The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-12-24
SELECTS Gifts FOR .
125 BOYS AND GIRLS
wASHBURN HOME MATRON HAS
LARGE TASK.
Nome of the Gifts May Cost Over rs
Cents and Individual Wishes of
Children Are Closely Considered,
Necessitating Careful shopping-Last
Two Days Busy Ones at Home.

While Christmas shopping is not ex-
actly a task for Mrs. E. B. Key, the
matron Of the Washburn Home, her
office as purchasing agent during Holt
day time is by no means an easy one.
Suppose everybody had to make ready
for family of l25 boys and girls. But
Mrs. Key has been accustomed to shop
for family Of 800 in Chicago, so she
has solved the problem of shopping for
q family of over 125 to nicely.
In preparing the list for the Christ
mas purchases the matter is taken in
hand quite systematically. At first
the teachers Of the boys and girls con-
ticular wishes, and as it is the prin-
children have full sway at Christmas,
their little wishes are considered in
every possible way. After the list is
made out, Mrs. Key divides the chill
dren into groups on her shopping list;
one list is for the little tots, on an
other are named the boys, and then
there is a list for the girls.
Not Over Is Gents.
The gifts for the children must not
cost over rs cents each. Each child is
entitled to wish for two gifts, and
sometimes they are given three This
does not include candies. This year
the expenses for the useful articles
have been permitted to be added to the
clothing expense account, thus giving
the matron q little surplus, with which
extra gifts have been purchased .
AS soon as Mrs. Key arrives in one
of the leading downtown stores she
attaches herself to "guide thru toy.
land' and the fun begins. Occasion.
ally she is accompanied by some of the
older children, who consider a trip thru
the beautiful stores an extra treat
After the gifts have been purchased
and brought home, comes the work OF
doing them up In neat packages, tiec
with red ribbons and with the name Of
each child attached to it. All this
means work and the teachers and as
sistants at the home find the last two
days preceding Christmas day busy
ones.
Some of the Gifts.
The accompanying list shows jus
about what the pretty things will b
under the fine old Christmas tree il
the chapel:
Twenty-Five dolls, regular.
Twenty-Five dolls for the nursery.
Three dozen books.
Fifty games.
Twenty pocket combs.
Forty sets of collar and cuff buttons
Twenty strings Of beads.
Sixty boxes for gloves and handkel
chiefs. -.
Seventy-fve handkerchiefs.
This does not include numerous Dor
bon boxes which will ornament tn
Christmas trees and many toys for til
little tots.
Joyous Preparations.
Preparations for the holidays al
- participated in by the children an
they are given the delightful pleasu1
of anticipation to the fullest exten
Friday afternoon the older girls busie
themselves under guidance of tt
matron to stuff fourteen fat Christine
turkeys, which are to be the leadin
dish Of the holiday menu. In tt
afternoon the little ones Of the kinde
garten had their Christmas entertai
ment under Miss Tillisch's superv
sion.
Miss Fay and Miss Tillisch will les
this evenings Christmas service, al
Monday evening play will be give
under the direction of Mrs. E. Farm
worth, E'The Revolt Of Santa Claus,
= with musical accompaniment by Maui
M. Atkins. Following it the dist
button of presents will take place und
the Christmas tree. -.