New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-27
CHILDREN MADE HAPPY.
GREAT DAY AT THE BIG GARDEN
,,osr THAN TEN THOUSAND YOUNG PEOPLE EN-

.,.,r ru.S TEN THOUSAND YOUNG PEOPLE EN-
rrpr,1SED BY THE CHRISTMAS SOCIETY.
r,. Christmas society OF which Oliver Sumner
I'll &c president has reason TO be gratifed at the
NJ the entertainment which It afforded the poor
.b,ldrcn OF Ncw-YoIk yesterday afternoon In MAUI
son snuore Garden Last year 1t encountered some
oavance criticism and opposition. ms oid hot
amount TO much. however. and the ahar passed on
'ooossn,Iv. barring few slips In the way OF de-
.us This wear the arrangements were more perfect
=. &, not nm easy task to control n mob Of 1000 or
=, 900 children Of the class gathered IN tho Garden
,,orlov vet everything passed off well, without a
,,nrle accident being reported.
The SHARPNESS Of the temperature out OF doors con-
.o,tcc distinctly with the mild weather OF year
60 hut Notwithstanding the severity OF cold WINDS
. tho nrcscncc Of those Invisible icy n!ppers which
.te hold OF the noses OF the rich and the poor alike
and tweak them for a., Icy ar. wort'3 the crowds
90 children began assembling long before noon at the
on,-ances 10 the Garden. though l O'Clock was the
bour advertised for the opening OF the doors
And when the doors opened it was for the adms-
,,on of a remarkable looking congregation OF human
he,rrs Heller SHELTER peN NELL they rushed forward
Once wear and that on the day OF the great Chris
tan festival the choicest boxes IN Madison Square
cd, arc opcncd free for the occupancy of tho poor
-. =, Ncv-Yorks poor. The presented yester
asv was in striking contrast with that upon which
attendants at tie horse show Gazcd few weeks ago
,,,, Il wos quite as interesting, even from social
no,nt Of view There were 800 policemen in charge.
q. against 200 last year. but there were moments
on even this force was unable TO successfully cope
NTH that OF the unnamed juvenile mob MS 1t surged
,srouch the great hall. Those who came first In
ively sought the best seats in the choicest boxes.
,A within half an hour all the tiers were filled and
oIsrorous crowd was massei in the halls seeking
ortronce which II was impossible 10 find.
This wear a programme provided for the en-
,o,oinmcnt OF the children. Cappa's band was there
and snppllod the music. Eut there were In addition
ao. ~ ecrobatic performances Of interesting char
actor especially pleasing and exciting TO the little
,oufe while opportunity afforded them for up
,oarous laughter by tie antics OF the trained cats and
DOGS and monkey IN Professor Iiamptons Dog Circus
I, made the children shrek with merrment TO watch
q coupe Of cats with boxing gloves on, mauilnS ana
nprnmellpc each other just like some Grown-up men
until one Of the contestants was completely knocked
Ont Of the ring by his opponent, after having first
received n blow which blackened one eye The
oueer doings Of the poodes. which seemed 10 have no
other business bring them there except to upset
chairs overturn baskets and confuse generally the
machinery OF the in charge of the performance,
created great amusement for the throng OF young
people and served 10 keep them orderly until The
arrangements for the distribution OF the presents were
completed.
This part OF the programme began promptly az
o'clock The system similar that employed last
wear number Of booths. slightly elevated above
the floor had constructed and into each Of these
we're gathered group Of ropes, which, In The form OF
loops passed through pueys fastened to ercrs In the
roof. To these loops the presents were tied and, as
the distributor in the booth drew side OF the loop
toward him. a present was cut OF and dropped into
the outstretchcd hand OF a child beneath Though the
police attempted line up the cilden the plan was
unsuccessful. The raids OF the Wild mob could not
have been resisted without the exercise OF harshnes
and severity. out Of place on such an occasion An
effort was made 70 bring the children down through
the aislcs between the boxes in orderly fashion, but
In tvinking a boy or cin would jump over the
side Of box TO the floor and scamper away in the
direction OF the struggling throng where the presents
were Icing distributed such in.Iacion OF tie regu
lauons always a signal for an avalanche Of hu-
nany to pour the fronts Of the boxes. and
seeing the impossibillty OF controlling The elusive
spirits OF Of tine more daring, the officers good
naturedly yielded the point
The children supplied with sweetmeats and
fruits and nuts. and every received present Oh
some sort All degrees Of poverty were representedS
dIstressingy noticeable There were many mothers
% the gathering carrying child and leading others,
I'd Il plful 10 look into the faces comprising
OF these family groups and note the genuine hush
Of pleasure they stood aside and compared the
gifts which had fallen 10 them. one Of The loops
Glanced TO break and a hundred hands We're stretched
upward In anticipation OF its descent. AS 1t Slowly
T 1y T"S was a' laden one @ g q grabbed DOLL
The toy parted. leaving the eXtremuc and skirts In
the hands Of the captOr Of the prize but alaS
the rosy cheeks and the head covered with blond
hair still remained fastened TO the rope. Then
struggle. almost amounting In its hcrceness 20 tngo
began for the possession II that head. a dozen
pairs OF rimy looking little hands seemed lay hold
Of IL al once. a tussle upon the floor followed. but
what became OF the rosy cheeks and blond head Of
that doll could he ascert;ned. When the presents
on the ropes were distributed boxes opened. 1h'
cl DIR Who hai re'eved their award wee slowly AMI
steadily pressed toward the FOurthlve doors, and not
allowed return II not until halt past O'Clock
that the Garden cleared.
Many OF the patrons Of the society occupied the
boxes reserved for them the ends Of the ampi
Mr.. Teal actively assisted by the
urer Ii 'penard stewart, and others Of tie latrOns.