The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-12-25
Elizabeth Holiday and Eugene
Hagan Form Partnership.
SHE FOUND THE NEEDY
Little Girl Stood on the Street
and Watched Passersby.
Spent $40 Where 1t Would Do
Most Good.
Other Benefactions Which Mad 9
People Happy.

People Happy.
An unusual desire to make this
Christmas as happy for everyone as
possible seems to be general among all
classes The private acts of charity
can not be enumerated. If they were
it would be shown that the belief that
it is better to give than to receive is
general. j
There are several men and women in
Topeka who are known for their chari-
table natures and for the good they do
at all times. They have been particu-
larly energetic at this Christmas and
many a family has much in the way of
supplies and clothing to be grateful
for. Police Matron Thorpe and a corps
of assistants have had no trouble in
securing all they needed for the poor.
The Salvation Army has met with un-
usual success in the raising of money
1t seems that people are becoming more
liberal Many have contributed more or
less literally to charity this month who
were never before known to loosen their
purse strings.
Now and then occurs a charitable
act which may not involve a large
amount of money but which is particu-
larly pleasing because of some special
incident Eugene Hagan and little Miss
incident in connection with this Christ
mas, and in consequence Mr.. Hagan re-
ceived marvellous tidy Christmas
gift.
For several years Mr. Hagan has Civ
en- Miss Holiday IS to spend in doing
good that some hearts might be made
glad at Christmas time that otherwise
might have no ray of happiness Eaca
year for several years Miss Holiday,
who is not yet 13 years old, has ex-
pended the money in most judicious
manner. Each year she has made a
strict accounting to Mr.. Hagan. The
money has not gone for toys or useless
articles but for clothing and food for
families who neededJ them Mr. Hagan
has been SO pleased with the manner
in which Miss Holiday has spent the $5
that this year he made his appropria-
ton to her for charitable purposes $40.
Miss Holiday took the money She
chose Sixth avenue and Quincy street
as a good point for observation She
stationed herself there and watched for
the needy. Several ragged boys and
girls came along who We're in need of
shoes or stockings. She took them into
a nearby store and fitted Them out with
what they needed and resumed her
watch.
One afternoon she noticed a nice look
ing little chap who was clean and tidy
but whose clothes We're the worse for
wear. Miss Holiday stopped him. took
him into the nearby store and fitted him
out from head to foot. He was elated
Miss Holiday resumed her watch The
next day she found another boy he,
too, needed a complete outfit. She took
him into the store and when he came
out he had under his arm new and
warm wardrobe. You must be thank
full to Mr. Eugene Hagan for these
gifts" was Miss Holidays parting in
Junction. She always explained to those
whom she befriended that Mr. Hagan
was the one responsible.
Miss Holidays 500 was not all gone.
She resumed her watch. The next day
here came the two boys whom she had
fitted out Their faces were radiant.
They bore message from their grateful
mother. She was struggling and alone
and trying to keep the two boys in
school. They were brothers, they ex-
planned. 1t was a coincidence that Miss
Holiday had chosen those two on diff
ferent days from out the numbers who
passed by her station
They brought to Miss Holiday
token of appreciation 1t was fan
ciful little tidy of an inexpensive style.
1t was addressed to Miss Hagan," and
within was a note from the mother;
note that well proved that Miss Holli-
days aims had been well administered
and that she had expended the money
for the needy and the grateful The
mother supposed that if she must be
thankful to Mr. Hagan for the gifts that
the donor must have been Miss
Hagan,' so that is the reason that little
Miss Holiday decided to give the tidy
to Eugene Hagan for his Christmas
present. The associated charities con-
QucleQ DV MISS f1Ol1iudy anu MI Ia
gan has been decided success 1t will
be continued. Miss Elizabeth Holiday
is the daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. Charles
K. Holiday.
One Topeka young man who wished
to do some good at Christmas time
went about it in a systematica1 manner.
On account of his systematic efforts 70
families were made happy
He started subscription paper He
headed it with S5 and from everyone
who wished to contribute he received
anywhere from 25 cents to 81 He raised
the grocers and got the very bottom
prices on sugar, oatmeal, rice, bacon,
coffee and other necessities. From Po-
lice MatrOn Thorpe he secured a list of
20 needy families. He got a low price
from a coal dealer for four tons of coal
made a calculation. He allowed four
families a half ton of coal each and
to the other families he made a gOOdly
allowance of groceries He made out
orders for the supplies countersigned
by the grocer and delivered them to
Mrs Thorpe. She gave them to the
needy. So by hard work and a careful
expenditure $35 was made to do a deal
of good among 20 families The same
amount of money divided among them
would not have gone as far.
Christmas some times brings a gift
that might better not be sent. Such was
the case with Santa F'e shopnlan who
received a fine home cured ham. 1t was
sent to him from eastern relative
who lives on a farm and raises swine
and cures the hams he raises OF course
the corn fed. farm raised, home cured
ham would be better than any other but
the trouble was the donor forgot to pay
the express charges ham came
collect 81 75." The shopman could have