The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-12-29
SANTA REMEMBERS THEM
He Makes Glad the Hearts Of
Hundreds of Little Ones.
SUCH A CHRISTMAS TREE
It Was Is Feet High and Just Loaded
With Pressnts-And There Was
Candy, Popcorn and Every
thing Else, Too.

Santa Claus returned to Butte yes
terday and brought happiness to the
hearts of 200 or 800 urchins he over
looked last Sunday night. 1t was such
bad sleighing that the old man was
obliged to go slow on the road, and
this made him hurry so that he could
not get around to all the children. But
he made up yesterday for the uninten-
tional slight, and with interest. 1t
was the occasion of the Christmas tree
given by the ladies of the Associated
Charities to the poor children, and it
was the greatest success that that
body of benevolent ladies has ever
achieved.
There were in attendance 225 child
rem, who were there by special invita-
ton, and half as many more who had
come univited. They commenced com
ing at o'clock and by 2:30 the Audi
forum held an army of little saYages
the ladies We're unable to control. The
invited ones were the children of fam
lies who are carried on the books n
the association as the worthy poor Of
the city. They understood they must
observe proper decorun, and they did,
but the others seemed to think the per-
mission granted them to be there car
and they did till the good ladies we've
nearly frantic.
Finally the curtains were drawn. and
long drawn out oh came from every
urchin in the house. Such a Christ
mas tree they had never beheld. And 1t
was beauty. 1t is doubtful If there
has ever been another to equal It, The
tree stood about 10 feet high, and the
decorations were a revelation of what
can be accomplished by the use of
electric lights, tinsel and the Christ
mas tree decorations of popcorn strings,
fairies. etc The electric light company
had very generously volunteered to
furnish the lights to illuminate the
tree, and the effect Of the work was
entrancingly beautiful, taken in con-
junction with the taste displayed in
the other decorations.
When the excitement the first
glimpse of the tree created had uuieted
down Mrs. J. M. White, president of
the Associated Charities who presided,
introduced the mayor, J. H. Mccarthy
who welcomed the little ones in a most
happy vein, telling his juvenile listeners
that when Kris Kringle made his an
nual visit he was in such q hurry that
ne was obliged to overlook some of his
little friends. but he had come back
to make good the oversight and was
assisted by band of big-hearted la
dies, and this tree was the result. At
Inc conclusion of the ma yor's remarks
a musical programme was rendered I'M
der the direction of Miss Best Among
the numbers was a Christmas anthem
and the Star Spangled Banner" the
latter closing the exercises. It was
sung with the children standing and
Joining in the singing.
Then came the distribution of the
presents, which the children were
awaiting, by this time, somewhat i'm
patiently. The tree and tables stand
ing about it were simply laden with
presents. Everything had been con-
tributed by the business men of the
city, and so great was the generosity
that there were three or four beauti-
full presents for each child. The tree
held the presents that were to go to
the 226 children present by Invitation
and each was marked with the name of
the recipient. Every girl who had been
invited received a dressed doll, hand
kerchiefs and a Fedora watch chain
or watch. All the larger boys receiv-
knives and handkerchiefs, and there
were a great many. mechanical toys
so dear to the heart Of the hoy. The
babies got mittens and winter caps.
Then there were all sorts of toys that
We're distributed to the unlimited after
the invited had been served
After the distribution crab bags were
passed among the children, and each
was given grab for a toy of some
kind, and at the conclusion, as the
children were passing out, popcorn,
candy, nuts and apples We're distrib-
uted to all in bags.
The event was a tremendous success
and the little folks who would other
wise have known no Christmas voted
the ladies the most kind hearted in
the land All the ladies of the assaci-
alton took part in TIE Arrangements
and the carrying out of the programme
and all are entitled to share equally in
the credit due.
Every seeker after a sound body