The evening times., 1899-12-25
CLoAKs FOR POOR CHILDREN.
Saks & Co. Make Many Youngsters
Happy Today.

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Saks & Co. Make Many Youngsteri
Happy Today.
Saks & Co. sent messages Of Joy to the
homes Of many o. the worthy poor of the
city today. Following their annual
custom the nrm Of clothiers gave away aa
Christmas gifts overcoats, cloaks, and
wraps to one hundred boys and girls. The
gifts were distributed under the immediate
supervision Of Isadore Saks, the head OF
the firm. and it is safe to say that his gen.
erosity was amply repaid by the happiness
1t brought to the hearts. Of the benefciaries
and their parents who accompanied them.
1t was known In advance that the gar
ments would be distributed at the Saks
Stores, at the corner Of Market Space and
Seventh Street, about o'clock. Long be-
fore this hour, however, there was large
| crowd assembled at the Seventh Street en-
were to receive Christmas gifts in the
shape of warm oyercoats or wraps were
provided with tickets Of admission, and 1t
was plain to the casual observer that there
had been no discrimination by the firm in
the matter of color, nationality or religion.
White boys and icolored boys and white
girls and colored girls were in line togeth-
er, awaiting their turn to be ushered into
the great establishment, where all were to
receive equal attention and consideration
at the hands Of Mr.. Saks' assistants. The
little people were admitted to. the first
floor Of the building in twos and threes.
and were taken in hand by the clerks who
had given up part of their own holiday to
~
tots.
Every attention was shown the gift Gus
toners by the attendants. AS much care
was taken in fitting little fellow for his
overcoat or a miss for her cloak or wrap
as il they were purchasers on a large scale.
The transformations effected were great.
Little ones who came in by the Seventh
Street door shivering with cold, because Of
the insufficiency of their clothing were
soon made warm and comfortable and then
with Thank you, sir" from the little
one and God bless you" from the pa
rent the procession Of happy ones was con-
tinued to and through the Pennsylvania
Avenue door.
1t was a great and joyous scene to behold
on Christmas morning, and it is safe to
say that the joy expressed by those who
had been benefited by the generosity of the
management of the stores was immeasure-
ably multiplied at the homes of the parents |
of the little ones.
The method OF distributing gifts by Saks |
& Co. was different yesterday from |
that followed in previous years. Hereto |
fore 1t had been the custom of making an |
that on Christmas morning |
a great number Of garments would be given |
away to the needy and worthy poor chill |
dren of the city.
1t was understood that before to<ay |
only poor boys would share in the gene--
osity Of the firm. and these assembled in \
great numbers 10 press their claims for |
charity. Today, however, the gifts wee /
distributed with the assistance of Inc !
pastors OF the different churches in the
city, who, after careful investigation.
recommended those whom they believed
most worthy 10 receive the garments. II
was SO decided by the local manay, mert
Of the firm that girls as well as boys
should share in the distribution OF the
presents this year. and this plan was car
-ied out with great satisfaction to all ccn- /
,erned.
In this connection it Is but just to state
hat the garments given away by Saks G.
20 were not cheap goods. The little
oats and cloaks and wraps were of excel
ent material and splendidly made. such
Is any boy or girl would be proud of and
would find pleasure and comfort in wear
ing. Another thing which should be
stated In this connection is that the gar
nents given away were of different styles,
md the attendants whose duty and pleasure
I was to distribute them saw 10 IL that
sach boy and girl received just such ccat
" cloak as best suited them both as 10
'tyle and color.