Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-24
CHRISTMAS IN WALL STREET.
Many Cash Gifts for Employes-The
Annual Festivities

AS all the exchanges and most of the
business houses in the financial district will
be closed today, the customary distribution
of Christmas presents to employees was
made yesterday afternoon. These gifts are
always in the shape of cash, but no recipi-
ent has ever been heard to complain at get
| ting the same sort of present year after
year. There was repining last year over
the lessened amount of the gratuities re-
ce1Ved by the employees of financial inSti-
tutions and private firms, but these laments
We're not sounded yesterday, for, according
to the common report, Christmas remem-
brances have this season been Of satisfy
ing size.
Yesterday afternoon was the time set
for distribution of the Christmas funds
raised among the members of the several
exchanges On the stock exchange $4,000
had been subscribed, 1t is understood, about
the same amount a year ago. and this
sum was divided among the 400 floor boys,
messenger boys, doorkeepers, elevator men
and other employees
The Christmas fund OF the consolida ted
stock and petroleum exchanges was $2,936.
The produce exchange members paid over to
a committee of which James s. Carney was
chairman $1.975. which was distributed
among the 1I5 employees. and the curb
brokers raised $1,000 for the boys employed
by them.
The stock exchange will hold its annual
celebration next Saturday afternoon, when
an interesting program, the features of
which are still dark secret, will be Of
fered by the committee of entertainment
which Is composed of G. E. Knoblauch
chairman; George J. Weaver and Richard
Kelly The 1th Regiment Band will furnish
the music for the occasion, and a large
number Of visitors are expected The vast
board room Of the exchange was appropri-
ately decorated yesterday for the holiday
season Festoons of evergreens were hung
about the room, with many punches of red
| lrnmortelles large red rosettes and big
CHRISTMAS bells to give variety and color
On the consolidated exchange the an
nual Christmas festivities We're held YES
terday afternoon, beginning promptly at
the closing Of the market, at 3 O'Clock p
A Mcclure aand H. Jacket were the COM
m1ttee in charge Of the celebration The
galleries, which were hung with flags. were
reserved for the guests of the exchange
most OF them being women. On the floor
or the exchange the Sth Regiment Band
had been stationed, which just on the mo-
ment of the closing of the market struck
up stirring march. Thomas Dunn the
singer and comedian, had been engaged to
sing popular songs. 1t had been understood
that the brokers were to Join in the cho-
ruses. and they did their duty, whether
they could sing or not Various impromptu
pranks We're played by the members on the
moor, and the celebration ended with a con-
feti battle. 1t had been arranged that
the many rolls of tape which are usually
flying about at a celebration should not be
discharged this year.
The produce exchange had announced its
annual celebration for New Year ave. in
conformity with the stock exchange There
was notice on the tfckers yesterday how
ever, that the celebration would be held
at noon, but this was found to be a hoax,
as the celebration which was held was
merely joke on Charles Gale a member
OF the exchange. Mr.. Gale recently pur-
chased home in the country, and yester-
day some of his friends presented to him
a large and very much alive rooster The
bird was brought to the wheat pit, and
there solemn joker made a solemn speech
on the merits and dement's of ROSTERS in
general. When Mr.. Gale went out of the
exchange with the rooster tucked under his
arm, and his bald head showing he was
vigorously and repeatedly slapped on the
head, with accompanying cries of Cover
the block! The shouts of glee at the antics
over this presentation could be heard in
the street, and many passersby stopped to
ascertain the cause of the uproar