Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-22

All tllOTt Will De H1due W lCdSh SNOiy poNy
as soon as possible, but some of the
money will probably be husbanded for use
later, when the snow will cover the ground
and shoes and clothing and fuel will be
so sadly needed.
A word once more as to the club and it's
way of working. The Star Santa Claus
Club is organized by selling badges to
each for them. In order. however, to in
terest the children in charity and to OBJ
tain the fullest possible lists Of poor people
who need help, the badges are distributed
mainly among the schools. The dimes
thus collected and the dollars that are
given to the fund by those who wish to
do more form relief fund that is utilized
as far as possible In buying for the scores
and hundreds of needy folks the three
staples of life-food, fuel and clothing.
The cases that are reported by the chill
dren wearing the blue and silver to their
teachers are carefully Investigated and
then the most worthy ones are turned
over to the principals of the buildings,
who make some further inquiry. Finally
the supervising principals of the divisions
go over the lists. eliminate Implications
and weed out all but the most worthy
cases, for the fund is small compared with
the poverty that is to be reached.
At the meeting of the executive commit
tee and the principals at The Star office
this afternoon the money that has been col
lected from every source will be Jumped into
one amount and then divided into such por-
tiOHS as the HeeuS Oh the various sections
OF the city seem to deserve. The supervis-
ing principals are each allotted a certain
sum, which they distribute among the poor
by means of orders for coal. wood, shoes,
clothes and groceries, according to the
needs of the people whose cases have come
to their notice. This work goes on through
out the bitter months, when the needs are
greatest, prices are highest and work is
most scarce.
There is no space to mention even a part
of the many cases of utter restitution that
have been reported to The Star. 1t is per-
haps unfortunate that these cases cannot
be set forth. in detail. for then, perhaps,
the eyes OF the people would be opened to
the real needs of the poor. There are many
folks who, in their afluence and comfort
never know of the suffering that exists
outside OF their own warm worlds A
glance through the Santa Claus Clubs
packet OF pathetic appeals for help would
probably be an 'open sesame" 20 scores of
purses. -
The number of able-bodied men out of
work, men who are more than anxious to
labor for their families, is larger this wear
than ever before in the history of the city
The distress that prevails in consequence
Is very great. Families that have never
before known want are in need of the COM
mon necessities of mere existence Every
penny of the fund will be needed to pre-
vent great and intense suffering.
The schools have done nobly, and have
in most instances beaten the record of last
year, taking hold of the work with en-
thusiasm. Probably the banner work was
done by the boys of the sixth grade in the
Force building. taught by Mr.. Mertz. Last
evening they were, so far as could be as
certained, ahead of any other school in the
District, having raised $40. But they were
hard pressed by the boys of the fifth grade
In the same building. There was quite an
interesting race between these schools and
the finish was, in the language of the turf
hot one. The sixth grade boys came out
ahead by just one dollar.
Do not let the following list of contri-
buttons erd with the last week before
Christmas. Help the cause of charity by
giving right along. Suffering won't stop,
even II the year 1894 does come to an end.
Here are the good folks who have given
up some of their own means to help the
fund: