New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-26
FEASTS FOR OPPORTUNITIES.
HAPLESS INMATES OF INSTITUTIONS
HAVE \ DAY OF CHEER.
UNUSUAL SCENES IN HOSPITALS AND HOMES FOR
TIE POO3-wHAT SOME PEOPLE DID

braticns of the Christmas festival. and each was
peculiar in its own way. In the Ncw-lork
Founding Asylum the 800 infant charges Of
Sister ". Irene had their Christmas holiday in
the spacious apartments of that well-ordered in
sutution. at Third-ave.. Sixty-eghth and Sixty
ninth SITS. while In the hospitable home of the
Little Sisters of the Poor in East Seventieth-st..
just east of Third-ave.. its aged inmates rejoiced
with the spirit Of youth their unwonted
feast. to the number of nearly 800
Mass was said in the handsome chapel OF the
Founding Asylum at an early hour. The chapel
was lavishy trimmed in honor Of the day. the
principal feature of the decoration being repre-
sentation of the alteration OF the Magi which one
OF the sisters had sklfuy fashioned OF
the side affairs with figures and plants and leaves.
Then. after breakfast came the distribution of the
Christmas gifts TO the little ones. many of whom
nameess. There Christmas tree for
each OF the nurseries and every one OF the babies
old enough to appreciate the day received n gift
OF some sort OF toy. and then the fun began.
The celebration was kept up until dnner-tme and
after dinner until bedtime. without let or hin
drance on the part of the sisters and nurses
But the celebration OF yesterday only pre-
lminary to the festival OF next Friday. Holy limo
cents day. when the real festival OF the institution
will be observed. Then the children. none OF whom
is more than five years Old will enjoy long holi-
day and will give an exhibition for the benefit OF
their patrons
In the home OF the Little Sisters OF the Poor
Christmas is the great day In the whole year. TO
which the aged and inhrm men and women COM
posing its large household look forward with long
ing for months 1t has been the custom for num-
Der OF years for John d. Crimmins to provide tho
Christmas dinner for the charges Of the Little Sis
Mr.. Crimmins began many years ago to take
especial interest In the condition OF the aged
poor and. with several others OF the mind
undertook TO share the expense OF furnishing din
for the old folks cared for by these Sisters OF
St Dominic one by one however. HIS associates
In philanthropy passed away. and since then he
has provided all the good things to the old and
feeble inmates himself. with the exception OF the
gifts OF pipes and tobacco for the aged veterans
which Joseph j. ODonohue. the City Chamberlain
always has furnished and insists upon furnishing
still.
There are in the Institution at the present time
2S9 persons, OF whom nc women. Their ages
range from sixty 10 one hundred years. the man
claiming TO have passed the century milestone be
ing a little dubious as to the exact date OF his
birth. II estimated yesterday that the com
bined ages OF the men and women In the home Is
over 10000 years
Dinner was served promptly at 1870 O'Clock
Mr. Crimmins present with his family. az
he always is and the children helped the Sisters
IN waiting upon their guests Four large dining
rooms required to meet the wants OF all
One Of these, In the upper part OF the house. is
devoted to the very old men. who are unable by
reason OF their inHrmities to descend to the lower
is set apart for the very old women. The more
hearty among the inmates. both men and women.
occupy the dining rooms below.
AN UNUSUAL SCENE.
II is probable that nowhere else in the city.
or country. perhaps. could the scene OF yesterday
be duplicated The main dining room was filled
with nearly a hundred old fellows. many OF them
hale and hearty in appearance when their bene-
factor entered the All rose from their seats
at the long tables and greeted his entrance with
a rousing cheer albeit some OF the voices were
cracked and trembling Many OF them he recog
nized and shook by the hand. The older men and
women in the other rooms not boistcrous
in their reception, but were just az earnest. and
showered down blessings upon the head OF their
host.
The dinner was OF turkey. sweet potatoes. celery.
raised upon Mr.. Crimminss farm; vegetables OF
several kinds and all sorts OF toothsome dantes.
with beer and drop OF whiskey TO wash It down.
Illness prevented Mr.. ODonohue from being
hand, but his tobacco and pipes were there. and
the old men enjoyed their smoke after the feast
done. OF the 2s9 inmates OF the institution,
2ss we're able to sit at the table yesterday. only
one In the Whole number being sick and confined
10 his bed
The spirit OF Christmas invaded every nook and
corner OF Old st. PauIs Church yesterday. The old
structure that has wcathered 50 many Christmas
tides was attired In ts brightest holiday rament
The big pillars wreathed with holly and the
chancel was hidden behind a mass Of evergreens
and frs. The lights from many candles twinkled
brightly from the dark foliage, and everything be-
spoke the time of peace and goodwill.
The chlldrens celebration held at $3.50 in the
morning and was conducted by tho rector the Rev
DR. william Geer. 1--WE did not here
pecting any presents did we. little chdren?' he
asked. and all the little children promptly and
brave!y cried I'VE did not" which. remembering
that they were little children and that 1t was
Christmas Day. heroic confession
all nIGr IL n
Christmas tlnle?" their pastor then inquired. and
once more the little children boldly responded TT
Is more blessed to give than to receive" and then
they all sang Christmas CAROL Dr. Geer tod
them the beautiful story OF the birth OF the
Saviour. and explained to the little ones the real
Significance OF Christmas Day.
TO BE REPEATED TOMORROW
The carol service O. Yesterday will be repeated
tomorrow at the school. No 20 Vescy-st AT this
service there will be real Christmas tree. and
the presents which the children did not expect
yesterday will be distributed
motto Of simple letters spelling Merry Christ
mas" with odors OF thyme and other stufing savory
enough for actual decorations in themselves, were
the most suggestive touches in the restaurant OF
the Bible and Fruit Mission, opposite Bellevue
Hospital I'm East Twenty -sixth-st, yesterday AT
the dinner hour: that Is to say. for that locality
which the extraordinary occasion of Christmas
Day was fixed at 1880 in the morning. That Is to
say again, II began then. There were people to do
the eating TIL after 2 and g.
At the FIRST tables 800 400 men sat down, In
nondesoript holiday garb and holiday manners
markedly subducd There decided absence OF
conversation among the diners and after dinner
speeches obviously not dreamed Of in their
philosophy. except for a final THANK you that was
sincere, doubt but laconic. II not inarticulate
altogether The game OF knife and fork absorbed
ali their attention.
The only speechmaklng was done before the din
ncr, when John Sheridan made brie! address in
behalf of the Bible and Fruit Mission in which no
was converted some years ago and in which he mas
been active worker ever since.
The dinner itself Of the true Christmas fare
with turkey and cranberry sauce potatoes. plum
pudding mince pie coffee and fruit. 1t was served
under the superintendent of Miss 3 A. ChnD. as
sisted by Mrs W. II. Lloyd. Mrs. lie Fevre. Miss
Sherrari and Professor Parsons, Of Oneida College
"And you must not forget our officer said MISS