The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-12-24
Charities and Salvation Army
 to Feed the Poor
MANY CHRISTMAS TREES
Thousands of Dollars Spent, and This VIII Be the Greatest Christmas In the History of the City.
 EIks Entertain.


 means. will be observed by the churches tomorrow. but it will be observed by the general public today as well as to- morrow
 Although Birmingham is somewhat shy on turkeys, there are enough to 50 round and the poor, as well as the well-to-do and rich will have turkey on Christmas day.
 There will not be hungry person in Birmingham tomorrow. Arrangements have been made to feed the hungry, aid all who hunger need only to call at one of the charities to get a plentiful basket filled with the good things of the season.
 At the Mercy home. the Boys Indus tral school St. Vinccnt's hospital and the fails special dinners will be served and at several places Christmas tree WIT he grown today or tonight to give Joy to the inmates of the various places I The United Charities and the Salvation l Army have made arrangements to dls- tribute over 200 baskets, containing food' toys and fruits for the grown people as well as the children. These baskets VIII each give a bountiful meal for five peo- ole. and it is estimated that over thousand win be fed from them. Ihey will be distributed today from the head quarters of the United Charities at the corner of Third avenue and Twenty second street, and from the Salvation Army headquarters, at l12O First avenue
 Salvation Army.
 The Salvation Army will also give dinner to 300 people in the hall at lfzo First avenue Christmas day, beginning about noon and lasting several hours. The total of the people who will be made glad today and tomorrow through these two organizations will amount to between 150O and 2o0O
 Besides the organized charitable lnsu- tutions, many of the churches Will give baskets and provisions to the needy ana Christmas trees will be loaded with good things in many of the houses of worship
 The Elks have made provision for their usual Christmas tree at o'clock Thurs day afternoon, and 800 poor children have been invited to their house at Second ave- me and Nineteenth street to get gltt fror Santa Claus and 25-cent piece.
 All provisions in the city are plentiful except turkeys. which are very scarce and high in price. They are staple fooo for the glad Christmas time, but many will be forced to dispense with their slice of succulent meat this Christmas on ac- connt of the price and scarcity of the fowls All the merchants have large stocks of other foods and they are selling out rapidly
 At the Boys Industrial school situated near East Lake, and guarded and pro- teeted by a number of Birmingham's most charitable women, there will be Christ mas entertainment Thursday afternoon about 2 o'clock. The Young Ladies Sew ing circle has raised a good amount of money to give the boys tree, and number of donations of clothing and food have been received. Other donations are expected today. and the ladies in charge of the school report that the boys will have Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
 At inc Mercy home an entertainment will be given thls afternoon to the grown inmates and the children large enough to enjoy it. The ladies of the Womens Christian Temperance Union have charge of the entertainment, ana nave HlAoe ar engagements for an afternoon of fun and pleasure Presents will be given every inmate of the home. Besides this, the children have been invited to various Christmas trees and entertainments, at each of which something has been pro- vided for them. They will attend the Elks tree. Provisions in abundance have been sent the home, and this will help feed the children and clothe them for several weeks to come. Barrels of apples, cases of fruits and nuts and other good i things have been sent by the merchants, and further donations are expected today and tomorrow.
 United Charities. The United Charities will be open all today and part of tomorrow. Arrange