The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-12-29
lNNO CENTS DAY.
The Annual Festival of the ChiIdren's
Christmas Club.


Yesterday was the festival of the Holy
Innocents or Childermas. 1t was the
anniversary of the bloody deed of Herod,
who, however, did not escape punish
ment; for "this cattle was tormented
with sundrie intolerable griefes, and
was at last devoured by an horrible and
most fearful death" The day had a bad
name in old English times. 1t was con-
sidered the most unlucky day of the year.
No one should put on new clothes, or
pare the nails, or marry, or undertake
anything of moment. Children should
be whipped, IN order that I" the memorial
Of Herod's murder OF the Innocents
might stick the closer" Louis x. would
not even talk of business, and Edward
". was delayed in his coronation.
Women should not scour or scrub It
seems all the more proper then that the
memory of those savage times and super
stitions should be erased as far as posi-
BILE by such kindly deeds as those under
taken by the Children's Christmas Club.
LaCy SoUaCl UOSCouSI OAC SlillolCA WIZ
have few bright spots in their young
lives, and, for at least one afternoon in
the year, the little ones are entertained
with an excellent dinner, music, dancing
and games, and sent home with Christ
mas cheer for those who are unable to
anticipate.
The clubs celebration yesterday pre-
sented the same characteristics that has
marked the festival annually for num-
Der of years, Some slight changes were
made from the published programme.
One was the substitution of Mrs. Hughes,
who had to take the 100 p. m. Grand
Trunk train, and as the dinner was
necessarily delayed from o'clock until
2, was compelled to forego the pleasure
of addressing the little ones. The hall
looked bright and Cheerful, the sstage,
ornamented with Christmas trees and
occupied by the American Cadet band.
There were thirty-six tables, each ac-
commodating twenty-five children, and
provided with chicken and ham
sandwiches, pie, cake, buttered rolls and
coffee, all under the charge of Mrs.
James A. Spalding, and each table was
provided with chief waiter and two as
sistants from the club.
At 1.30 o'clock the doors were opened
and the pro cession of children entered.
There were about 700 of them. They
were for the most part neatly dressed,
~, e1, oir fo6
pleasure. Chief Marshal Ingraham had
charge of them, assisted ny Messrs.
Sinkinson, Clark, Gould, Fuller, Davis
and Cooke. At the tables were Mrs. Way
and Mrs. KNAPP, Messrs. Webster, Brown,
Davis, Fox and Ives, Misses Hobbs,
Gage, Anderson. Brown, Walker, Elwell,
Robinson, Goudy, Tricky, Latham,
Weston, Wade, Hunt, ellison, and Per-
kins. Mrs. Henry Taylor had charge Ct
the refreshment room.
Mrs. H. W. Colby, vice president of the
association, presided over the dinner in
place of Mrs. Chapman, the president.
Mr.. Paul Goold, president of the club,
made a short address OF welcome and
greeting, very appropriate to the occa-
sion, and was followed by Mrs. Hughes,
who spoke few graceful words on the
Christ-child Then the order was given
to fall to and the Children took hold
with will.
After about an hours enjoyment of
the pleasures of the table the entertain
ment followed. There were a broom
brigade and racquet drill by twelve
young ladies. swinging of Indian clubs
by Prof. Lee, contortion act, "Newsboy,"
by Masters Lamson and Vose, character
songs. double acrobatic act, the whole
closing with the appearance OF Santa
Claus AS the children marched from
the hall each received bag of candy.
The galleries were filled with spectators
one being a gentleman from abroad,
a stranger, who bought ticket, entered
the gallery an hour before the dinner,
and remained till the close, because he
had heard SO much of the club and it's
dinners. He was much delighted with
the entertainment.