The evening world., 1902-12-27
Randolph Guggenhelmer Acts
as Host for Fifty-six UnfOr-
Inmates at the School for the
Crippled.
|CRUTCHES ARE FORGOTTEN.
Songs and ReeltatIons In Which
"Maseot" and "Dlmple" Were
Stars, and Lots Of Excitement,
Made the Day a Joyous One.

Ftty-six little crlpples were made
happy to-day at the Free Industrial
School for Crippled Children, No. A3I
West Forty-seventh street. and ffty-six
li:tlc voices rose in THANKS to Randolph
GuRsenheimer, who gave to these little
unfortunates the happiest New Years
dinner and entertainment In their young
lives.
Clutches and braces were forgotten
and a merry crowd laughed and talked
and grew excited over their big New
Years treats.
But the children were not the only
happy ones. Randolph Guggenheimer's
jovial face beamed as the small cripples
gave their thanks.
Five hundred guests assembled at the
school from 3 until 6 o'clock, though the
children arrived much earlier. At II
o'clock the wagonette which takes the
children to school every day started out
to collect its loads Of youngsters at
their tenement homes. They were all
IN the best clothes their parents could
provide, but many OF them had to lie
turned over to the care OF the maid In
be introduced to the bathroom before
they were permitted to go down TO the
assembly-room. And what excitement
prevailed when they wero seated wait
ing for the festivities to begin!
First OF all. Mrs. Arthur Elliot Fish,
President OF the scho3l, made a little
speech. Introducing Mr.. Guggenheimer,
the children's friend. Fifty.six pairs Of
eyes were fixed upon him as he arose
to make his speech OF welcome. Then
there were songs and r~scitations and
piano solos and comedy sketches. and
last OF all there was a song by the kin
dergarteners.
When the twenty-five tiny little Grip
Pies took their places and sang their
childish song. there was not n Of
Mr.. Guggenhelmer's guests or the wom-
en- OF the Guild whose hearts did not
throb in sympathy.
When the mascot" and "Dimples''
got up to sing their song. "A Letter to
mascot Is ~hve-year-old Mary Hickey
and 'Dimples" Is ~siS-year-ofd Willie
Battell. They are the pets OF the
school.
After the songs the children filed
down stairs into the dining-room and
upstairG into the kindergarten room.
where the tables groaned with the
big turkey dinner.
II was 3 q CLOCK Wnen SHOUTS OF JOY
burst forth at the sight of those tables.
Fruit and flowers decorated them and
pretty paper devices to please the child
ish eyes were at each plate for favors
and how those little cripples ate! Just
like big, healthy girls and boys who
can run about and play and who know
little of pain and suffering.
After turkey and dressing and cram
berry sauce and everything hat goes
with the real New Years dinner had
been served there were nuts and can-
dies inc fruit, and what fun there was
with the cracking OF the paper caps
and the bonbon devices.
The mascot" said she had eaten so
many good things she could sing
again, and Willie Battell turned his
little face toward his generous
host and said he thought he was the
man In the world.
Upstairs a buffet luncheon was served
for the Rrown-up guests. and a silk bed
spread and burnt wood bedroom set, all
the work of the children, were rafled
of for the maintenance OF the school.
The children remained long after Mr..
and his grown-up friends
had departed, They begged to stay just
little longer to talk IL all over. They
range from three years up to sixteen
and are all scholars in the Free Indus
trial School for Crippled Children. They
from the In the district
between Thirty-fourth and SiXty-ffth
streets and Ninth and Tenth