth shoulder cape. a fur collar. innum- |
cradle wraps on her arms. and cloth bandagrd /
around her head that but few square I
inches Of her face were visible As peaceful |
prccaEtlJn Mrs. MIrNeIll has been given !
lonely seat in the corner Of the room where
she usually muWbies forth her grievances dur
lEs the disposition Of her meals hut the
abundance OF good things yesterday had even
the effect of silencing her for the period when
she was AT the table a1 event long to be re-
nembered by her neighbOrs. Mrs. MacNeilrs /
present grievance : that she cannot get an
extra blanket. which she thinks she needs. but
the puryeyor Of such goods believes that Mrs.
MacNeIl Is sufficiently well wrapped.
THE CHRISTMAS TREE
The dinner disappeared in a remarkably
short space Of time. and after sufficient allow
auce had been made for the lageards the in
mates were called TO the Office where the
Christmas tree awaited them. 4 dozen little
ones danced about with their TOYS old women
proudly showed each other their new heavy
comfortable snawl,. and all slowed CANDY and
fruit away III their pockets with IN TIl-eat-it-
tomorrow air. Then an attack was made on
q pile of white boxes. from which issued cakes
upon cakes Of toilet soap. which were distrib-
uted among all the inmates. 10 whom such
glft d "a priceless boon. Tobacco and pipes
made the men happy, and the darkness
crePt on the joy OF the inmates increased with
the recOllecuOHs Of the day.
In the hospital the patients were given the
same kind Of dinner. visited by the ladies'
and gwen small presents. as in the other part
OF the institution In the wOrkhouse. however
days rest and good dinner were the only
Christmas features.
VISITORS AT THE JAIL.
The jail doors were almost constantly on the
SWING. Prom early morning parents and friends
came rOOping across the commons bearing
baskets fun OF good things. with which to mark
the day among the prisoners, At half-past 10