The Washington times., 1901-12-23
BIG TIME AT
ST. ELIZABETH'S
Christmas Tree, Ball and
Feast for Insane.
OLD SANTA CLAUS TO Be- THERE.
Presents Provided for All the In
mates, Who Will Be Assembled
in the Chapel for the Occasion
Dancing to Ada to the Gayety or
the Festival.

The authorities at st. Elizabeths Hos
pital for the Insane are making ready to
give the patients as ENJOYABLE a Christ
mas as possible.
The preparations are on more exten-
sive scale this year than at any previous
time during the history Of the institu
tion. owing to the increased number Of
inmates.
To Have Christmns Tree.
On Tuesday night, Christmas Eve, an
entertainment viii be given in the large
chapel where the religious services are
usually held An immense Christmas tree
will be erected in the chapel today to
hold the more than 1900 presents which
have been provided Some lifiiculty Was
experienced in finding tree large enough
70 hold the presents and the hundreds OF
electric lights which Will grace the
branches.
Scores G. the inmates who do not come
10 the chapel at any other tine are ex-
pected to attend an Christmas Eve. The
patients always file in in an lerly man
ner and take their seats so quietly on
these occasions that a casual observer
could scarcely tell them from sane peo-
pic
Old Kris to ne on Hand.
The feature Of Christmas Eve which is
expected to attract a large cro@d is the
presence Of Kris Kringle himself.
The giving away Of presents viii begin
at 730 O'Clock. and care has been taken
that there will be no one who will not re-
ceive a gift The name OF each patient
capable Of appreciating a present VIII be
called cut and the favored one viii walk
up to the platform to take the gift from
the hand OF the man who will imperson-
ate Santa Claus.
Followed by Bail.
After portion of the presents are
given out dancing will begin. The hospital
holds dances twice a week throughout
the winter season. beginning at Thanks
giving. II is 4 rule OF the institution
that female patients must have male
attendants as partners. and vice versa.
The patients are never allowed 10 dance
together, Many of the patients OF the IN
stiution are excellent musicians, ard the
orchestra at these dances Is partially
composed Of them.
after the close Of the ball AT about 20
O'Clock the rest Cf the presents win be
distributed Gloves. books OF all kinds.
games, fancy slippers. mufiiers. comfort
ers neckties. SIX handkerchiefs-in fact,
the same little tokens OF regard that
sane people are wont 10 give and receive.
have been provided Numbers Of the in
mates take an especial delight in the
receipt Of pictures and Illustrated books.
On Christmas morning each patient VIII
receive a pound Of nuts and candy
Splendid Christmas Feast.
The Christmas dinner VIII be IN large
scale. There are eight Kitchens at the
hospital, and the thirty cooks aid help
ers have busy time before them. The
neat and well arranged store building is
always full of provisions. and TIE Christ
mas preparations viii only slightly in
crease the labor of those in charge Of IL.
For the dinner $500 pounds OF turkey
will be cooked. -Four barrels Of cranbcr-
res, 800 heads OF celery. 20 bushels of
potatoes. $50 mince pics. barrels OF
cider, 200 pounds Of coffee. barrels of
sugar. IL barrels Of snpler, barrels OF
Tour and trimmings galore VIII be put