Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-19
THEY BRING JOY
Kindly Illustrations to Poor
and Unfortunate.
JAIL AND HOSPITAL
INMATES WILL KNOW THAT
CHRISTMAS HAS COME.
Efforts Of the Charitable to Give Hap
piness to the Lonely and
Neglected Ones.
JAIL AND HOSPITAL

Neglected Ones.
Christmas Is a season of good cheer. IL
is an occasion for general giving and re-
cetving. The established salutation OF the
day indicates merriment and happiness,
and such is the rule here at the national
capital. Even the .'other half" compris-
ing those who are possessed OF. little or
nothing in the way of worldly goods, man
age to have some sort of Christmas. But
amid all the jollities, the exchanging of
presents, the entertainments and the feast
ing, there are hundreds, even thousands,
for whom Christmas holds in store only
slight allurements and brightness. These
unfortunates are the inmates Of the Dis
trict Jail, the workhouse the reform school
for girls. the reform school for boys, GER
tain Of the hospitals and other institutions,
as well as the mortals who are absolutely
homeless and penniless, without a friend
and lacking even hut to crawl into for
shelter.
OF course, 1t must be assumed that those
confined in Jail, the workhouSe and IKE
institutions are alone responsible for their
fate, but during the Yuletide the heart OF
the average citizen is inclined to relent
and to regard his fellow-beings IN the
ciuICl OIL In6 law, OF Oh al uHhliu loeS'
with feelings of pity, il not of sympathy
Therefore, where it can be done, erorts
will be directed to the end that next Fri
day may be made as cheerful as possible
under the circumstances for all, whoever
they are, usually referred to as the 'unfor-
Inmates"
Overcoats for the Boys.
One hundred poor boys of this city will be
made happy Christmas morning, when, fol-
lowing custom inaugurated by the firm
dozen years ago, Messrs. Saks & Co. will
distribute one hundred warm. desirable
overcoats This practical charity, which
annually accomplishes genuine relief, will
be carried into effect this year by placing
tickets in the hands of the Assoclateds
Charities. Through the cooperation OF the
latter organization the most deserving
cases will be local ted. Each of the one nun
dred boys favored with ticket will receive
an overcoat upon presenting the cardboard
at the establishment of Saks Co. the
morning of Christmas day.
In the District prisons, with the single
exception of the Jail, extra bills of fare are
usually served the inmates,and at the hos
pitfalls, the orphan asyluns and at the
quarters of the religious organizations the
25th of December is observed by not only
the serving of delicacies, but by appropri-
ate ceremonies. rr
Christmas day is always pleasantly cele-
brated at the Government Hospital for the
bring happiness to each of the 1900 or 300
persons who are cared, for there.
Gifts for Prisoners.
While Warden Harris of the District jail
does not provide his charges with an extra
bill of fare, he permits them to receive
such delicacies as are brought or sent to
them by their relatives or friends, provided
the gifts are not Of such a nature as to be
likely to injure the health Of the prisoners
At the workhouse it has been the custom
in past years to require the prisoners to
perform only necessary labor Christmas
day and to set before them dinner Of
good things. Here, also, the receipt OF
delicacies from relatives and friends Is per-
nitted. Intendent Stoutenburgh further
more manages to provide an exceptionally
good dinner for his compulsory guests at
the Washington Asylum Hospital and the
almshouSe.
One of the most popular men In the Dis
trict each Christmas day is the superin-
tendent of the Reform School for Boys
He forgets for the time being that his
several hundred charges were sent to him
because they were bad boys, and treats
them as model youngsters In addition to
a dinner OF unlimited good things there is
always entertainment of some sort
Studies and labor are dispensed with, and
in the evening It is the custom for each
boy to receive from a great big Christmas
tree some gift particularly dear to the
boyish heart.
The day is made brighter than the others
of the year for the unfortunates at the
Reform School for Girls through the pro-
viding of goodies and the like.
A Big Christmas Tree.
The little patients at the Chldrens Hos
pital have set up for them by the lady
board of visitors an immense tree gor-
geously bedecked and bearing a gift for
aaob of ba tipu cufferera co,,rca tbara
are candy and cakes and other things, in
Guiding a lot of toys SO that the day is
one of great happiness. despite the presence
Of pain and sickness.
The children at the Washington Orphan
Asylum are treated to a regular Christmas
dinner. as are those at the asylums con-
Quoted by the Catholic Church and by other
faiths. Entertainments are provided for
the little ones, gifts are presented to them
and everything else done by those in charge
for their welfare and happiness.
The children at the German Orphan Asy-
lum, at Anacostia, each Christmas find
some toy or other gift ready for them when
they arise In the morning. Some of the
presents come from the asylum, while in
other instances friends of the little ones
remember them. The Christmas dinner Is
eaten at midday and turkey Is one of the
principal dishes, and there Is an abundance
of nuts and sweetmeats. The real Christ
usually occurs the following Sunday after
noon.
Industry at the Industrial Home School
Christmas, day is confined to securing en-
1oyment. There are between 400 and 200
children at this school, and what they
manage to do after receiving gifts in
the morning is. in the language of the
street, "a plenty"
Caring for the Friendless.
The systematic benevolence of the Saliva
ton Army will provide dinners Christmas
day for thousands Of destitute persons. The
idea that found expression last year
through little iron pots. hung in tripods.
bearing the sign Keep the Pot Boiling"
is being repeated. The pots are boiling at
several local street corners for the hungry
who are without means, and unlike most
pots 1t seethes and bubbles with pennies,
nickels, dimes, quarters. half-dollars, dol
lars and currency Of larger denomination.
The pots are to be emptied at Salvation
SAxyk