The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-12-31
An UNEXPECTED VISIT
Two Hundred Poor Children
Made Happy.
HAD A CHRISTMAS TREE
For Some OF the Little Tots Forgotten
by Kris Kringle on His First Visit.
The Neglect Corrected by Ladies
OF the Associated Charities.

Santa Claus made a most unusual
and unexpected visit to Butte yester-
day. He has never failed TO come
Christmas and sometimes New Years.
but he has rarely been known to come
between times. He was never more
welcome. however. than he was yes:er-
day. and 175 or 200 children were made
happier by his visit than they have
been for many a day. 1t was the oc-
casion Of the Christmas tree that vas
given for the poor children of the city
and was genuinely enjoyed by the little
tots whom Santa Claus forgot on bis
Christmas visit.
After the regular Christmas fes:ivi-
ties were over. the ladies OF the Asso-
ciated Charities. in making their regu-
lar visits among the poor. discovered
a surprising number of children. whose
mothers-they were in almost every in
stance the children of widows. or whose
father had deserted his f~amily-were in
such Interestingly destitute circum-
stances. that the little ones had not re-
ceived anything in the shape OF pres
ents. The woebegone c-ountenances of
the poor little urchins who had looked
in vain for Santa Claus. so affected
NAt AaohN' hiAa fdNh ltHtiAth = IN
perience when a meeting was held a
few days later. Ii did not take the ia
dies long TO make up their minds that
Santa Claus should come back and
gladden. the homes OF all the disconso-
late little ones.
Steps were at once taken to give a
Christmas tree to which all the children
known to the association to have Ie-
celved nothing for Christmas should be
invited and on which there should be
a present for each one OF them. The
use OF the auditorium was cheerfully
given by Mayor Harrington and a fine
big evergreen tree was procured and
planted In the center of the platform.
a committee visited the can
dy stores and ctores which
sold toys. and generous contri-
buttons enabled the ladies' To load the
tree and the platform about Il with
candy. oranges. apples. nuts and better
than all. toys and presents of every
description go dear to the infantile
heart.
When the plans were all completed. |
the ward committees notified all the
children Of deserving families they
could find in their various wards who
had been overlooked on Christmas. To
be at the aditerium yesterday after
noon. In all. 179 such children were
found and invited. As stated. they were
~ wv wv - lNIN NV /
of deserving Widows or honest women. |
whose brutal husbands had abandoned
them. In a few instances, there was a
husband and father i'm the family. who.
through misfortune of one kind Ca an
other, was unable to provide a Christ
mas for his children. but such eases
We're the exception.
When the little ok began To arrive
at the auditorium yesterday afternoon
there was a scene that did ones heart
good To witness. The tree was hand
somely decorated with pop corn strung
on thread and huns in loops from
to branch and was literally lad
en- down with bags OF candy and PROF.
ents. OF all the Christmas trees given
publicly I'm the city this year. this was
by far the handsomest, and the way
the little ones opened their eyes with
and glzed with mouths
in utter establishment as they
in and were led to the front seats,
made the ladies who had provided the
surprise feel amply repaid for their ef-
forts. much more so. the joyousnegs and
evident appreciation with which. the
were received when distributed
When all the children were seated n
brief programme of exercises preceded
the distribution. in which the Misses
Beet and Hines and Mrs. Tyack FUR
- aAAa'N 49, 80
and Clara Herzcg. two little girls. gave
pleasing recitations.
After the exercises the tapers on the
tree were lighted. If Il had been hand
before II was transcendently
i'm the light of the can lies
the children could scarcely keep
their seats. they were so etated. A list
Of all the children had beer made and
as each name was called. the owner Of
Il tripped up to the platform and re-
,eived a present. a bag Of candy and
such other things as We're to he be-
slowed. There were dolls for the girls
the p.dythings to go with them.
md horses and los and trains of cars
wagons and almost everything che
could imagine. that best please the !
boys. When II was all over. that was !
rs happy a crowd Of children as vas (
sver gathered together anywhere. !
Those who contributed toys. candy. }
,tc.. were: II. j.. Hennessy. the bee I
Hive. G. H.. Cammans. j. w. Morris. (
Mrs. j. Roach and Mrs. J. Norville I
doney contributions came from Mrs. s.. ,
baldwin and Mrs Rnzzo j