East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1904-12-10


New York, Dec. 10.-Throughout
the metropolis all indications point
to an abounding merry Christmas.
The good humored, jostling throngs
in the streets and avenues give little
sign of any necessity to stint in their
purchases. In many of the best shops
the buying is already at flood tide,
through Christmas is still two weeks
off. None seems too poor to pur-
chase some expression of good will.
In front of the great Sixth avenue
and Broadway shops, where the mil
lionaires trade, carriages block the
way In the cheaper quarters pedes-
trians swarm so thickly that it seems
at times as If the mass would be una
BILE to disengage itself.
One week ago the familiar pots and
tripods of the Salvation Army were
placed at the busy street corners and
during the week the pots have boiled
merrily. In the financial district II
has been no uncommon sight to see
well known bankers and brokers stay
their steps long enough to shove a
crisp bill of large denomination
through the wire covering of the pots.
In other quarters the pots have been
kept jingling with the pennies and
nickels dropped in by poorer but
equally generous givers. AS a result
of these and other contributions the
Army's Christmas dinner parties
promise to be great success.
Commissioner Eva Booth, who has
just assumed charge at the general
headquarters of the Salvation Army
in Fourteenth street, states that fully
$50, 900 men, women and children will
obtain their Christmas cheer this
year through the efforts of that or
ganization in the United States. In
this city the Grand Central palace
has been leased for the big dinner,
for which about 200 tables are to be
laid. The work of arranging the cele-
bration in the city is divided into two
divisions, one for collecting funds
and supplies and the other for dis
tributing the good things after they
are in hand. Each division is organ
ized systematically, with its head Of
ficers and sub-officers, each having
his particular duties mapped out for
him beforehand.
The collectors of supplies are to lay
in 1000 pounds of coffee, 5000 loaves
of bread, 1900 pounds of sugar, and
thousands of turkeys and chickens,
not to mention barrel or so of cram
berry sauce and proportionate guam
titles of other things that go to make
up the proper sort of Christmas feast.
Besides the dinner, there comes
within the scope of the serving divis-
ions duties the no less important
distribution of Christmas baskets.
About 5000 of these are to be ready,
filled with turkey, bread, and all the
other eatables in evidence at the din
ner. During Christmas morning the
baskets will be distributed to poor
people of every section of the city.
The giving is not done promiscuously,
however, for members of the army
have been making Investigations sew
eral weeks with a view of discovering
who were deserving recipients. Lists
of names and addresses have been
turned in at headquarters, and num-
bered tickets will be issued to each
family
In cases where the family is unable
to call or send for the basket at the
Grand Central palace, it will be de-
livered by the army. Each one will
contain, in addition to the eatables,
pretty Christmas card, and previous
to their distribution all the 5000 will
be displayed on the tables in the pal
ace. The charity of the army does
not end with the distribution, though.
During the few days after Christmas
the same families will be visited by
officers assigned to that duty who are
instructed to see IL anything in the
way of fuel and food is needed to tide
the poor homes through the rest of
the winter.
There is to be no artificial limit on
the hunger of the Salvation Armys
guests. Those who go to the dinner
may eat just as long and just as raw
enously as they like. If they want
five cups of coffee and three plates
of turkey. they will be satisfied. After
the tables have been set the waiting
multitude will march to their seats
at a given signal, and the feast will
be on Clad in white aprons, the
army men and women who have been
selected to wait on the tables will
serve the steaming turkey and coffee,
and then the sweets, as fast as the
guests demand new portions. The ar
rangements are so systematic, 1t is
said, that no matter how fast or how
hungry the feasters may be, they will
not have to wait more than few Sec
onds between helpings.
Though the Salvation Army dinner
is the largest of its kind, 1t is not the
only free spread to which the home
less and unfortunate of New York
are treated at Christmas time. Free
dinners to many hundreds are fur
nished annually by the Bowery Mis-
sion and numerous other missions
and charity organizations, and by
churches of all denominations.
TEN TEAMS RACING.