The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-12-24
ONE DAY LATE.
Mrs. Thorpe Compelled to POST
pone Christmas Distribution.
Expects to Supply 400 Children
on Wednesday.
HAVE IL ASSISTANTS.
Churches to Help in Distribut-
ing the Presents.
lave IL ASSISTANTS.
AL Deserving Ones win Be
Supplied With Gifts.

Through the efforts of Mrs. Thorpe
and many charitab1y disposed people
the poor children of the city will be
given a Christmas that they viii re-
member for many days.
Last Christmas Mrs. Thorpe distrib-
uted many presents among the poor
children of the city and the same plan
which was adopted last year was again
put in effect this year. The different
Sunday schools and many people who do
not belong to. the schools have sent gifts
of different kinds to Mrs. Thorpe for
distribution among the children. The
old people have not been forgotten for
they will also receive gifts at the police
matron's rooms.
The poor children will call at Mrs.
Thorpe's rooms Wednesday morning to
receive their gifts This will make their
Christmas day late, but it will be just
as jolly as if it came the day before.
The children viii go UP the back stairs
and in the first room will be the cloth
ing; they will then go into the old build
ing and in the first room will be the
toys; in the next the books and in the
fourth the candy and nuts. They VIII
then pass out of the front door.
Mrs Thorpe expects about 400 children
and to wait upon them all and keep
them in order it viii require u assistants.
This has been arranged for. The z W.
G. "A. will send five assistants, the First
NJ. E. church will send three, the First
Congregational two. Miss Nellie Thorpe
will also help in the work.
The Salvation Army has made ar
engagements to feed all the poor who will
call for dinner Christmas so nothing in
substantial eatab les will be given at the
police station. 1t viii just be Christmas
presents OF toys. books, candy, nuts and
clothing.
on Thursday the rooms will be open
for the cid poor people who would be
unable to stand the push and jam of the
children The heavy wooden clothing
has been put aside for them, and some
canned goods and other substantial
presents Will be given them.
In speaking of the matter this mcrn-
ing Mrs. Thorpe said that all the Sun
day schools in the city had helped in
gathering gifts and that eight Sunday
schools in the country had sent in gifts.
Il think / have a plenty for all the
children or I will have before the day
is over for gifts are coming in all the
time. I was forced to delay the chill
dren'S Christmas until Wednesday be-
cause some of the gifts will not be re-
ceived until the evening of the 25th-
Among the gifts that have been received
are stockings filled with candy from the
United Presbyterian church. This gift is
especially acceptable as SO many OF the
children are in need of stockings, and OF
course they viii not object to the stock
ings being filed with candy. A number
of the Sunday schools made their collec-
tons yesterday and they are bringing
them in today"
In answer to the question. Are not a
majority of the poor children colored2''
Mrs. Thorpe said that they were not
sfOn the contrary, the white children are
in the majority and it is a large major
ity, too
The First Congregational Sunday
school furnished gifts for the IS chill
dren in the sewing school Whichwas held
in the ArmoTy last Saturday, and the
Woman's club furnished gifts for the
sewing school which is held in the Veal
r.
nished the gifts for the sewing school
for 'colored girls which Mrs. Thorpe con-
duets in her rooms at the police station.
The children are getting very anxious
about their presents and a number of
them have been running to Mrs. Thorpe's
rooms today asking If their Christmas
is ready. They walk down the stairs
very slowly when they are told that
Santa Claus win not visit the rooms I'M
til Wednesday, for two whole days is
long time to wait for a poor child who
has never seen Santa but is sure TO get
a sight OF him this Christmas