Evening star., 1898-12-26
CHRIS TMAS CHEER
Ousortunatey, Too, ,Partake of the
Pleasures Of the Holiday Time,
AMONG The ORPHAN ASYLUMS
Inmates Of Other Institutions Given
the Touch Of GIadness.
GOOD THINGS ENJOY ED

Nearly two thousand years aso babe
was born in manger at Bethlehem, and
throughout the world that worships Him as
Savior the anniversary of His birth is be-
ing celebrated with joy ard gladness. He
it was who said: Suffer little children to
come unto me-" and SO the gloriica ton of
His natal day is peculiarly devoted to the
happiness of those little ones. In the
homes Of plenty and the hcmes of poverty
tiny fingers have clasped pretty toys, ard
it is a poor hovel indsed into which some of
the heart radiance OF this great holiday
time has not permeated. But through the
glorious paeans which rise 10 heaven there
Is a minor note of the pathetic and the
mournful, even though the laughter of chill
dren makes the music. For to nultitudes
CT the little ones the tender touch of the
mothers hand the Babe of Bethlehem knew
and smiled under is a stranger. They know
not the pressure of a mothers kiss the
comforting caressas of a fathers arm. Yet
even for these waifS-the orphanS-the
| Christmas time brings joy, for, wherever
those who follow Chr.st's teachings may
be, there will be found the shelters which
humane lands have erected for their sup
port and Succor. In Washington and else
Where the fathariess and motherleSs in
these institutions are having their christ
mas cheer today, and oIer and above the
merrlment huns the eterfal sentence:
suffer little children TO come unto me-"
ne other unfortunates were also made to
understand that the teachings of the Divine
chlid were extended even TO them. To
those who We're made SO by faults Of their
own, and TO those who became so by rea-
son OF fate over which they had no control,
the glad time of the year was given prac-
tical Illustration AT the Jail and the work.
mouse, IN the almshouse, and in all the
charitable institutions the celebration of
Christmas was observed in Christmas
way.
st. Eiizabeth's Asylum.
The Christmas entertainment for the ben
eft of the unfortunates at St. Elizabeth's S
insane Asylum was held Saturday night in
the chapel hall, where there were assem-
bed the officers of the institution and sew
eral hundred of the more tractable patients
of both sexes to witness the exercises
Whlch nave always been looked forward TO
with the keenest delight by the inmates of
the asylum able TO attend. From the cell
ing OF the hall hung in graceful festoons
me beautiful evergreen of the Christmas
ude. arranged effectively among the electric
nSnt chandeliers When all We're seated,
at signal the stage curtain was slowly
roil5d up exposing to view a truly man.
moth Christmas tree. an old cedar monarch
perfect IN its symmetry, and loaded with
glits OF various kinds fer the patients.
santa Claus, in the person of one of the
hospital force, lay asleep by the tree, his
packs completely depleted, as might be
judged from the great number of articles
pilea about the trees base. in addition to
those hanging from the branches. Directly
behlnd the tree two garrison dags stretched
along The rear Of the stage, formed back
ground, the red, white and blue showing
between festoens Of trimmings which hung
across the stage front for some distance
from the top.
Santa Claus disappeared, and DIR. A. H.
Wilmer of St. Elizabeth staff, who was
in charge of the- exercises, ascended the
stage and addressed the audience, congrat-
clating them en- the return of the Christ
mas OCCASION explaining how St. Eliza
beth annually at Christmas tide remem-
beis these intrusted to her care with some