Omaha daily bee., 1906-12-26
CHRISTMAS DAY IN NEW YORK
Thirty-seVen Thousand Dinners Dis
tributed Among the Ioor.
FEAST At SULLIVAN ASSOCIATION ROOMS
Food and Clothing for Thousand
of the East Side Homeless
Dinner al the nOwery
~ Mission.

NEW YORK, Dec. 2o.-New York cele-
bratsd. today the most bounteOus Christmas
1t has in many years. Ideal winter weather
clear, cold and sunshiny-marked the day.
Thirty-seven thousand of the cty's poor
shared in the distribution of Christmas
dinners by the Salvation Army. Timothy
ID. Sullivan and the Bowery mission. Five
thousand baskets and 1000 bags, each con-
tanning a fowl and "hMngs" SUFFICIENT for
a family Of FIVE persons or more, was dis
tributed by Commander Eva Booth of the
Salvation Army at the Grand Central pal
ace from IL to / o'clock. The people were
admitted to the great hall in squads Of
900 and presented with a basket Of food.
The usual Christmas dinner at the palace
was abandoned, as Commander Booth was
convinced the recipients Of gifts preferred
to take them to their own homes and pre-
pare their dinners after their own fashion.
This ma 10 It possible to add 1000 bags to
the amount distributed.
In the afternoon occurred the annual
Christmas tree and distribution Of more
than 5000 toys to the children. Commander
Booth said that the poor had suffered
more this year than last. as the price of
food and rents had been. advanced.
More than 5000 of the homeless of the
East Side partook Of Christmas dinner at
in the Bowery. no distinctions were made
between applicants, except that the lame
and blind were given preference In the line
Of those waiting for admission, The ma
jority of those who came for food were
evidently in sad need Of clothing, for many
were without overcoats and hundreds wore
only the remnants OF shoes. The day was
bitterly cold AS each man departed from
the hall pouch full of tobacco, a pipe
and ticket for a pair of shoes was given
him and then the hall was cleared for the
admission Of another group Of 800.
One hundred and fifteen baskets Of food
and clothing were distributed to poor
women at Bowery mission this morning
and tonight more than 1900 men partici-
pated in the missions annual Christmas
dinner. Five hundred dinner bags, each
containing enough for a dinner for ten
persons, were distributed by the Volunteers
of America.
Twenty thousand persons in the penal
and charitable institutions OF New York
City enjoyed Christmas dinners, the gift
either Of the city or of charitable organ
izations.
In many Of the institutions there were en-
tertainments. Harry X. Thaw's Christmas
dinner at the Tombs was sent down from
Public Business Suspended.
WASHINGTON, Dec. pa general sus-
pension Of public business marked the cele-
bration Of Christmas in this city. Only
matters OF the most urgent nature were at
| tended to and in consequence the army
OF government employees and officials were
free to enjoy the day.
As has been the custom In the past sim
plcity everywhere surrounded the events
at the White House The president was an
early riser and transacted considerable
business. The presents were many and
beautiful. Early in the morning the entire
family including Representative and Mrs.
| Longworth assembled upstairs and the
gifts were passed around. A large tree was
on conspicuous exhibition. Tonight at {
o'clock the family ate their Christmas din
ner.
Vice President and Mrs Fairbanks spent
the day quietly in their home, as did the
various cabinet members and their families
Special Services in San Francisco.
| SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 25.-with all the
pomp and elaborate ceremonial and witt
special music the sanctusries of San Fran.
cisco celebrated Christmas today 1t wai
no ordinary Christmas for San Francisco
Half Of the churches have been rebuilt or
less pretentious lines since the disaster OF
last April. But that was the only change
The same spirit animated the church-goerI
as filed them a year ago, when none
dreamed OF what was in store for the city
This fact was brought out in many OF tn,
Christmas sermons.
In all the churches services OF especia
splendor were held. St. Mary's cathedra
was opened for the first time since Aprl
Is, and there was a large attendance a
the mass celebration at II o'clock by Arch
bishop Montgomery.
Christmas Tree at POtsdam
| sPOTSDAM, Dec. 25.-Emperor William
took his usual Christmas morning walk II
the environs of the palace today and chat
ted with chance passersby. According Il
the time-honored custom of Prussian SOW
ereigns, he gave, at parting, to such al
were of the lower ranks in life a freshly
minted gold piece, which, like all none!
for the emperor's personal use, wa
highly polished by the mint. Returning Il
the palace he received Populations from
various bodies, who brought gifts, sucl
as a huge cake presented yearly by tn,
Second Guard regiment.
Among the trees at the Christmas ev
for the imperial grandchild, who took par
In the family rejoiclngs. Their majestic
conducted each member of the family L
the lighted Christmas tree, beneath whicl
the presents lay for distribution.