Evening star., 1896-12-24
AN OVERCOAT DISTRIBUTION

date and elegant liveried coachmen and
| footmen the boxes of handsome car
riages from the West End unbent suffi-
| GENTLY for the once to beat their hands to-
| gether, and even give verbal expression to
the opinion that it was cold. For real
| English coachman to look as though he had
any views on any subject while on the box
| is very bad form indeed. and it all went to
| show that they were mortal, just like
| street car drivers.
Real Christmas Weather.
But it was real Christmas weather. and
| SO much of the population have warm
| wraps to welr and plenty Of furnace coal
! in the cellar rejoiced in the brisk, cheerf IL
| atmosphere. -.-s
This is Just what I like" a man bundled
| Up to the ears ir. overcoat and furs would
say to tailor-made maid whose cheeks
| We're red with the red of nature and whose
| eyes sparkled like the diamonds she hopes
to find in her stocking tomorrow.
| Yes, isn't it just too awfully delicious?"
| So much for the warm clothes and coal
| iT-the-cellar people. But, unfortuna tely.
| there are others.
Indeed there are others. There are hun
| dreds of people to whom the icy blasts
that swept over the city last night and this
| morning meant anything but Christmas
| cheer
Suffering of the Poor.
Christmas eve, bitterly cold weather, 10
fire on the Hearth, not only no toys and
IcI the Httle ones, but little
| rothing for their breakfast and less for
dinner; that's a combination of wretched-
ness not unknown in every great city in the
| United States today. Washington has no
| more than her share of suffering, perhaps
but that there should be any hunger any
cold at all at Christmas is what is hard.
| 1t is a condition of affairs, though that
very many people seek to change for there
! is no other time of year when people are
SO charitable as they are at Christmas
time They hate to hear of any one 10
whom the most beautiful festival in our
calendar brings no happiness.
| 1t Is safe to say that If it were possible
to print In The Star today brief mention
| wing need in the District there would not
be one that would not be relieved az once.
The rarity of Christian charity must ap.
| ply to thoughts. The phrase does not fit
actions SO WELL There are thousands and
thousands of people in this city today who
would be only too glad to find their way to
some cold and cherries home on Christmas
eve and play the part of Santa Claus with
provisions for the family and with toys for
the little ones.
The Stars Santa Claus Club.
Two days ago The Star made a brief
mention of little girl who had written to
The Evening Star Santa Claus Club to ask
that the kind old saint would send her
doll or story book, for unless he helped
her she would know no Christmas, as her
| father was dead and her mother too Door
to spend any money on toys.
Since that paragraph was printed several
people have come to The Star office 10 ask
for the name and address of that little girl
saying that they wanted to make her
Christmas just exactly what little child's
Christmas ought to be- Among them was
the wife of foreign minister herself one
of the most charming women in the diplo-
matte circle.
IF that child has been provided for'
she said, give me the address of some
other. 1 would like to make this Christmas
an ideal one for some poor little waif, who
would otherwise not know the happiness
that ought to go with the day.
But with all the good will of the season
there are lots of poor people whose suffer
ingS are aggravated by the cold and by the
comparison with the well-being of their
more fortunate brothers. There are great
many who would rather starve than ask
for assistance from the charity organiza-
tions of the city, but there are still more
who have been driven by hunger and cold
to the police stations, to the offices of the
Associated Charities and to the Central
| Union Mission.
The Stars Pound Party.
Today has been by far the heaviest day
of winter at the main Office of the Associat-
ed Charities, and Secretary Wilson said
that if it were not for the assistance re-
ceived from the proceeds of the pound party
| of the Evening Star Santa Claus CLUB yes
terday they might be compelled to let many
of the appeals go unanswered. -sr
AS was to be expected, the big pound
party was a great success and has resulted
in turning over to the Associated Charities
good many tons of first-class groceries
ana provisions, enough to supply good
Christmas dinners in many wretched
home. In each of the divisions a school
building was set apart for the receiving
of the proceeds of the pound party, and a
number of The Evening Star wagons, which
are such familiar sight on the streets of
| afternoon inf
service to haul the pounds to the receiving
stations. There were few school buildings
SO small that they did not supply at least
one wagon load of groceries and provisions
while in some cases it was necessary to
make two or three trips before everything
was cared for. Enough was obtained to sup
ply all ordinary demands for some little time
to come. Complete arrangements have
been made for the distribution of the goods
This will be made through the medium Of
the visitors or agents of the Associated
Chlrities who, after investigation will is
sue cards to be presented at the various
school buildings, where they will be hon.
Especial care will be taken to avoid dupii-
cation and to see that only worthy cases
are assisted.
There was comparatively little in the way
of perishable goods donated yesterday. A
| number of apples were received but these
will all be distributed by tonight and long
before they have had time to spoil.
At the Associated Charities.
Not only has the cold weather brought a
big increase in the number of appeals for
aid at the office of the Associated Chari-
ties but that with the approach of Christ
mas has also brought an increase in the
number of donations. and Secretary Will
son received q number of letters this MORN
ing that contained money or checks In
his mail there were several letters from
people who offered to provide Christmas
dinners for poor families If he would fur
| nfsh them with the addresses. Needless to
say they all got what they asked for Sew
eral packages of toys and other articles of
Christmas sort were also received during
the morning. One of the most welcome
gifts was package Of warm substantial
undergarments presented by the Army
| Canton Flannel Club. There were forty
eight pieces in all, and they viii be greatly
| appreciated by the poor people that are
lucky enough to get them.
Charity Through the Police.
Scores of poor people who had to get out
OF bed this morning had no fuel with which
t<Nr klrl~~ lr..~-~