The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-12-25

Yesterday was Il lively day for Roam
oke, but outside of the merchants and
their clerks the busiest men of Roanoke
were the mem bees os the committee of
the Benevolent and Protective Order of
Ellis. who had their hands full in distrib-
uting coal and provisions for the poor.
They had been furnished with the names
of about 100 families who were in desti.
tute circumstances and several wagons
were kept busy all during the afternoon
delivering coal and something to cat to
the poor. They scattered several hun.
dredS of dollars worth of coal, flour,
meat. sausage. potatoes, cabbage, meal
and other catables.
a reporter OF The Times was REQUESTED
by the chairman of the committee to us.
sist in delivering the provisions intended
for the poor people in Poverty Flats
near Norwich, better known as ''pectlec
lotions" The wagons were loaded
from the old Fidelity Bank bnilding, on
Salem avenue, and Mr. Pollard. with IA
two'horsc load, started for the scene of
suffering and privation, accompanied hy
coorcd driver.
The reporter, accompanied ny Frank
l\ortc, of the Order, were driven out in
II carriage. The first place visited was
that of IN old colored woman. Her pros
poets for Christmas were poor, indeed.
The only article Of fool to be found in
the house was IN old, dricd-up piece of
corn bread.
The Joy of the old woman was un-
bounded when she was furnished with
every thing necessary to feed her for sew
cral days. Three other destitute colored
families were then supplied and the first
of the poverty stricken families men
toned i'll The Times II few days ago was
visited. Owing to some knowledge of
the family on the part OF the committee.
they rather held back and seemed not
overly anxious for the goods, but they
were supplied anyway.
One OF the poorest families in the flats
was then visited and the half starved,
ragged children crowded out with eager
faces to see what the good order OF Eks
were Soln" to give them for Christmas.
Meat, potatoes, cabbage, flour and meal
were soon delivered to them and their
faces were made brighter rs visions of
the best dinner they had had for months
loomed up before them and their mouths
began to water for the great feast which
they will enjoy to-day, and doubtless
sampled last night.
Many OF them hal already been sup
piled with coal. The two widows were
next attended TO, but the most pathetic
''eShN " iOhSHSS'i ny buS re-
porter was the condition of the Hall fam
lily. The frowzy headed. ragged. bare
footed children were eagerly watching
for the approach of the relief committee,
but the poor mother with her three
weeks old baby was confined to her rag
ged bed of sickness. Utter restitution
and want rcgned in the household The
place was cold and cheerless, but the
hearts of the little ones were checred by
the sight of the bags of flour, buckets of
meal, baskets of potatoes and three or
four kinds of meat being carried into the
house. Wherever provisions were dis
tribUted Mr.. Korte left tickets of atlmis-
sion to the Elks Christmas tree to-day.
This, of course, is only sample of
what was done all over the city by the re
lief committee. The Ell;s have done a
great deal To make the poor happy OH
Christ's day, and if anywhere sighted it
was an error of the head and not of the
heart
The committee hopes shat all needy
poor who failed to receive supplies will
report it to day and their wants will be
looked after Immediately. All parties
VINO have plenty and know of otEcrs IN
distress are requested TO report it to some
member of the committee
The Eiks Christmas tree in the Fiicl-
lty Bank building, on Salem avenue, has
been beautifully trimmed and decorated,
ana the hearts of the poor children who
Will not get presents ut home will he
gladdened by the charity of the good peo-
pie who are doing SO much to scatter sun.
shine In the homes of the poor. The
doors will be opened ut , O'Clock
promptly.