The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-12-25

Exercises as Only They Can do-whiie
Not Sundsy School. the Masonic Home
Holds Very Pretty Exercises, which
Were Surprise to ali-ImpossibIe to
Give a Complete List, But Those Which
Could be Obtained are Told of.
All, or Marty all. of the Sunday school
children of the city celebrated Christ
mas eve last night, at the different
churches in the city, IN the usual man
ner, which by no means loses any of its
beauty as the years roll by. The older
ones only wishing they were young
again. and among the bright faced ard
sparkling eyed little folk, who gathered
at the different places where their exer-
cises were held. AT the Masonic Home
a very enjoyable evening was spent by
large number who witnessed little
surprise upon the folk of that institu-
ton. 1t is simply impossible TO any
where near cover all the different exer-
cises, but those which could be obtained
are given below.
AT THE MASONIC HOME.
The children at the Masonic Home
gere taken by surprise last evening IN a
manner which was truly surprise 10
them The different Masonic BODIES
had contributed sufficient money TO give
the children of the home Christmas
which they would remember. The
money was handed over to the ladies Of
the Eastern Star and they took the mat
ter in hand, made the purchases, did all
the necessary work to give the little boys
and girls as pleasant an evening as was
possible.
On the third floor a large Christmas
tree had been arranged, and the presents
hung upon il, and what could not De
placed there was stacked about the bot
tom Of the tree There were dolls for the
little girls, a wagon for the boys. and
presents for every inmate OF the home
There are at this time six adults; five
girls and ten boys. The adults are Oh
gentlemen, past the age of usefulness;
while the boys. and girls are all bright
children VINO fully appreciated the eXer-
cises OF the evening.
large number of the ladies Of the
Eastern Star and prominent Masons OF
The different lodges went over to attend
the exercises. The children We're totally
ignorant of anything They had watch
ed carefully to see if any wagon came to
the home which WOULD be likely TO bear
ANYTHING of nature which give any
room to suspicion any Christmas gifts,
but none appeared.
After all the expected guests arrived,
every one went quietly up stairs, and
the surprise and infinite joy depicted up
on the faces of the children was well
worth a price of admission had it been
charged. This can better be imagined
than described. OF the children, many
Of them had expressed wish for some
a-ci
BILE this wish was compiled with.
Then it was that the children sur
prised their matron by a carefully pre-
pared program of their own arrange
ment, as follows:
Song-"Old Santa Claus" Glass
Recitation. 'Carless Santa Claus
Gertrude Wadman.
Recitation. 80. Two Beautiful Pennies
Elmer Youngblood
'"Three Little Boys Christmas"
=. .......... Eddie Wadman, Charlie
Youngblood and Chiefly Wadman
Recitation. :. 49,. My
Dolly Hangs up Her Stocking
Maud Youngblood.
Song-"Santa Comes Tonight. Class
Recitation. ......" Little Alice"
: Ada wadman.
Recitation. :. ....."A Tramp
Went up to Cottage Door
Charlie Land.
Recitation. $3.50. 80. 80. Christmas
Ada Wadman.
Mr.. J. II. Mccall did the part of Santa
Claus
This program was excellently well got
ten up, and was indeed surprise 10
every one. Among the other presents
was one OF box of toilet paper to the
home from Gus Saur. The evening was
a thoroughly enjoyable one, and the
children will all the more love their
home which is a home indeed.
AT THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
At the First Presbyterian church the
plan carried out was an entirely original
one. The Preparation for, and the
Coming Of Santa Claus" was the title of
the entertainment and most of the scenes
We're supposed to be laid in d home. Tho
following - an outline of the principal
features: Appearance of the Star OF
Bethlehem; coming Of the three wise
men: fireside scene in the home: hanging
OF the stockings: tahleau-angels floating
In the air; tableau-children's dream of
Santa Claus; coming Of Santa Claus
through the CRATE; children awakened;
Christmas tree. Judge f. r. Jewett i'm
personated Santa Claus, Miss Almeda
Dodge the mother, Nestor Moore the
father. Joe Dudley. Marcia Higginson,
and Mayone Jackson, the children: wise
men, James Carver, George Carver. A.
the conclusion of the exercises every per-
son in the audience was given a bag OF
candy as Christmas remembrance.
CHRISTMAS EVE AT ST. JOHNS.
There was very pretty program at
the Christmas festival at ST. Johns Epis-
copal church. The exercises were given
liz the basement of the church. which was
beautifully decorated with festoons of
evergreen. An imitation of one OF the
typical old fine palaces of colonial times
filled the platform and those who took
part in the program made their appear
ance from under its wide arch. The diff
ferent numbers on the very interesting
program were all well rendered and much
enjoyed by the large audience present.
AT THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
One Of the largest audiense at any Of
the churches during the evening was that
at the Central Church Of Christ on Sec
ond and Market streets. There was a
We'll arranged and well given program,
consisting of songs, choruses and recita-
tons. 1. ". Gill made a typical and
popular 81. Nicholas and acted also as
master of ceremonies. Candy. nuts and
popcorn were distributed al the end OF
the regular program.
AT FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.
Perhaps the most unique and elabor-
ate. among the many programs of Christ
mas exercises carried out in the different
churches last night. was the one used at
the First Baptist church. The auditori-