Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-12-29
lers were led by their mothers or
der sistera f'hese very little

mas club, and their eyes were big with wonder.
Some Of the older ones who were initiated in
two or three years ago were promptly
on hand, so as to be near the door when 1t
opened. They wanted to be at the first table.
inside the hall eight long tables were heaped
with toothsome Christmas things, sections OF
turkey, snowy white stalks of celery, dabs Of
crimson cranberry sauce, cakes, nuts raisins
and mince pie.
Towering dollhouse plants were placed along
the center Of the table, and the flowers with
their suggestions Of summer seemed to nod
and smile at the abundance Of the midwinter
feast which they were called upon to adorn.
THE PROGRAM
was about the same as 10 always carried outfn
East Washington-a very ample supply Of
things to eat, very short speech from Com
section Of the Marine band. and distribution
Of toys and candies. Then the little guests
carried away with them recOllections Of rows
of beaming faces. These were the faces of
members of the committees, who were ranged
in tiers on the stage and along the side of the
room. The Christmas tree spread its branches
over the stage. 1t had all kinds of spangles
aud highly colored objects on it, such AZ always
are mingled with visions Of Christmas. Be-
meath the tree were piled up little boxes Of can
dies and toys OF all kinds, dolls, Christmas
horns, jumping jacks, painted monkeys, and
every variety Of plaything that Santa Claus
ever crammed into his bag.
ENTERING THE HALL.
AT o'clock the doors were open to the little
ones holding cards of invitation. At that hour
the little walters and the teachers who took
charge of the tables were ready ranged along the
aisles. At each chair was a plate heaping with
good things, box Of candies and bag which
the guest was expected to fill with fruit, cakes.
and candies to take home. The little ones
ohola
the narrow spaces between the tables until all
the seats had been filed Then the door was
shut and about three hundred were left out
side to wait for the second table. A philo-
sophie policeman stood at the door and
tried to keep the belated little ones in good
humor. Look a-here, now" he said, whats
the odds? I amt had no dinner at all yet. l
amt going to get any dinner till o'clock, but
you don't suppose I'm going to cry about it,
do you" So the little ones, seeing
contentedly. Some Of them, perhaps, had
known many a day when they got no dinner at
all. so they did not think it much of a hard
ship to wait an hour for dinner-and such
dinner, too!
MR.. WEBB MAKES SPEECH.
When the little ones, who did get in to the
first table, we're seated, they looked shyly at
the good things and at the little walters that
stood behind them. Each waiter had
Jour guests 1Or WnOm B00 was Responsible
But never person touched drumstick or q
sweetmeat, for on the front of the stage was a
row of dignifed looking men. There was
Commissioner Webb in the center, Rev. DIR.
Williams, rector of Christ P. E. church, Chap
lain Krouse, Mr.. A. F. Stuart, supervising prin-
cipal; Mr.. Appleton P. Clark, Mr.. Stoutenburgh
and otheas who came in to enjoy the scene and
give dignity to it. Back under the branches
of the Christmas tree, too, was photographer
who was leveling his camera at different parts
of the room. So all the little ones felt shy and
uncomfortable.
Then the band, which was in ambush at the
rear of the station, hidden by the Christmas
greens, struck up a lively air from "Gaspa-
rone," which helped overcome the effect Of
the dignity Of the distinguished visitors
and an, the fears inspired BY the camera.
of ceremonies, introduced Mr.. Webb, who
made pleasant little speech telling how hap
Ply he was to see them, and how merry he
hoped they would all be.
Then when he sat down Dr. N. Frank White
gave comic recitation of Casabianca, repre-
senting boys first attempt to speak piece.
The little ones were cOnvulsed with laughter
and the ice was thoroughly broken. When Dr.
Williams asked a blessing Mr.. Stuart gave the
signal, and the little guests 'fell to- with a
zest that foretold OF many stomachache
tonight.
DISTRIBUTING THE TOYS.
When the plates had been emptied the guests
were asked to rise and were marched down the
hall and past the stage. As they
went under the Christmas tree Mrs. Stouten-
burgh or some other member OF the committee
handed to each one, a box Of candy and toy
from the heap. Then they passed on out Of
the door. In few minutes the tables
had been compelled to wait outside
for the second table were invited in. They
went through about the same performance.
There was new supply Of turkey and other
edibles, but the speech and blessing at the first
table was supposed to extend over the second
table also.
At each table the corps of walters chosen
from pupils in the public schools, was under
the direction of detail Of school leaders.
The management of the floor was in the hands
Of MIR. Jno. f. Freeman and Miss Victoria L.
Nourse.
The teachers and walters at each table were
as follows: Table Teachers, Miss Packard
and Miss Kemp: Walters, Lollie Blanford,
Lena Melchior, Abbe Sisson, Rosa Parkmar,
Belle Babson, Julia Fernald Florence Dudley.
Table 2-Teachers, Misses Forbes, Dill
lon, NJ Armistead, Ober, Tichenor
Walters, Nora Torrens, Helen Dodge,
Josie Wagner, Carrie Naylor, Fannie Beasley,
No. 3-Teachers, Misses Beers, A. NJ. Kantz,
s. b. McLeonard, lisa Walker. Walters Gertie
Hutchinson, Hattie Mcneil, Nellie Bieber. Ella
Williams, Gertrude Ballard, Mary Frank, Katie
Collins, Edith Smith.
No. 4-Teachers, Misses Garges, Jenkins,
H. Walker Rawlings, Moore l.. Book. Williams.
Walters, Misses Agnes Dillon, Edith Mahon,
Laura Wiley, Katie Tabler, Lulu Grant, Carrie
Naylor, Lille Seton, Nellie Richmond.
No. g. Teachers, Misses Erb and NJ.
johnson. Walters, Mamie Stuart, Lizzie
Erb, Lou Ennis, Edith Webster Tillie Spofford.
Victoria Lanham, Annie Ockert, Alberta Long,
Katie Kooutz.
No. 6.-Teachers, Misses Little, M. G.
Hughes, Hogue. Walters, Ella Driver, Maud
Clark, Emma Collier, Emily DeAkers, Grace
Fields, Kate Hilton.
No. Teachers, Misses Hopkins, L. A.
Hughes, L. c. Enthoffer, L. Dalton. Walters
Hope Hopkins, Jennie Wiley, Addie Lyon,
Nellie McCabe, Alice Porter. Maud Alton,
Number S-Teachers, Misses Grant H,
Johnson, Merritt, b. L. Woodward, and Susie
Woodward. Walters, X. Stoutenburgh, p.
Brummet, Gertle Boswell, Matte FacOr, Ray
Durham, Geo. Parson, and Alice McCathran.
The Dinner in GEORGETOWN.
Fully six hundred children were the guests
of the Georgetown Christmas club, at the an
nual Christmas dinner this afternoon. served
in the two largo play rooms of the Curtis
school building. In each play room were four
large tables In front of each child was plate,
upon which was a liberal supply of turkey and
cold ham. Beneath the plate was knife and
fork, roll banana, and an orange. Long
before the hour set for the dinner, children
arrived in groups of four and five. At the
proper time they were shown To the play