Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-25
The Day Observed in All the
Hospitals.
CHILDREN CARED FOR
CHRISTMAS TREES AND DISTRI
BUTTON OF GIFTS.
Great Joy of the Unfortunates at the
Government Asylum for
the Insane


the capital city were not forgotten today.
The officials of every institution for the sick
made special efforts to gladden. the hearts
of the patients The dreariness of the day
worked against the hospital authorities to a
small extent. but this was overcome by Civ
ing little extra attention to the patient
upon whom the gloominess had its effect.
That the efforts of the hospital authorities
was appreciated cannot be questioned. At
the majority of the hospitals or at institu-
lions where there any children under
treatment. Christmas tree resplendent with
tlnsel. pictures. pasteboard stockings. beau
tiful huge vari-colored balls. knicknacks.
etc. formed feature of the celebration of
the anniversary of the birth of Christ
The patients, young and old, participated
In the exercises Those who were unable
to walk were taken to view the trees in
wheeling chairs and beds. In instances
where the patient was unable to leave the
bed the gifts were taken to the rooms.
Short religious services were held at some
OF the hospitals in connection with the
Christmas celebra ton.
The congestion at the Emergency Hospital
would not permit the officials to put UP
tree. Its absence, however, was not dlsap-
pointing to the patients, as the nurses took
special pains In decora ting the rooms with
evergreens. The patients were allowed to
visitors and receive gifts. The dona-
tons from the friends of the hospitals were
ulSulDupeu among the patents without
friends. The usual Christmas dinner, made
up of good things too numerous to men,
tom was served
The Children's Hospital.
The eighty patients at the childrens hos
pltal were well taken care of. They had
Christmas tree and each received from one
to three presents. Upon arising this morng
they found n brand-new pair of stockings,
filled with candies, nuts oranges and the
like. hanging beside their beds.
The patients at the Home for Incurables
celebra ted Christmas yesterday. Christ
mas tree was put up in the parlor and the
patients were all given presents. Rev. M.
Bicknell of the Pro-Cathedral, conducted
religious services. and the members of the
lady board of managers assisted in dis
tributing the gifts.
The exercises at the Georgetown Univer-
sity and Providence Hospitals were much
alike in character. Special religious serv-
ices were held at midnight and early this
morning. Christmas trees were put up at
both institutions and the patients enjoyed
frst-class dinner. The celebration at the
other hospitals was practically the same.
At st. Elizabeth.
The wards of the nation and of the Dis
trict whose homes are at the Government
Hospital for the Insane were treated to
dispensation of Christmas cheer in the
usual spirit of liberality that prevails on
SGNH OSIdSlOiIS dl Inc large eSldDliS nfnent-
1t is part of the duty of those charged
with their care to foster the spirit of the
holiday time to the 1900 persons provided
for IN the hospital, and this is done in a
manner thoroughly in keeping with the
season. The celebration of the Christmas
festival began last evening around a NAM
moth Christmas tree and eliminated today
In feast of generous proportions
The chapel hall was the scene of the
Christmas tree entertainment. There the
decorators Of the hospital had hung festoons
OF evergreenS from ceiling and walls and
about the stage until the effect In the RAYS
OF the myriad of electric lights was a bean
uful one. Suspended from portions of the
hanging green ware gilded cages containing
the canary songsters that are to help
brighten the ward life, the notes of the little
occupants being added in harmony to the
music OF the st. Elizabeth orchestra, which
under the direction of Prof Caldwell rem
oered an attractive musical program. The
stage Itself was concealed by an immense
curtain. When the audience had been seated
the lights faded away and then the big cur
tain uprolled, to show. in its own dazzling
e S ouIos. the Christmas tree. with
santa Claus as its decorator. Over twenty
feet high stood the symmetrical cedar, its
stately proportions heightened by the effect
oi santa Claus handiwork in the artistic
placement of the numerous gifts on its
boughs and about it's base. In the light of
us bulbs might be seen the array of gifts
Vi practical nature mostly, and which
among other things. comprised various ar
Drellas. etc Santa Claus, In the person of
supervisor Charles Burch, enacted a pam
tomfne about the tree
Dr J.. e Simpson, one of the staff physi-
Grams then spoke few words of expIana-
ton ana greeting. following which came a
distribution of the presents. short period
OF dancing then took place.
me Christmas dinner was served at the
institution at noon. The force of cooks had
been busy preparing the sumptuous meal
lot several days. Here Is a list of the
Things from which the menu was prepared
turkeys. $3.50 pounds; cranberries bar
refs: celery, 1900 punches; potatoes 16
Dushels; fruit cake, LOCO pounds; mince
pies about coo. Quite a bit of culinary
skin entered into the serving Of the big
holiday repast and when the turkeys went
forth to the dining rooms they were ac-
companied by delicious gravy, mealy mash
ed potatoes and garnished with sprigs OF
holly and with celery
The dinner was enjoyed by the inmates
thoroughly. In the central dining hall,
which accommodates 100 persons decora-
lions were in place. and the patients par
took OF their meal amid the pleasantest of
surroundings In the other different dining
rooms about the hospital much the same
scene was presented. Fruit cake and cof-
fee comprised the supper.