Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-12-26

NEW YORK, December 25.-One of
the chief features of Christmas Day in
New York City and It's vicinity was the
weather. Not only was the sky clear
in all directions save to the southwest,
where heavy clouds acted as a back
ground to the glorious sunshine, but
the rays of the sun aftel 8 o'clock in
the morning were so genial that heavy
wraps and uncomfortable furs were not
to be endured except as fashion dictated
that they are the proper thing at this
season of the year. The consequence
of this almost spring-like weather was
that the churches were thronged with
worshippers and the streets Of the city
filed with merry throngs of men. wo-
men and children, who left the Christ
mas trees in their homes and got out
for a breath of the invigorating atmo-
sphere.
1t is estimated that more money was
spent in Christmas gifts this year in
New York than ever before, and the
same is true in regard to the charit-
able gifts. 1t was only because a case
of restitution was kept hidden that the
unfortunates were not supplied with
Christmas cheer.
..Ofail the set Christmas feasts that of
the Salvation Army at Madison Square
Garden this evening was the largest.
A bountiful Christmas dinner was
served to about four thousand persons,
men, women and children. The cost
was betrayed from a fund Of about
S 8 5000 collected by the Army, chiefly
through the kettles, which for several
weeks have hung from tripods in va
rious parts of the city, to receive con
tributions ito keep the Christmas pot
boiling"
All afternoon four hundred helpers
were busy laying the fifty tables and
preparing the food to make good cheer
for this army of the city's poor, and
probably no happier Christmas crowd
could have been found in the city. Men
and women, drawn from all walks of
life, into the Salvation Army were
eagerly enjoying the pleasure of bring
ing Christmas cheer to others, and n
of the happiest of this four hundred
was the grandson of the late Arch
bishop Trench, of Canterbury, a new
recruit, who made merry as he peeled
potatoes.
When the gallery doors of the Gar
den were opened at ) o'clock there
was a rush that required vigorous Ct
forts on the part of a score of police
men to prevent the little ones who
were in IT, crowd from being hurt,
By 6 o'clock there were 1000 people in
the galleries, waiting in jolly mood for
the dinner while the helpers in the
arena below were serving out the good
things provided. Promptly with 6
O'Clock the Salvation Army's guests
were marched down to the tables and
took their places after the d~oXOlogy
had been sung to the accompaniment
of the headquarters brass band. Then
for three-quarters of an hour the spec
tdlOIS III IAt balNOuN Cd VI q ldlt EISlt
OF 5000 of the poor reyClled in a
bounteous Christmas dinner. After
the first relay had finished the tables
were reset for the other thousand
guests of the Army.
After the dinner the headquarters
brass band struck up onward, Chris
tian Soldiers and the great crowd
joined in the hymn with vigor and
then Commander Booth-Tucker made
an address.
Five hundred newsboys enjoyed the
Christmas feast at the N~ewsboys Home
on Duane street this evening. The
Christmas distribution OF gifts took
place at the Home on Saturday night.
Every boy received a present OF a
sweater. Those who had studied hard
at the Homes night school. earned a
suit of fleece-lined underwear.
Miss Helen Gould provided the din
ner to the boys at the Woody Crest
S|anitarium which she maintains near
T~arrytoWn.
Mr.. and Mrs. Howard Gould pro
vided a Christmas tree. loaded with
presents, and served a dainty luncheon
to 200 school children at Port Wash
ingtOn, l.. l..
At the United Charities Offices the
distribution Of Christmas gifts to the
poor was not finished until late TO-
night. che various voluntary contribu-
lions OF clothes. food and moneys had
been distributed by the workers dur
ing the past week, and thousands Of
presents were received by the poor OF
this city. All of the hospitals had been
visited, and the deserving poor in the
tenement house districts had been re-
lieved of their unhappy circumstances.
Nearly 1000 homeless men and
friends Of Senator Timothy D. Sullivan
were guests to-day at his sixth annual
Christmas dinner.
In the wards of the city hospitals
there was Christmas sunshine and
Christmas cheer. Unwonted smiles
lighted the faces of the sick. the
manned, the halt and the blind. while
the convalescents were RECALLED with
Injuries and unusual d~elicacies.
At Washington.
WASHINGTON, December 25.-The
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