The morning times., 1895-12-25
when THE nights SHADOWS HAD FALLEN ON THE HOLIDAYS EVE
These Sought Shelter in the PO-
lice Stations.
SAD SIDE OF THE HOLY DAY
While JOY and Happiness surrounded
Them the w wretched Sat on Benches
and Slept In Stone Cell - Kind
Hearted Policemen Their Only
Santa Claus.

That Christmas is neither one great plum
| pudding nor fragrant mince pie was
| plainly evidenced last night by the many
appeals for food ana shelter made in the
police stations by worthy people who are
willing to pick up the shovel and the hoe.
the wash board or the clothes wringer
whenever the opportunity presents.
Church chimes were pealing songs OF Chris
tian praise church choirs were practising
sacred music, thousands or roasting turkeys
were sending up savory scents fit for the
gods or the police, and the streets and
stores were iammed with surging masses of
holiday shoppers.
It was early in the night, and the crowd
ofIoiterers a round a do wntown police station
was putting in its best licks on conversa-
tional leisure, when an aged woman whose
skin was darker than the night, with one
little Black babe in her arms and another
todding at her skirts entered.
ONE woMAN's CHRISTMAS.
Her dress of calico, out of which the
print had faded many months ago, was
full of great big tears, and where there
was no tear there was Il patch. A ragged
shawl was thrown around her head and
shoulders, and the little babe nestled trust
fully by her. She leaned on the same old
brass rail that has been bdrdened with the
weight or thousands Of criminals, and salt
water flowed down her bl tck checks.
Her voice was shaky and il seemed diff
ficult for her to state the cause of her grief.
Just a. she sank to the floor slowly, trying
to recover herself, these words pealed from
her homely lips: Use hungry" That
told the whole story, or nearly the whole
story.
The children seeing the position of their
mother walled long and loud, and there was
q good deal of hustIing in that station.
Tales OF wrong, hunger, want poverty and
sufferngs are familiar there, but for
woman, with two little tots even though
their skin is black, TO fall before the desk
sergeant from famine Oh Christmas night in
the capital of the Columbian world. moved
even the hearts of those stern policemen
to the melting mood.
POLICE HER SANTA CLAUS.
Tcnderly they lifted the emanciated form
OF the famishcd woman To a couch in the
sergeant's room ana the little children were
taken care OF. A pot of police coffee was
sizzling on tie station stove and some of
the men had lunches slowed away either
in their pockets or their lockers, and these
things soon furnished meal for the family.
The woman was brought round with good
nursing and near midnight she was sent
in the patrol to sGualid little shanty away
out on the commons of the northeast. The
police will look into the case and do what
they can for the benefit OF the unhappy
family.
AT least a dozen stalwart men, able to
work and strong i'll their desire to work,
presented themselves at police station No.
/ last night and asked for lodging. Half
this number wen, to bed without supper,
and none of them had any idea where
their Christmas meals are to come from.
The story of each one was, Hard times and
hard luck"
VICTIM OF CORP ORATIONS.
One told story to the effect that he is
railroad man from the West, but because
of his participation in strike he had
been put on the blacklist and has been
unable to procure employment AT the only
business he knows. He was Just drifting
around hoping for something 10 turn up.
Among the people who applied for lodg-
ing at police station No. l last night was
an elderly woman, who, evidently, was
lady. She had been a French teacher
and governess, but her employers, who
had brought her from France, had become
reduced in circumstances, and failing COM
pletely, they turned her adrift. She came
TO Washington, having some friends living
here whom she had known in the old
country. She WIS disappointed
They did not seem glad 10 see her. She
had sought shelter elsewhere, and n re-
porter had referred her TO the police station.
The case was presented TO Lieut.. Amiss
aud the old lady was turned over to Matron
PennifiIl. and the understanding is that
the French Society here will be communi-
Gated with.