Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-12-25
DOMESTIC CHEER
MARKS THE DAY.
Salt Lake Remains Indoors, at
Fireslde and Banquet
Board.
FEW PUBLIC ASSEMBLIES.
The Poor Are Well Cared for. While
Inmates of Public Institutions
Are Treated to Big Feasts.

Christmas on the street was cold to-
day. Following his kindness In fur
nlshIng Thanksgiving snow torn, the
weather man today held the mercury
down to the point required for the best
kind OF Christmas. Indoors. the fam
lily with load OF coal in the coal house
and a big fire In the crate, had little
TO do but be happy and watch the baby
eat the green paint off the jumping
grasshopper, and dlssect his new au-
tomobile that toots a horn as 1t scoots
across the table.
Who worked today7 The streets re-
fused to tell except in the almost empty
cars that made more than their share
OF noise on the deserted streets, as the
motormen drove them over frosty rails.
Here and there a bslated MERCHANT, with
an eye refusing to turn itself from the
main chance, had his store open, and
a tardy purchaser tried to secure a late
gift, for someone perhaps, whom he
had overlooked, until he himself had
received a present from that direction.
In the Office buildings II was chilly, and
the elevator boy was late, of course.
Why should he come away from home
with the stocking hanging full and
bursting on the mantle, just TO haul
lot OF railroad clerks up 10 the fourth
floor? A good examination OF 1t, and
the next car would leave nobody
chance to kick much would IL? And
anyhow the railroad \ rks would be
as late as he was. And they were
TURKEY SUPPLY GONE.
The final Christmas rush concluded
at midnight Saturday, and every mer-
chant who sent his worn out clerks
home with some little remembrance OF
the work that had worn them out, tes-
titled that the business transacted was
the largest ever handled In Utah In a
Christmas season. Money seemed to
be plentiful, more plentiful than In
years, and everybody was bent on
spending II quick. The late purchasing
current struck heavily into the meat
shops, and provision houses. People
bought their presents, perhaps, earlier
In the week, but their turkeys and vi
ands, they collected In one solid mass
to secure Saturday afternoon and eve
ming.
orders that couldn't be filed, orders
for a thousand turkeys for every 800
that were to be had, and orders for fish,
when every ounce was wrapped up.
construed to pour In. The turkey and
fish supply of the city expired from
sheer exhaustion at dark Saturday
night. and after that purchasers took
beef or mutton.
Dates, and figs. and nuts were swept
up to the last sackfull in demand
that was so much heavier than at other
Christmas seasons that merchants were
unprepared for It. Decorations, too,
came In for heavy selling Four car
loads went to the retailers, and hardly
a vestige remained this morning, as an
offering to belated buyers.
FREE CHRISTMAS DINNERS.
Christmas for the fellow whom Santa
Claus has n 'er met and or whom he
has never heard the address, was cele-
brated today, In many an unexpected
corner, through the kindness OF some
philanthropist who stopped by the way
to make the kids" happy.
At the board Of trade building the
Salvation army encountered long line
OF children and grown-ups, each COM
ing with a message from some hearth
stone that II Christmas Is to visit there
IL iuhot NoiiiS III q boohNN va tc'u AAohs
the army.
You wouldn't think IT," said one SOL
der in his salvation uniform, "but lots
OF these comparatively well dressed
people come from homes where want Is
actually and keenly felt. Lots OF them
don't know how TO manage. We have
to put Just enough food In for one meal.
and send them second meal some 9th
er time, or they'd cook both meals to-
gether, and waste the second, which
perhaps is why some Of them are poor"
TREE FOR POOR CHILDREN.
At the old armory headquarters on
Market street, free distribution OF
clothing and presents which will be re-
ally appreciated by youngsters, win oc-
cur tonight. A big Christmas tree Will
be ablaze with lights when the little
tots assemble, and each Will carry away
enough clothing to keep him warm for
the winter weeks. In addition to the
direct distribution of charity associa-
tions, many employers remembered
their employees with substantial gifts.
Hewlett Bros. sent turkey and other