The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-12-25

Apparently the busiest man in the
city yesterday was Seleetman Geddes.
From the time Of opening in the morn
ing until the doors were closed last
evening his office was beseiged by a
crowd that almost filed the space out
side the railing. There were men sad
and sickly-looking, women tottering on
| the verge Of the grave, litIIe cIliiQrsn
scantily clad, many with baskets on
Their arms, and all with an expression
OF expectancy in their faces 1t was
the poor OF the city. Christmas was at
hand and many sad tales were out
poured during the day in the hope THAI
! the county fathers would remember
them with something extra for this
| day OF feasting and rejoicing. Many
| were the tears that triokled down the
wasted countenance OF some poor soul
as they sat on the long bench waiting
Tor an opportunity to untold their
! troubles to the man who has the IN
enpiable task OF looking after ths.
needs OF those unable 10 exc out an
existence for themselves. Many were
the hearts that were made glad and
| many were the faces that beaned as
the baskets We're flied with good
Things or an order on some uptown
grocery was placed into their hands
Nor We're those able to call at the
selectmen'S office yesterday the only
ones whose Christmas dinner Will be
happy one today. In the
morning Selectman Geddes bought fifty
chickens, fifty pounds of butter, fifty
pounds of cheese, an equal amount of
sugar and tea, and even candy, and
IN the afternoon the selectman seated
himself on the wagon loaded to the
guards and which had bean kindly do
mated by the Salt Lake Livery and
transfer company, and made tour of
the city, distributing all these good
things among just fifty families of THE
most worthy poor of the city.
Talk about joy" said Mr.. Geddes,
when he returned with an empty wa
gon. why, it was the most pleasant
trip havo ever had. 1 wish Ule most
stingy man in salt Lake could have
accompanied me, ana I'll guarantee
that his pockets would have been open
ed as we'll as his heart. To see the lit
tie children clap their hands and dance
from joy at thJ sight of the chickens
and candy and all tine other things,
was something l shall not soon forget.
The children We're not the only ones
either that clapped their hands. Old
men and women, widows with large
families and husbands and wives, who
all Joined in the chorus of thankful
ness when receiving the unexpected
blessings.
But the childrenl They were simply
hilarious and shouted Come back Santa
Claus and gave vent 10 various
other expressions of gratitude. At one
little home a bright little blue-eyed girl
was watching her sick mamma She
was at the window when l entered the
q q hot 7
stuff from the wagon she ran and
opened the door, exclaimiilg: oh, 1
was just looking into the straAt won
dering if God was going to send US
anything for Christmas, and nAw he
has Are you a preacher?' and she
looked inquiringly into my face On
bed within was the mother lying
sick while two other Little children
played on the floor. The only assist
ance the little family received was
whatever the charitably disposed
neighbors would see fit to render. The
little group will be happy today, how
ever
Contributions did not pour in very
literally considering the number of
people who might well be able TO send
down check or some food to relieve
some of the suffering which, unfortun-
ately during the present week, is some
WHAT increased on account OF the pre-
vailing cold There were some contri-
buttons, however, and probably among
those received yesterday the most com
mendable was check for So from the
inmates of the deaf and dumb insti-
tute. This donation was accompanied
by the following letter
a. S. Geddes.
Dear Sir:-The pupils of this
school took I'D collection this
morning to help the poor and
needy and wish to place the
amount ($5) in your hands knowing
that you viii know where it viii do the
most good. If you will kindly advise
me as to the disposition you make of
it so that ! can report to the children it
will greatly oblige. Very truly,
F. J. METCALF,
Superintendent
Mr.. Geddes invested the money yes
terday and will make the requested re- |
port of the expenditure of the money
and just how many souls were made |
happy by this handsome gift
County Clerk Stanton was among |
those who remembered the poor and |
sent in his check for IS. Donations of |
coal were also received from several |
'oal dealers, and a well known mining |
nan, now spending the winter among |
he New Hampshire hills. RENTED |
US. but requested that his name be not