Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-29
ORPHAN BOYS XMAS.
ANNUAL CELEBRATION AT THE
MALE ASYLUM YESTERDAY.
The OCCASION A JOYOUS ONE,
Many visitors Attend the varied and
Attractive 'Entertainment-Th Ex-
ercises Followed by n sumptuous
Dinner-Features of Programme.
Attractive Entertain

In the merriment OF this season, when
festivities follow each other nightly, and
when the children all over Richmond are
enjoying the many good things which
Christmas brings to them. the orphan
boys have not been forgotten, but,
thanks to the Kindness OF heart and gene
rosty OF our citizens, they have been
given an opportunity to celebrate the
holiday in the same manner as those lads
who. perhaps, are more fortunate than
themselves
That kind-hearted and most estimable
lady Mrs. Gill, has under her care quite
large family Of boys. and had she been
around in the age of the "old woman
who lived In a shoe" she could have
given that dame many points az to the
rearing OF her brood. 1t is large house
hold over which Mrs. GIL has charge
and they ore all boys. too. and not diff
ferent from the other specimens Of their
tribe. II there was in this great uni
verse land so unfortunate as to have
| no boys among its population, any one
Of Mrs. Gilrs young charges would do TO
the American product--just a plain. COM
mon, ordinary everyday arrangement Z
legs and arms, with the same proclivities
for getting into mischief and then sliding
| out, as possessed by any OF the millions
| who would still be left behind to carry
on business at the same old stand.
| America, however cannot spare many
| such samples to be sent beyond her
shores for the benefit of foreign nations.
| They are all needed over here. and as
| the years pass by, Mrs. Gill's boys will
be found steadily climbing up that great
| ladder the topmost rung of which is
| the goal of every one.
BOYS HAVE A GOOD TINE.
The boys at the Male Orphan Asylum
had a royal good time yesterday after
| noon, as did also the many ladies, chill
dren, and gentlemen who visited the in
| stitutlon to aid the lads in the enjoyment
| of the day. 1t is needless to say that
| the boys conducted themselves I'm most
becoming manner, for there cannot be
| gathered together "a more gentlemdnly
| body of little fellows than these orphan
| lads. Many a boy, sheltered beneath a
! roof he calls his home" Is far worse of
| than these children, who do not know
| the tender care of a mother.
The orphan Asylum Board was present,
and the president. DR.. w. w. Parker.
Richmond's philanthropist, introduced DIR.
Tudor, who told the boys 90 prepare
themselves for an address of three hours.
The fifteen minutes he spoke, however.
| seemed but a few moments, so interest
ing and pleasing were his remarks. Rev.
james Cooke also spoke to the boys for
a few minutes, his remarks being en-
tirely impromptu, and all the more en-
ioyable for this very reason. The feature
| of the exercises was the singing OF Mas
ter Clint West, who possesses a really
| splendid voice. When Santa Claus, i'm
personated by Emmett Archer, put in an
appearance the climax was reached
There were presents for every one and
OF course, all were happy. The old fellow
was destined. however, not to get OF
without a lecture, despite his generosity
Little Miss Mary LYMAN, a 6-year-old
tot. made bold to address the sprightly
elf. and asked him why it was he loved
the children of the rich better than those
of the poor. The saint bore the lecture
with perfect meekness, probably because
he realized the justice of the accusation
and knew that he was unable to clear
himself of the charge.
GIVEN A SPLENDID DINNER.
'Dixie" was the last No. on the
programme. and when the inspiring sons
had been rendered, with right good will
the order, Forward march!" was given
and the boys filed down stairs TO the
dining-room, where a glorious dinner
awaited them. a banquet, the sight o.
which was calculated TO make then
mouths water, and probably caused then
eyes to water later on, when the fruit
cake, plum-cake, and every other kind o.
cake got in its work in the still hours o.
the night.
All in ALL IL was a great. big, gloriou!
day at the asylum. one which will gC
down on the records of the institution
and one which will long be a fruitful
topic of conversation with the boys