Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-25
Observance of the Day at Various
Local Institutions.
ILLUSTRATIONS In SONG and STORY
Feast Of Good Things Part Of Each
Program.
EXCHANG OF GIFTS

his howell and the great predominating class
which comes between them look up today
and see the beams of the holy light that
fell into the lowly stable at Bethlehem
and made the manager radiant With vary
ing sentiment the glory Is regarded. be-
cause hearts and human aspirations are
ever different from each other; but there
is no soul SO poor or 80 stricken that 1t
cannot feel In some way the influence Of
Christmas. Those sad and pitiable unfor-
tunates who people the institutions which
the charity that Jesus taught has brought
into existence are enjoying, as far as they
may, the gladness of the Savior's natal
day, and in the various homes and asylums,
refugees and hospitals In the District. the
anniversary is being observed with appro-
PIRATE celebrations.
Hospital for the Insane.
Christmas at the Government Hospital
for the Insane means a season of good
cheer extending clear through the holidays
to the New Year time. Christmas decora-
tons are arranged In all the buildings.
gifts are made to the inmates, holidays
granted them whenever possible, special
1are provided and in a general way many
acts looking to the cheering of the lives of
those within the hospital are performed
by the asylum authorities All this is in
accordance with custom since the foun-
dation of the institution. AS the opening
day OF this season, therefore, today was
observed at the hospital in the usual spirit.
For several days past a number Of the en-
pioyes. both male and female, has been
engaged in sorting through great loads of
christmas greenery, comprising the red
berried molly, crowfOot, cedar and ivy, and
in making it into graceful festoons, wreaths
and other forms for decorative purposes.
Some OF the patients have assisted in this
work As a result in all the wards, dining
nd to- <.n ~
out all the buildings that go to make up
the hospital the Christmas eyergreens APP
pear in tasteful forms. These decorations
will remain in place until after the New
Year season A holiday was granted at
/ the institution today for every person con-
nected with it excepting the force Of help
required to get ready and serve the great
midday Christmas repast.
This morning early preparations for the
dinner were in progress at the hospitals
big central kitchens. The edors of roasting
turkeys and baking mince pies filled the air
in the vicinity. When ali was ready the
great meal was sent out to the various din
ing rooms.
Some OF the things the house steward in
Guided in the Christmas menu for the hos
pital today were, first. turkeys, 1900
pounds having been purchased that no one
might be overlooked; five barrels of cram
berries. which were made into sauce: 2 30
punches Of celery and 600 mince pies and
nine barrels of cider I'd go with them
The dinner was served between noon and
l O'Clock pm. The patients ate in the ward
dining rooms and in the new dining hail.
several hundred male inmates dining in the
latter place. For supper this evening there
will be varied fare, including as above
home made fruit cake. Each patient will
also receive this evening candy and nuts in
small box inscribed with the commitments
OF the season from ST. Elizabeth's.
German Orphan Asylum.
The Santa Claus Club. which has for sew
eral years past taken an interest at Christ
mas in the manner in which the children at
the German Orphan Asylum. on Good Hope
road, Anacostia, spend the season. did not
forget to send persons to the institution
this morning to dispense number of press
ents. Superintendent Ermold had the
smaller children write letters to Santa
Claus telling him of their wants, and as
1ir as POSSIBLE the members of the club
saw that the wishes of the children were
granted. Yesterday afternoon some of the
chlidren's parents visited the asylum and
distributed Christmas gifts. Today the
chliuren We're treated to a generous dinner
but their real Christmas entertainment and
dinner. with the distribution of presents,
will be held later on.
Boys Reform school,
The 20 inmates of the Boys Reform
School participated yesterday afternoon in
services commemorative of the great
Christmas holiday. and today they enioyed
a most tempting dinner, games and sports
closing the day with an entertainment de-
signed for their special pleasure
The exercises yesterday afternoon We're
held in the chapel of the institution, where
religious services are held every Sunday
afternoon. The boys are led in singing at
these services by Mr.. Frank Wilson, whose
daughter, Mrs Fred Cook, presides at the
organ. Mr.. Wilson and his daughter as,
sisted the boys yesterday A most inter-
esung and pleasant program had been pre-
pared by Mr.. Geo. A Shallenberger, the
superintendent of the school, and after the
Rev. DIR. Frederick l.. Power of the Yer
mont Avenue Christian Church had invoked
the Divine blessing, Mr. Shallenberger
briefly addressed the boys. wishing them
very merry Christmas DR.. Power also
made an address, telling the boys the story
of the wise men, who followed the star
pointing the way to where the Christ child
lay in the Manager; explaining how astrono-
my sprang from religion, and how Christ
came into the world and lived among the
people as one of them.
The COMPANY were led in responsive
Scripture reading by Mr.. Shallenberger and
Col. Cecil Clay, president of the board of
trustees of the school, read them seIec-
ton from 1.-THE Celestial City" The sing
ing of the inmates is always most enioV-
able, and never before. perhaps did their
strong, well-traiued voices appear 10 bet
ter advantage than they did yesterday, as
they Gang the music appropriate to the day
and season. With Col. Clay on the plat
form We're also DR.. VIM S. Thompson and
Messrs. VIM. N. Shuster, Henry r.
Blount and Samuel w. Curriden of the
be ard of trustees.
No Study Today.
Today the boys we're released from study
and labor, and devoted themselves wholly
to the enjoyment of such games and sports
as youngsters most delight in. OF course,
a beautifully supplied Christmas. dinner
table formed feature of the day, and this
evening there VIII be an entertainment
provided for them in the chapel
The wife and daughter of Superintendent
Shaiienberger have dressed great Christ
rias tree, including thereon a present for
each inmate. and have also prettily deco
rated the chapel Among those who win
entertain the boys this evening is Mr.. Mil
ton Clark. who will amuse them by his
whistling and limitations.
Girls' Reform School-HospftaIs.
A tempting Christmas dinner was served
to the twenty-ope, coiored inmates of the
girls reform school at 3 o'clock this after
noon. the day being celebrated in release
from study and labor and in the reception
by the girls of their relatives and friends.
The regular Christmas entertainment will