Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-28
THE NEWSBOYS DINE
They Have Turkey and Mince Pie
and Other Good Things.
SCENES At THE NEWSBOYS HOME.
The Guests All Literally Served
by the Managers.
A GREAT DEMAND FOR PIE.


in their glory today. Their voices are stout
and resonant this evening as they call out
their Stars. They have had a good dinner
for at least once in the year and their faces
glow with Christmas happiness. The Sc
cret of all this is that the kind ladies, who
take an interest in the welfare of Chimmie
and Patsy and Missy gave them a feast at
noon today ia the rooms Of the Newsboys
and Childrens Aid Society, on Z street be-
tween 9th and 10th. There were so many
Of Chimmie and Patsy and Missy that they
had to be fed in three installments, Of about
sixty each. and it was after 2:30 o'clock
when the last boy had finished his feast and
departed
The first batch of boys. who had been
gathering on the pavement in front of the
house ali the morning. was let into the
Mecca at noon. All the boys who bore lit
tie yellow cards were let in without ques-
| tioning. for these tickets had been distrib-
uted with care by the ladies Of the institu-
boy who had smiled the turkey from afar
and had no card His case was examined
with care and usually a yellow slip was
forthcoming.
Scarcely had the boys been seated when
Agent Sweeny entered with a small black
boy. who had been sent up by the board
OF guardians for a good dinner before be-
ing sent back to Baltimore, whence he fed
some days ago. This boy, who was in
charge OF Mr.. Parkman, the clerk to the
board. was arraigned in the Police Court
a short time ago, on charge of vagrancy,
but was taken in hand by the board, and
when examined showed signs of terrible
treatment. He said that his father had
! beaten him with the buckle of a strap
So he was sent back to Baltimore to be
cared for by the Children's Society of that
city, but he ran away on Christmas day
and returned only to be taken I'D again
by the board. The youngster was filed
Z Wi nod food md l.
Parkman took the train and the waif was
returned to the Baltimore Society.
Lots of Good Things.
The menu today was fit for any one
Thirteen fat turkeys gave plenty of good
meat for all the boys. and there were heaps
of snow-white mashed potatoes and guam
titles Of turnips. and immense seas of cram
berry sauce. Yards and yards of celery
were at hand, and several huge baskets of
paper bags filled with candy and nuts stood
in the hallway. The odor of mince pies
filled the air and made the expansive nos
trils Of the colored boys twitch nervously.
Before the boys of the first batch were
started on their feast they were addressed
briefly by Rev. DR.. Childs of Trinity. who
told them Of the death of two of the ladies
who were active at the last Christmas din
ner, Mrs. Wyckof and Mrs. Gulick Then
the sixty youngsters sang a hymn that
was printed on a huge banner at the end
of the room in letters an inch long, and
when the word was finally given they fell
to with knives and forks, mainly the former
and made the first course vanish as IL by
magic. When the time came for pie and
cake there were clamors loud and long as
the busy young girls fitted here and there
with plates filled with the toothsome NOR
sells.
Hey, lady, haint had no pie yet" call
ed one grimy-faced youngster in a corner.
Il hain't neither" echoed another, trying
hard to swallow the last bite of a generous
piece Of mince that he had just discussed.
(which will you have cake or pie?" ask
ed one OF the pretty mattresses.
Both" was the unshrinking reply
Out in the kitchen half a dozen ladies
were working hard at the sleek brown sides
Of the great birds that were being sacri-
need to the appetites of the "Chimmies"
and the 'Patsies." They were ladling out
the food with a generous hand.
They, at Last, Had Enough.
At 1890 there were signs Of the first batch
being filled. The clamors for more" be-
came less and less frequent and vociferous
and one by one the lads were pushing away
their chairs with satisfied grins, and casting
eager glances toward the heaping baskets
in the hall. At last the word was given and
the exodus began. The boys were let out Of
the back door, and as each one passed out
he was handed one of the bags of candies
and departed wishing that Christmas came
several times a year.
The Baltimore waif was about to slip
| through the back door with the rest, his
guardian having stepped out in the front of
the building. but he was recognized by one
OF the ladies' standing by the candy basket
and held for a moment while Mr.. Parkman
| ran In and reclaimed his charge. 1t was
narrow escape.
Meanwhile, the line in the front of the
building had been frightening and by the
time the first batch had been fed there were
over hundred more hungry ones impa-
uentiy waiting for the signal to enter.
one enterprising youth. who had secured
TWO tickets, and had got in on the first lot
made haste to run around from the back
way to the line again. and by dint of push
ing found a place in the front. He was
about to enter upon another course of gas
tronomy when he was recognized by the
agent, and promptly elected.
| In all, upward of 200 children were fed
Ihey were all boys. and at least two-thirds
of them were colored They ate with hearty
| appetites. and all promised most readily to
| attend the little meetings that are held at
tne nome every evening. The boys who are
peing regularly cared for at the home were
gwen the choice seats at the first table
There are five Of them, and they seemed to
| enjoy their dinner just as much as though
they were in their own homes
Committee In Charge.
The dinner was in charge of the following
committee of ladies': Mrs. A Nj. Edgar.
| chairman; Mrs. A. H. Thomas, Mrs. Mer-
| chant, Mrs. c. G. Halpine. Mrs ]. W. Bab-
son. They were aided by half dozen
young ladies, who worked hard all the
| morning getting ready the supplies that
kept pouring in every few minutes. There
were thirteen turkeys. and nearly as many
mince pies. Just before the hour for the
first batch of boys to dine there was a ring
on the bell and half dozen fine pies We're
handed in, the contribution of Miss Her.
bert, the daughter Of the Secretary of the
Navy.
The Donations.
The cash donations to date have been as
follows:
Evening Star. 50: Mrs. Mary S. Letter,
s25; Mr.. Mackay Smith. $40; Mrs. c. Hay
den, SO; Mrs. G. w. Lanahan, $40; Mrs
Hugh McCuiioch, $40: Mrs. Hayward hutch
| inson, $40; Mrs. Small, 50; Mrs. c. V. Riley.
s.: MIR. Case, IS; A. Friend. 81; Mrs. f. b.
Wight, s.; Mrs. NJ. +. Nornent, s.; Mr.. W.
r. Spear, So: Mr. Fred. X. Pilling, IS; Mrs.
Pelouze. 50; Mrs. }. d. Lander, 50; Mrs
Gallau1et, 81; MIR. l.. A. Grant $40; Mr.. c.
ms AIrc rc,,E A