New-York tribune., 1891-12-26
THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN MADE HAPPY
SUCCESS OF THE CHRISTMAS soIFTY'S FEs'
rrvAr N THE MADISON soIrARF GARDEN

TIvAL IN THE MAIDS son SQUARE GARDEN.
Notwithstanding the adverse criticism to which
the managers of She Christmas society have been sub
jected in advance the festival In Madison Square Gar
den yesterday afternoon was certainly decided
There could be question that the IL 900
children who swarmed through the place were poor.
All did not get presents, beyond their allotment Of
fruit and sweetme;fts but that not the fault OF
the management. Some Of them may have received
presents elsewhere before going to the Garden, but that
fact would only give proof of naive shrewdness OF
qualify extremely useful in this life. The managers
Of the Christmas society festival had nothing to do with
that either. The presents there to be awarded
to the children who came and the children came, and
appeared glad 10 receive the gifts, some even going
10 the extent Of asking for more They represented
@ class who not ordinary criticised II they 40
ask for more but the managers were not To be blamed
for that. In fact, the managers did not appear 10
be bhmable for anything that happened. They sue
ceeded Ia attracting under roof the biggest crowd
Of poJr children ever brought together within fon
walls in this city. probably anywhere else in the
country and in dismissng them all happier for coming
and without single accident. One little wall a boy
about four years old and two feet high, dressed III
roundabout and long trousers remained behind some
what disturbed his mind because he had been parteu
from his care-taker IN the throng, but the managers
had taken the precautOn TO provide for such eer
epcies section being set apart for holding lost children
until they were claimed The boy taken in charge
he could soon find the little fellows home.
The interior OF the Garden before the children entered
was attractive. each side OF the central platform
used in the Ofwar" contests temporary stalls with
runways between had been constructed. These num-
bered in all tlrtyfve twenty being one side and
fifteen on the other. Ropes had been strung hor-
zontauy along the grders in the roof and TO these
small pueys attached at varying distances
Through these pueys ropes had been run. botn ends
being Joined within easy reaching distance rom the
floor Presents in the form of toys of all kinds and
books were tied at places about eighteen inches apart
along one side Of the loop. several loops were
gathered in each stall The side Of the loop contain
ing the gifts drawn through the pulleys during
the distribution and the presents were cut on WIN
scissors by the distributors they were handed to the
holders Of tickets About 10000 feet OF rope was used
in this branch of the system and the effect Of these
loops hanging from the roof laden with all varieties
Of toys, was mosr pleasing.
Although the doors were not opened until O'CLOCK
the children began 10 form in line before lo O'CLOCK
and by noon the great building was completely sur
rounded on all four Of its sides by OF camorlng
noisy urchins struggling for some supposed vantage
ground which might insure early entrance. Captain
Reilly had 200 policemen on hand and these were de-
tailed in such 10 preserve reasonable Order'
But il was strangelooking trong that swayed back
ward and forward under the arcade that surrounds part
Of the building. The mild temperature OF the at
mosphere no doubt had much TO do with the early
appearance Of the crowd as well as the constant
augmentation Of numbers Some OF the children
were decenty and neatly Clad but many
and Indeed, the majority, were scantlly clotled
There were women with handkerchefs over their heads
carrying infants swathed in the cheapest garments ana
often these were only rags. Hunger was stamped In
nearly every face. All nauonalities appeared 10 De
represented and though negroes were frequently seen
they were not numerous. In the features OF all
lhere was that indescribable look OF expectancy
which one so often in the countenances OF the
eYfra VIII aDDeauC for charitable
recognition
At O'Clock Levys American band started the
FesavaI March from '"Tannhauser' Then the
great tide Of children flowed in through the
Madison ave. doors. AS they passed in each re
eeved package OF sweet'neats and fruits. These
packages were stored in two boxes each side OF the
entrance and were fed down through chutes 10 dis
tbutOrs below The children ran in droves across the
nOor either side Of the group OF stas In the centre
Here the policemen took them in hand and directed
them 10 the seats above. They caine with rush ano
In breatless haste not knowing why they hurried but
still hurryng with all their might and main. Mothers
with babes in their and little tots hanging to
their skirts showed equal interest and eageress with
the smaller Several men carrying ebIdIeh were
In the mass and struggled with desperation Dorm Ol
desire. There were reserved seats on ts Occhaloh
Private box after private box in which sat the beauty
and fashion OF the metropolis during tie great Horse
Show I'm November were packed after another with
the poorest children that be found within the
boundaries OF New-York, and thee were no children
Of the rich present 10 look down upon teSe rep
resentatiyes OF misery Within half an hour all the
boxes on the floor and in re balcony along
both sides and at tue ends Of the great amphthestre
were filed to runningover while some Of the patrons
OF the society quietly seated in the upper uers
looking down from their high places at the animated
below.
Meanwhile Levy's band continued its programme o.
waltz and march and galop and patriotic alrs ana
volunteer banjo orchestra under the leadership OF
Graham Bacon supplied music In the intorludes Al
2:50 O'Clock the work Of distributing the presents
began. Tie children dIwn from the boxes ana |
rows Of seats and received their gifts they passed
through the runways. But they became almost |
uncomfortable. They josted the policemen, sweeping
them aside In their eageTness, and formed In masses
10 clnd olff their