The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-12-13

of almost every nation of Christon-
dom. Such was the crush that even
the uppermost tiers of hunks, reaching
half way to the high ceilings of the
great sleeping rooms, were in use.
The room held a motley crowd Of
women and children, yet a common
impulse had caused nearly every
mother, as she put her brood to bed,
to Groom them to sleep with the Old
World folk songs of the birth of the
Savior. 1t was a might chorus, but
despite the diversity of tongues and
the differently keyed voices, it was
harmonious, for the burden of the
songs was the same and through them
all ran a half dolorous refrain.
The voices of the singers came soft
and low to the keepers and the fur
clad women visitors and their escorts
stationed outside in the corridor.
Gradually, ever so gradually, the
chorus lessened as child after child
dropped off to sleep and the mothers
lay down beside their little ones.
Fainter and fainter it grew until the
sound of heavy sleep reached the lis
teners.
AT last only one voice remained
singing, that of a girl who had evil
IDENTIFY been in a convent school:
I'm obscure nascitur
illustrator soils,
Stabulo reponitur,
PrincepS terrae molis."
Might in darkness shrouds His birth,
hn he OiXeC Snlan6nP
In a stable lies on earth
Earth's Prince and Defender.)
Even the men in the hall were look
ing a little thoughtful as the singer
ceased. None of the group spoke for
a moment, then one of the keepers
broke out: And there's not a darn
Christmas trinket among 'em."
That aroused the women visitors to
action. 1.-The poor little dears," they
sobbed. "Come!"-to their escorts
1--WE must fix up the tree" And pat
ting their eyes with their handker-
chiefs, they walked through long, de-
serted corridors and down flights of
echoing stairs to one of the tempo
rary detention pens for the women
and children. There they worked till
nearly midnight strewing with all
manner of gifts a great Christmas
tree, set up in corner of the big
room. Last of ALL they planted big
American flag on the very top twig.
And now" said the man who had
placed it there as he stepped off the
to the babies of the world Tomorrow"
.
1t was early Christmas mornings
traditional Northern Christmas. From
the windows of the immigration sta
ton, in the gray of the morning, snow
could be seen on the island and the
mainland, floating ice in the bay, ind
the crisp air found its way in at the
window crevices.
"a white Christmas" said one of
the guards to his companion as they
stood looking at the scene. First one
we've had in"
Suddenly, a shrill small voice broke
in upon their conversation.
Merry Christmas" it shouted in
German. Merry Christmas! Merry
Christmasi"
Instantly a babel broke loose. and
the sound of sleep vanished. Merry
Christmas!" cried a woman to the
mother leaning over the edge of the
overhanging bunk. Merry Christmas!"
shouted back the other, regardless OF
the fact that she herself was Polish
and the woman underneath from Sicily.
'Merfy CnTlSlIildb! rang Jul LIOil a
bunk occupied by buxom peasant of
Scandinavia, and Merry Christmas"
came the return greeting in voice
strong with Irish accent. MERRY
Christmas!" shouted the children to one
another. merry Christmas Merry
ChristmasI' arose in half a hundred
tongues. Merry Cbristmas!"
"It will be--for sure-an hour later"
said one Of the guards.
An hour later the immigrants had
been given breakfast in the long din
ing room and were headed for the va
rious detention rooms-the men sepa-
rated from the women. They marched
heavily, as all immigrants do, through
the corridors. the women carrying not
only their younger children, but their
possessions as well. But, al
though II was Christmas there wasn't,
to quote the guard OF the night before,
"a darn Christmas trinket among EN-"
Every child was empty handed, unless
he was helping his mother with the
family belongings.
Pretty soon the head of the wom-
ems column reached the doors of its
room for the day. The keeper who
was leading swung aside a wooden bar
and bang! the doors flew apart and the
started in.
Suddenly the leaders halted and stood
stock still--oyercome with amazement.
In the far corner OF the darkened room
stood o. great mass OF green, glowing
lights, interviewer with glittering bands
OF tinsel, holding In It's conter. In
plain view, the image Of little old