Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-21
SHARING THEIR CHRISTMAS.
What the Members OF the Children's
Christmas Club DO.

Christmas Club DO.
THEY ENTERTAIN LITTLE ONES WHO HAVE No
CHRISTMAS AT HOME AND ESDsAvoR To DIFF
FUSE THE LIGHT OF THEIR own PLEASURES
AMONG THE LESS FORTUNATE.
Sharing Christmas with the poor" This is
the meaning of the childrens Christmas club.
Each year for the past six years the children of
the city have united together in their several
districts for the purpose of diffuslng some of
the brightness and gladness of this happy holi-
day season into the lives of those who are I'M
fortunate. Everybody knows. or at least they
know when tl.ey stop to think, that some boys
and girls even in Washington have no Christ
mas OF their own. The pleasant anticipstions
OF hanging up their stockings on Christmas eve
and the delights of finding them full of the
good gifts of Santa Claus, the candies, the toys
the smiles of kind friends, do not enter into
their lives even at this season of the year. The
members of the Christmas clubs who enjoy all
these good things know about those who are
less fortunate. Each year they try to share
the joys and pleasures of Christmas For six
years the Christmas clubs have entertained
thousands of children
The members have shared their TOYS with
those who had none of their own. They have
sent them gifts OF clothing and then they have
were all kinds of good things to eat Then
after dinner, where the hosts saw that the
guests were bountiiuliy served. they all wit
messed some kind of an entertainment, where
the fun and jollity was shared alike.
THIS FEATURE OF CHRISTMAS
In Washington is likely to remain permanent.
The children are interested. They have i'm
blbed the true spirit of Christmas, and they
are are willing to contribute to the enjoyment of
those whose joys are few. So this year. as in
the past, great preparations are in progress for
the annual teasts. The children in George
town, East Washington and in District No. 2
have formed clubs They have paid their ten
cents as membership fee and with the help
OF fathers and mothers they have selected from
thelr stock OF toys and from their clothes, and
made up Christmas packages for those whom
they wish to make happy. Now they
are looking forward to tine 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-
slons afford that the Older people, who. OF
course, stand in the background. ready with a
word OF advice and strong willing hands to
slst 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 these entertainments 40. 1t is not
within the field of human calculation to make
such an estimate. But 10 those who are the
hosts, as well as to those who are the guests
the day brings enjoyment, and leaves a recol-
lection which will be q source of pleasure in
after years.
HOW IT oRIGINATED.
Perhaps many of those who attended the
meeting OF the first Christmas club six years
ago are no longer members. They have grown
since then. and have become too old and dig
nihed to belong to a children's club. No doubt
they, as well some of the older Ones have
forgotten how the Christmas cllb originated.
But they have not forgotten entirely the beau
ttully written letter which appeared in tine
CHRISTMAS number of st. Nicholas Tor 1888. 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 lady in Portland.
Me-, thought of the poor homes and the hun
CRY, unhappy children who knew nothing about
Christmas. She thought. also, or the pleasant
homes and the merry children who filled them
and she resolved to make an appeal i'll behalf
OF the poor little ones. And she invited a
number OF boys and girls to meet at her mouse
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 re-
lated IN the open letter. and then, at tie close
1t was asked II 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
HE STAR there was call for a meeting 1t
was meeting of gentlemen. They organized
and co-operated with the ladies, and with their
assistance
TIE FIRST CHILDRENs CLUB
of Washington was organized. The beginning
W rOo do Ir,t bn 1oo4 oP 1. !
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-
proprlately taken from Dickens Christmas
Carol and are: We choose this time because
1t is a time of all others when want is most
keenly felt and abundance reioices" And
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. 2, embracing the central
and northern portions OF the CITY. Miss Nellie
Arthur, the daughter of the President of the
United States. was chosen president of a 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 club. but there was also
present the late Mr.. Corcoran, the white-haired
philanthropiSt of Washington as he was affec-
tionately 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 dis
tinguished visitors. How they all shouted
when Santa Claus appeared, and what a great
uproar of childish laughter and applause the
little entertainment elicitedi Then, after they
had all laughed until they were tired their
hands were filed with bundles OF toys and
packages of candies, and that night over COO
poor homes were cheered and gladened 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 a
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 dignified
Chief Justice of the United States became in |
terested and was spectator at one of these
entertainments The grown-up children lent |
a helping hand to those of a smaller growth, |