Omaha daily bee., 1897-12-25
ST. NICK AND THE ORPHANS
Delightful Celebration at the Christian
Home Last Night.
uNFoRTuNATES HAVE ONE GOOD TIM
Beautiful Tree Laden with Gifts and
Goodies, which old SANTA Claus
Comes 20 Hand Out TO
the Children.


Christmas will be celebrated IN Council |
Bluffs today in style commensurate with |
the prosperity of the people and the excep- |
tionally perfect winter weather that has pre-
vailed during the greater part of the month !
The holly and the evergreen will be found |
In almost every house where there are
children to make happy with visions of
Santa Claus and his bountiful gifts. Dealers |
in Christmas dainties and trees report the
greatest demand for their goods in recent
history. Last year several carloads of holly |
were left on hand to be sold at after-Christ- |
mas prices or given away. This year almost
/ every sprig Of the rich green foliage with Its
scarlet berries has disappeared snd empty
| crates stand where full ones were exposed |
| to tempt Christmas buyers last year. Deal
| ers declare that the demand has indicated
that nearly every family in the city has pre-
pared its Christmas tree. Verders OF other
novelties make the same report. Tue toy
shops are almost deuuded of their large
| stocks and nll appearances seem to indicate
| that very few of the 400 school children in
I the city will be overlooked when old Santa
drives his reindeer team through the city be-
| before the dawn this morning.
In all the churches some special recogni-
| Ilpu Ol lHe uAy udS UeSH pTtpdIeu III
! many OF them the usual Sunday school
| Christmas tree has been provided, laden with
| it's burdens of toys and sweetmeats for the
I! little people. In all of the charitable insti-
tutioQs the same program has been followed
| One of the brightest places in town last
night was the Christian Home orphanage,
| where nearly 300 fatherless and motherless
little waits danced with Feenest delight
around gigantic tree that had suddenly
grown up in the blrge caapel of the institu-
I,N,, % t1,D
bending to the floor with the weight Of toys,
candies and nuts. Every child in the home
was remembered by generous old Santa, not
ouce merely but many times The tree was
| brilliantly illuminated and the light from its
boughs was all there was in the room, except
tlat which shone from the hundreds of
radiaLtly happy little faces. The children
trooped and shouted around it, singing
Christmas songs and carols Presently San.a
Claus appeared developed in his great coat
of furs, mis- jolly red face showing brighter
as he gaZed into the counteaances of the
merry thrtog Of children around him. The
tree was quickly dismantled and its burden
Of good things transferred to the little people
for whom they were meant. Space near the
ereo was reserved for the members of the
"s'hut-n- band" little helpless cripples who
have sought the shelter Of the home as the
last place on earth to which they could CO.
II was revelation to them, realization Of
all of the widest dreams of Santa Claus chat
had ever been conceived in their little heads,
and they We're radbntly happy. Some at
tempt to render set program was contem-
plated, but the eXuberance of childish life
was too much for any restraint or decorum
and none was attempted. The little people
were consigned to the care of Santa Claus
and he was in sole command Of the band.
The gifts came from all parts of the country,
but the greater part from the merchants of
Council Bluffs. Boxes and buckets of candy
were donated and sent to the home during
the early part Of the day. Several boxes of
oranges found their way to the institution
from the same source. Today the children
, and the home workers will be treated to a
gorgeous Christmas feast. "a program will
be rendered Ia the chapel during the after
noon.
( The little people who compose the kinder,
garten classes in the Bloomer school build
ing were treated to lovely Christmas tree
that had been procured by penny dorations
I from themselves. Santa Claus, in the form
| of thoughtful mothers, supplied each young,
ster with a suitable present. The tree was
spread during the afternoon, and after 1t had
been relieved of it's load of dainties it was
n sent to the Christian Home.
o Superintendent Rothert of the Iowa School
e for the Deaf seat special invitations to a
d large number of people to be present at the
e institution today to participate in the Christ
Il mas festivities. The Christmas tree and the
o big wheel were erected in the chapel last
y night and were dismantled amid scenes OF
II the happiest gaiety. Every pupil and every
It person connected with the Institution was
d remembered with present. Each present
g however was something good to eat, Prof
l. Rothert having decided that the regular
$ gifts to be given the children should be
IL placed by the bedside OF each during the
/ night SO that they could find them on first
ID awakening In the morning. Candies, nuts
& and fruits were Distributed during the even.
r ing and composed the burdens OF the tree
p One OF the features OF the evening was the
q presentation by the Board Of Trustees Of 25C
u volumes Of valuable reading matter to the
e library of the institution. These were placed
n on the big wheel, and the children were
% permitted to look at them as they were
is taken down and see that they were intended
q, for the use of all. Today a big Christmas
!! dinner will be served.
n Christmas will be observed at all of the
lie other city institutions. The Woman's Chris
u tian Association hospital will have a fine
ar dinner for all of the patients. S. A. McAtet
II sent three big turkeys to the commissary
err department yesterday Afternoon, and tht
lie women who have been contributing for years
unusually generous and have provided tn,
necessares for q first-class feast,
At St. Bernards hospital the came gener
Gus treatment was bestowed upon all of tn,
inmates and Christmas made a reality Il
c' them.
e., Christmas dinners will be spread today il
at the city and county jails and the unfortu
s. 2tes Of the under world Will be given SOM
he evidence that they are still within the soun
m of the good will proclamation made 190
y, years ago.
M Miss Cooks studio. Grand hotel annex.