Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-11

The Evening Star Santa Claus Club will
have a big fund to use in relieving distress
and doing good. If the interest already shown
in the club is to be taken as indicative
Of the clubs success. Santa Claus will
leave poverty and suffering so far be-
hind this year that thess VIII not be
home in this beautiful city that is
not visited by good cheer and happiness.
1t is likely that this week will see the club
SO nicely settled that the first supply of
badges will be well nigh exhausted before
another Saturday comes around But there
will be many more.
1t is probable that by this time everyone
In Washington has heard of The Evening
Star Santa Claus Club but there may be
some who did not chance to see the first
announcement that was printed in The Star
OF Saturday. So here goes, briefly, once
more. This club is formed to suppress I'M
happiness. 1t is crusade against cheer
less homes at a season when Joy and merri-
ment should reign. Its main object is to
help the poor of Washington and give a
practical direction to the Christmas spirit
of giving. 1t is believed the members of the
club will be all the happier at Christmas
time because of knowing that they have
given something to relieve suffering and to
brighten the homes of the poor So the
Santa Claus Club is intended to make both
its members and it's beneficiaries happier
Its organization will make IL a most eff
cient almoner. and all who have money or
supplies to give are invited to give them to
aid this charity.
The Evening Star has started the fund by
giving $500. Children who become members
OF the club pay ten cents dues and will
receive as a badge of membership a hand
some pin circular in form, with a star rails
ed in the center, and bearing the letters z.
s. S. c. c., the initials of the clubs name,
around the points of the star. The ribbon
which forms a part of the badge will be
blue. the color adopted for the club for 1893.
The ribbon last year was red
Children in the public schools joining the
club will receive their badges through their
teachers. Children not connected with the
public schools can obtain the badges as soon
as the announcement is made that they are
ready for distribution by applying at the
business Office of The Evening Star" and
paying their club dues there. The club can
not well undertake to distribute the badges
by mail.
All of the money received as dues will go
into the fund to be carefully expended
among the poor. 1t is intended especially
that poor children shall be cared TO-. There
is much distress, and there may be much
more before Christmas, and the club will do
all that its funds will permit to relieve it
AT time like this food and fuel and warm
clothing are of more account than toys
The little shivering and hungry children of
want are to be hunted out and made COM
Portable and happy.
Already the club mail has grown large
Little ones all over the city who read the
announcement in Saturdays Star, or whose
mammas read it to them, have written to
the club applying for membership and ex-
pressing approval of the clubs plans One
little boys contribution is sent with a note.
saying, May it add to the joy Of some poor
child" One little note inclosed a dime for
little cousin Elizabeth" who lis only ten
months old, and that was all she could
send" A little seven-year-old boy, who
sends 20 cents, says: Il would send more.
but that is all have left after buying my
Xmas presents" Others have written sim
liar notes testifying to their interest