Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-12-29
LITTLE ONES MADE HAPPY.
Hundreds Of Children Feasted by the
Christmas Club.

Christmas Club.
BOYS AND GIRLS DINED AND PRESENTED WITH
erFTs-MRs. CLEVELAND WITNESSES THE SPEC
rAcLE AT THE RIFLES ARxoRY-scENEs AT
THE MAYNARD AND. IN oEoRaErOwN.
More than two thousand children-large and
small, dirty and clean, ragged and fairly-wel
clad, Of all descriptions and dispositions, but
Of one condition as to appetite-were the
guests Of the Childrens Christmas clubs to-
day. To the majority it was the one day in
the year, the only day that was full to over
flowing with such happiness as can come to the
little ones on whom Dame Fortune smiles at
periods that are SO rare that memory is not
burdened with the remembrances. The bene-
ficiaries were not, however, one whit happier
than the hosts and hostesses. They were
thoroughly imbued with the spirit Of true
charity and labor was pleasure. There were
real bonds of friendship binding together the
walters and those who we're waited upon.
There was a socialism in the occasion that re-
moved all distinctions and placed the masses
Of childhood on the one common level Of
humanity. Everybody was very happy.
The Scene at the National Rifles Armory.
The hour set for the opening Of the doors Of
the National Rifles armory was IL o'clock, but
the crowd was ON hand long before the hour
arrived. At 1870 many of the children had
formed in line near the doors. and by 11:30
every ticket holder was there-the boys string
ing out in a long line toward 10th street, while
the left of the girls position was on 9th. They
we're all as good-humored as could be. and
they laughed and jOked with each other, and
made remarks in stage whispers about Sergeant
Boyle and Officers Passeno and Lawler who
in off fba
and good order Of the neighborhood.
1t was after IL o'clock when
the doors were opened and the excited but
orderly crowd of expectant ones was admitted.
by Mr.. and Mrs. r. Ross Perry, who saw that
they were properly seated in the hall while the
preparations for the dinner were being COM
pleted. There were yet, however, boys and
girls on the outside of the big brick building.
They were ticketless but hopeful They trusted
to luck to see them through the portals which
had opened so freely to the selected ''six hum
dred." There was no grumbling, no complaint
because they had not been favored with the
pasteboards, but there were longing looks in a
couple Of hundred pairs of eyes and a couple
of hundred little stomachs shared in the anxi-
ETY..
Shortly after 1890 Mrs. Folsom, accompanied
by Mr.. Richard Watson Glider, arrived at the
armory and was welcomed by the lady managers.
Among other interested visitors present were
~.
PRETTY SCENE.
At quarter before the walters and wait
resses, the latter wearing as distinguishing
articles of costume white caps and white
aprons, made their appearance. Boys and
girls alike wore the pale blue badge of the
club. The dining room-the armory-was a
pretty scene. Six tables were ranged the en-
tire length of the room. On each table were
one hundred plates of turkey, one hundred
oranges, and the same number of rOsy-cheeked
snna S of ss ssns and
the tables, which were fringed with the pretty
attendants. From the ceiling flags and ever
greens depended, and the walls were also
suitably decorated. On the company black
board was chalked: ''The National Rifles wish
the children a Happy New Year."
ARRIVAL OF MRS. CLEVELAND.
At o'clock Mrs Cleveland arrived and was
greeted by Miss Mollie Villas and Miss Pauline
Whitney, the president and vice-president, re-
spectively, of the club, and by the other ladies
in charge of the dinner. Five minutes later
the head of the children's procession en-
tered the dining-room and were rapidly placed
in position. Assisting Mr.. Ross Perry in this
work were Lieut. j. o. Manson, of the Rifles;
Corporal ]. A. Evans and Privates Conger, Col
laday, Fonda, Brown, Bailey and McContrie,
and Mr.. Richard Smith. The youngsters
marched down 10 music by section of the
Marine band. There was no more interested
spectator of the childrens entry into the din
ing-room than Mrs. Cleveland, clad in hand
some brown suit, trimmed with brown velvet,
and faced on the bodice with rich brocade.
She wore o large straw hat, trimmed with tips
OF two shades, and looked just as pretty as she
ever did.
As the little ones filed past her she watched
them closely and smiled at those who were
small enough to be particularly interesting
1t took fifteen minutes of hard work to prop
erly place the hungry ones, and the amount of
patience exhibited by those who were at the
first table was really marvellous. Occasionally
the voracity of one would overcome all scruples
as to eating before grace had been said, and a
slice OF turkey would vanish in an instant
Such transgressions were, however, rare, and.
as rule, the youngsters contented themselves
with nervOusly lingering their knives and forks
until
THE WORD ''Go''
should be given. The select" had all been as
signed to tables, and yet there was room, so
about seventy-fve of the ticketless were admit
ted. MIR. Perry called for silence while Rev.
Dr. Mott, OF Epiphany church. asked Gods
blessing upon the feast. Some of the young
sters thought the grace was almost as long as a
.'regler prayer" one shuffy-headed bow put
it. When it was ended Mr.. Perry said: Chill
dren. the Childrens Christmas club wishes you
a merry Christmas Eat your dinner" The
some of the guests would have liked to
laugh, but time too precious-they ate
The walters position was by no means a sine
cure. Turkey disappeared so rapidly that
onlookers wondered where it went to- while
the other edibles on the menu were lost in pro-
portion. The CHATTER of plates, the hum Of
voices and the tinkle of the bells on
the club badges were the only noises
heard. On the outside the crowd of
ticketless ones increased, and by a little after
1:30 o'clock there were fully $50 youngsters
waiting for what might come. They were very
orderly and gave no trouble to the now in
creased police force. for Sergeant Byrne and
Officers H. Jones, Moore, Montgomery, J. w.
Kenny and Orianna had come around to assist
and Lieutenant Heffner also looked in on the
scene. Mrs. Cleveland and Mr.. Glider left
shortly after the children commenced their
feast.
1t was after 2 o'clock when the little ones
finished their ice cream and cake and made
way for $50 of the outsiders who were admitted
to partake of such refreshment as could be
gotten out of the extra dessert which had been
provided for them. A number of mothers and
big sisters had accompanied some of the chill
dren, but they were not admitted to the build
lngi there was no room to spare.
The Marine band played "Climbing I'D the
Golden Stairs as the well-filled children
climbed up to the hall ON the second floor and
without much trouble they were seated to
wait for the performance, which was to be a
second feast.
MIR. G. F. Gibson, who is the Punch and Judy
artist with RobinsOns circus. and Mr.. VIM Dom
ohue and MIR. Lew Wirth entertained the chill
dren.