Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-12-26
COURTS, ALLEYS AND BY-wAYs,
Juveniles From Neither Side Given q
Touch Of Christmas.

Precocious juvenility, representing the
courts and alleys and the by-ways of the
national capital. where poverty drudges out
precarious existence, was represented by
scores of little boys more or less ragged
and tattered, even if they did have on their
best clothes, at Saks & Company's estab-
Hshment this morning. When the delegation
arrived there was not an overcoat OH any
shivering little body. When the last one de-
parted he was clad in a long, thick, warm,
substantial ulster
Over a hundred youngsters were thus
gladdened and comforted. The occasion for
the visitation was the annual repetition Of
the admirable Christmas custom that Saks
& Company have observed for years. Each
December the firm provides the police de-
partment with one hundred tickets to be
distributed among poor and needy children
who have no overcoats. Upon the presenta-
ton of these tickets at the Saks stores each
holder is fitted with a long ulster.
The holders came early this morning and
were ushered in by squads of four. Mr..
IsadOre Saks, Manager Isaac Cans and Mr..
George Lewis We're on hand, together with
several clerks. and the boys were each pro-
vided with heavy d0ubie-breasted, wool
lined overcoat thick enough to make even
zero weather something to be laughed at
by the wearer
Many of the little fellows were sad speci-
mems of the neither side of humanity. where
want and hunger are the daily heritage of
the habitants, but to an observer of the
crowd there were also many children in the
assemblage whose parents evidently could
have afforded to purchase the garments for
them. Probably twenty-five of the recipi
ents were well and neatly and warmly clad
and were scarcely in the category to be
chosen for such beautiful charity. and in
this respect it was evident that either poor
judgment or certain Partially had been
shown in the distribution of the tickets in
these instances.
One of these well-dressed lads removed his
overcoat when he got outside. and, hanging
it over his arm, strutted away in excellent
stimulation of a Connecticut avenue prone
nader on a pleasant day In autumn. The
great majority of the boys We're so deserv-
ing, however, that the exceptions were eN-
cuSable, for where so many fragile forms
were protected against the chill winds of
winter and so many tiny hearts made glad
with the joy of Christmas, and undeserving
case here and there shouldn't be allowed to
count.
It was interesting to watch the faces of
the youngsters when they found themselves
wrapped up in their brand-new listers.
Their countenances simply beamed with
pleasure Some of them were too Cverioyed
to even speak. One little fellow who peered
in anXiously through the door had no ticket.
Mr.. Saks directed that he be brought in and
clad in a coat. The little fellow is boot
black and hasn't seen his tenth birthday
yet. When he had been fitted and his ulster
buttoned up he turned and held out his hand
10 Mr.. Dove, the clerk who had clothed
him. AS Mr.. Dove took the little fingers
the small head bent forward and he kissed
the clerks hand. 1t was sad and pathetic
morning. but over ii all the tender light of
Christmas cleaned and sank deep into little
hearts that scarcely knew what Christmas
meant.