Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-25
HAPPY ORPHANS.
How Both Boys and Girls Enjoyed
Christmas Day.
STOCKINGS WERE FULL OF CANDY.
And They Had Toys and Each a
Suit of Clothes.
SCENES AT THE ASYLUMS,


ington City Orphan Asylum early this
morning. 1t was close on to 4 o'clock when
q bright-eyed little chap, just about knee
high to a duck. poked his head from beneath
the covers, where he had obscured IT upon
going to bed In order not to surprise Santa
Claus in his visit. Everything was quiet
in the big dormitory, and by the dim moon
light stealing in through the half-closed
shutters the youngster could see his fellows
in their beds still sleeping soundly. The
little chap was just about to lie down again
and wait for daybreak when he espied a
suspicious-looking object hanging to the
post at the foot Of the bed. 1t was long
and round and in places bulged out in
knots. Unable to resist the curiosity which
overcame him, he crept to the foot OF the
bed to examine this thing. His suspicious
were confirmed. 1t was a stocking. and 1t
was chuck full Of I-don't-know-what
Going for Their Stockings.
Well. sir. when the little chap saw this he
gave a half-stifed little ''whoop'' Of Joy. In
an instant a dozen other heads popped out
from beneath the covers and a dozen white
robed figures were sitting upright in their
beds rubbing their eyes to get awake. They
soon grasped the situation. There was a
scufie. q pattering Of feet and unmindful
of rules. regulations or reprimands they
went for those stockings.
Then the trouble began. One enthusiastic
blast from a toy horn In the stocking of a
lusty-lunged orphan did the business. The
whole place was Immediately in an uproar
and a bugle call of boots and saddles in
a cavalry camp couldn't have created a
ivelter scene. Christmas had commenced
at the Washington City Orphan Asylum.
and although II was a couple of hours
ahead OF schedule time, there was no use
trying to stop it. 30 the orphans were al
lowed full swing.
Preparations had been made by the su-
perintendent. the matron and the assist
ants for a jolly Christmas for the orphans.
Last night up to a late hour the people
were busy stuffing stockings. Every one
Of the $50 orphans had a stocking that
didn't leak. and II was crammed full and
running over with toys. fruits and candies
On the floor beside the stockings were
drums. horns and books. These were the
gifts Of relatives or Of kind-hearted people
who donated to the little ones. For in
stance. Lansburgh sent a big box of toys,
Barber Hamilton and Bryan on the ave
nue. sent candies and fruits, and there
were many individual donations.
New suits Of Clothes.
But the biggest surprise Of all came when
each boy In the place was presented with a
brand-new suit Of clothes, nice clothes at
that. The generous man who made this
gift had requested that his name be with
held from the public. as he explained in
his note to the superintendent that he did
not give the clothes as an advertisement,
but to do something for charity. But you
woman to keep a secret and this is espe-
cfaily true, perhaps. when the telling of IL
won't hurt anyone. so the truth finally
leaked out. 1t was Mr.. Victor E. Adler
suits.
All the morning long the children romped
and played In the yard Of the asylum, the
boys. after their own fashion. and the little
girls after theirs. Sometimes they were in
terrupted by relatives calling TO add to the
stock OF presents this event always causing
renewed outbreaks and more occasion for
noise. being celebrated with drums and
horns and resounding whoops No church,
no study, no nothin', but just fun" was
the program for the morning. Finally
Dime: time came. and oh. what a time
was that
The dinner is provided out Of the w. w.
Corcoran fund and is a thing of beauty
although much to the children's regret not
a JOY forever. as it come but once a year.
There Vas turkey TO begin with, and plenty
OF II, and other things ad infinitum, ad
nightmare. Taken altogether IL was a
great Christmas, and those who contributed
in comparison to which the Joy of old
Scrooge after his reformation could not
hold a candle.
The Girls at st. vincenFs.
When Star reporter stepped inside of ST.
Vincent's Orphan Asylum this morning IL
sounded like somebody lived there. Some
body did live there. to wit 40 little orphan
girls. and they were very much alive this
morning. The most authentic account
states that II began before 5 o'clock At
that hour they were subdued enough TO at
tend mass in the little chapel. At ESQ they
went to breakfast, and II is reported that
the children were unusually prompt IN
finishing breakfast, after the fashion of
ehildren on Christmas morning. Then they
We're taken into the play room, where each
pair or fnfantile eyes became as big as
saucers almost IN surprise at what they
saw. There were three or four Christmas
trees In the room and under each one OF
them We're stacks and piles OF TOYS and
good things.
Well, the next few mir utes Just can't be
described, that's all. You could not hear
yourself think SO the good sisters simply
stood and watched them. When The Star
reporter came In an hour or so later the
children were still at II and they kept IL up
until noon; when dinner was served. Tur-
Key and all sorts Of good things were dish
cd up and the little girls just reveled Two
more masses were celebrated during the
day and the little ores mingled devotions
anu pleasure In proportionate measure.
Generous Contributors.
Among those who contributed to the hap
piness Of the orphans were the following:
ANe'. D. WAITER MI. beavenS, VIM. Gait.
X. o. Hoffman. E. F. Riggs, Mrs. A. F.
Stevenson. Madame Bonaparte johnson
Brothers. Geo. F. Hardin. Mrs. d. Clark.
Mrs. ]. F. Ellis, Miss A. Riggs. VIM. Dow
ney. Mr.. Mangum. Mr. and Mrs Schwing Mrs
A. b. Coppes, Mr.. L. Fleming. Mr.. Bridget,
MI Carey, ST. Patrick's Sunday school
Mrs. Hebron. Mrs. J. b. Isabel Lenmann
+. p. Mertz. Mr.. and Mrs Rocca Mr. and
Mrs. J. T. Narnell. Mr. ana Mrs W. j.
Zeh, Mrs. Tyson. Mrs. O'Toole Mr.. "
Adams. Mrs. z. NJ. Moore, Miss Slmms, J.
A Hamilton. p. Sullivan. Jas. Kelcher, Jas
L. Barbour. Mrs. J. A. McDermott H j.
Fegan. DR.. Newton. F. p. Madlgan. S.
Auth, Mrs. w. c. Ramane. Miss r. Lynn,
Mr.. and Mrs. J. Humphrey, Mrs. A. o.
Wright, Mr.. John Kelley, W. M. Gait. Mr.
Lehman. Mrs. r. Prince. W. II. Shea
Madame Viwond, Mr.. and Mrs. II. Cosgrove
w. *. Stewart, Chas. Schneider, Mizpah
Branch of the NJ. c. l.. MIR. Glass. The life
benefactors are w. w. Corcoran and John
Hoover.
Boys mt st. Joscph's.
St Joseph's Orphan Asylum on H street
between 9th and 10th streets northwest
where there are 1O5 little boys, celebrated
Christmas in happy fashion. The day COM
menced with mass and by $50 breakfast
was over and the children ready for fun.
There were plenty OF presents, contributed
by thoughtful and generous people and for
some time the sisters were kept busy dis
tributing them. After they We're all hand