Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-12-10
Christmastide
In New York
Holiday Spirit AT Flood in The
Great City and All Appesr
To Have Money To Buy
Gifts
SALVATION ARMY EFFORTS

NEW YORK, Dec. 1o,-Throughout
the metropolis all indications point to
m Astounding Merry Christmas. The
good humorod. 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,
though Christmas Is still two weeks
OF. None seems too poor to pur
chase some expression Of good VIII.
In front OF the great Sixth avenue N
Broadway shops where the million
aires trade carriages block the way.
In the cheaper quarters pedestrians
swarm so thickiy that 1t seems at
times an II The mass would be unable
20 disontangle itself.
One week ago the familiar pots and
tripods OF tho Salvation Army wore
placed at the busy street corners and
during the week the pots have boiled
mcrrily. In the financial district II
has been no uncommon sight % 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 tho pots have been
kept iinelinF with tho pennies and
nlckels dropped in by poorer but
equally generous giyors. Az a result
of these and other contributions the
army's chrlgtmas dinner parties
promise 20 be a great success
Commissioner Eva Booth, who has
just assumed charge At the general
headquarters Of the Salvation Army
IN Fourteenth street, states that fully
100000 q women and children Will
obtain their Christmas cheer this
year through tho efforts Of that or,
~ganizntipn 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 DO laid.
The work of arranging the celebration
In the city ID divided Into two dlvls.
ions. one for collecting funds and sup
plies, aud tho other for distributing
the good things after they are In
hand. Each division Ia organized sys.
tcmatically, with It's head officers and
suh-oftieers, each having his pnrtic.
ular duties mapped out for him be-
forehand.
The collectors of supplies are TO lay
In 1000 pounds OF cnffee. 5000 lonves
of bread. 1900 pounds Of sugar. and
thousands OF turkeys and chickens,
not to mention a barrel or 80 Of Gran
berry sauce and prop%ortionate guam
titles ri the other things that so to
make mp the proper sort Of Christmas
feast.
Resides the dinner, there comes
within the scope OF the serving divis'
ions duties the no less important dis
iribution O. Christmas baskets. About
5000 Of these are 10 be made
ready. filled with turkey. bread. and
all the other eatables In evidence at
the dinner. During Christmas morn.
Ing the baskets will be distributed to
poor people Of every section Of the
city. The giving Is not done promis.
cuously, however. for members OF the
army have been making inyestiga-
lions several weeks with a view OF
discovering who were deserving re-
cipients. Lists Of names and nd.
dresses have been turned In at head.
quarters. and numbered tickets "
be issued to each family.
In cases where the family IL unable
TO call or send for the basket nj the
Grand Central palace. II will be deliv.
cred by the army Each n VIII
contain. In addition to the eatables. a
pretty Christmas card. n previous
10 their distribution all the 5000 viii
be displayed on the tables in the
palace. The charity OF the army does
end with the distribution. though
During the few days after Christmas