The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-12-28
JACKS CHRISTMAS
THREE HUNDRED JOLLY TARs
FROM EVERY LAND MADE HAPPY
AT SAVANNAH PORT SOCIETY.
ENTERTAINMENT GIVEN By LADIES
AUXILIARY.

Programme Presented-The Pres
ents Distributed Were Useful and
ServiceabIe - Ladies' Served Re-
freshments-Hau Was Packed by
Representative Crowd Sailors
The Ladies of the Auxiliary.
Something of the Port Society.
Three hundred jolly tars were the re-
cfpients of Christmas gifts last night,
when the Ladies' Auxiliary of the Sa-
vannah Port Society gave their annual
Christmas entertainment in the chapel
of Seamen's Bethel the home of the
society, at st. Julian and Lincoln
streets. Before the distribution of the
gifts, a programme of music and reci-
tations was rendered, and refreshments
were served by the ladies.
When the exercises began, shortly
after o'clock, the chapel was packed,
the seats being filled with sailors, and
all available standing room occupied
by the friends of the society, the au-
dience which assembled to hear the ex-
cises being composed of a representata-
tive class of citizens, among which
there were many ladies.
The chapel presented scene of UNI
usual loneliness. The walls were en-
bellished by the flags of every nation
on the globe, while suspended across
the room were large American and
English banners. From posts and
ceiling were suspended the naval en-
signs and pennants, a perfect sea of
flags encompassing the room. On each
side of the rostrum, Christmas trees
ladened with holiday trimmings and
myriads of tiny colored incandescent
lights, added to the attractiveness of
the scene.
Jacks From Every Land.
The Jack Tars themselves, from
every corner of the globe, represent
ing every creed and nationality, were
interesting studies. The grizZled old
sea-dog and the youthful apprentice
sat next each other, and during the
distribution of gifts evinced mutual
interest in the others good fortune.
Beside the f1axen haired, blue eyed
Scandinavian sat the black haired
and swarthy Spaniard and Portuguese
some in their sailor suits, and 9TH
ers in flannel shirts or sweaters-but
there was, despite their varying ma
tionality and their DRESS a common
and distinctive mark, which portrayed
the life they led-the tanned face, used
to weathering alike the wintry blasts
| and the tropical sun.
Made Glad with Gifts.
The gifts, which were distributed at
| the close of the exercise, were most
| serviceable and durable. Numbers were
| first distributed among the men, cor
| responding number being attached to
each of the presents. AS each number
| was called, it's bearer made his where
| abouts known, and the present was
| tossed to him over the heads of his
| fellows. The presents consisted, in the
main, of sweaters, wooden caps, muf-
flers, flannel shirts and emergency kits,
| the last named containing needles,
thread, buttons, pins and other small
articles serviceable so often at sea, as
well as on land.
| Some Got Misflts.
The utmost good feeling prevailed
| during the presentation. Much merri-
ment was occasioned now and then by
the luckless way in which some of the
presents fell, a youngster getting a
cap which came down over his ears.
| while some big brawny seamen sitting
near by came into possession of a cap
that would hardly cover his bald spot.
| In such instances. an exchange was
serruptitiously effected.
During the rendition of the pro-
| gramme the ladies of the auxiliary
served refreshments, consisting of
sandwiches. coffee and fruit. among
| the sailors. Some listened intently to
|
| were too much engaged with their por-
ton to give much attention to the Sc
| lections, while to a few almost every
word that was said was unintelligible.
After song and prayer, Superintend-
ent NJ. Fl. Iverson. made an address
to the sailors He told them of the
goodness of the ladies auxiliary in
preparing the Christmas entertain
ment, and of their valuable work in
| Will
them to do all in their power to further
the interests of the society.
The Music.
The musical program was rendered
by vocal quartette, consisting of Mrs.
N. j. Alderman, soprano; Mrs. H. e.
Crittendon, alto; Mr.. j. B. Fowler
tenor, and Mr.. e. K. Demmond, basso;
and by Mr.. Howard Winburn, who
played several highly enjoyable and
appropriate pieces on the piano. A
soprano solo was most acceptably rem
dered by Miss Wilson.
Seated on the platform were Judge
Samuel B. Adams President of the
Society, Mr.. George J. Mills, Rev. M.
j. Epting, Superintendent M H. Iver-
son, Mr.. w. N Nichols and Mr.. G..
Horace Remshart. The ladies of the
auxiliary, of which Miss Ellen Nc
Alpin is President, who assisted in the
entertainment, were: Mrs. C. D. Bald
win, vice president; Miss H. L. Reed.
treasurer Mrs. H. F. Train, secretary;
Miss Julia Middleton, Miss Sallie An
derson, Mrs. M. Soutter, Mrs w.
Scherm, Mrs ]. D. Murphy, Mrs. w.
A. Nisbet, Mrs. Adam Kessel, Mrs. G.
G. Dahl, Mrs. w. F. Scherf, Mrs. ].
Nelson, Mrs. Otto Seller, Mrs j. A.
G.. Carson, Mrs. J. d. Epps, Miss Josine
Weed. Miss Edith Johnston, Miss Meg
Cosens, Miss Alice Remshart, Mrs. r. S.
Lucas, Mrs. Agnes Howard, Mrs. B.
A. Denmark, Mrs. B. L. Bugg, Mrs.
Olive Freeman, Mrs. Dukes, Mrs. Frank
Butner. Mrs. d. E. Willett, Mrs. r. p
Wimberly, Mrs. B. F. Close and Mrs.
w. r. Leaken.
Cheers for Port Society.
At the conclusion of the evenings
enjoyment one of the blue Jackets
mounted a chair and proposed three
cheers for the Savannah Port Society,
which were given with a will. Three
rousing rounds of cheers were then
given foS the superintendent of the So
ciety and the ladies of the auxiliary,
and the gathering stood adjourned
The Savannah Port Society, organ
lied by legislative enactment as long
ago as 1S43. is to-day one of the
worthiest institutions in Savannah. II
fills a need which no other institution
supplaces. IL Is, in truth a sailors
club and home. The many foreigners
I who come into this port have no other
home than their ships. and after
spending weeks at the time aboard
! them. they are ang iOus when land Il