New-York tribune., 1906-12-26
CITY'S LAVISH CHEER.
NONE NEED GO HUNGRY.
Chaity's Doors Were Vide Open
and Christian Spirit Reigned.


Peace on earth: good will toward menr' This
sentiment brought to the earth by the %szels IN
announcing the birth of Christ, never peyvadeS
this city 10 a greater extent than 1t did yester-
day. From the most fortunate in the worlds
race, as measured by the goods OF the world
down to the humblest and poorest. from ths
home on Fifth avenue to the garrett IN the
East Side and the lodging house in the Bowery-
the true spirit of Christmas. that spirit which
brings Joy and pleasure in the giving OF JOY anu
pleasure to a fellow human being, no matter M
how small way. was exhibited on every hano-
1t has been prosperous year for the greater
part of the citizens of the city, and this pros-
perity radiated yesterday in every directiors
reaching down to those who for various reasons
were touched by the hand of adversely and pow
ertv and bringing TO them good cheer. and phys
icaI comforts to which some Of them had been
strangers for many long day. 1t prooaoAy
would have been difficult yesterday 60 nave
found anywhere a person unfortunately site
mated as not to have felt. in some slight way ae
least that 1t was Christmas Day.
DIVIDENDS TO REPLENIsH PURSES
The Christmas of those fortunate enough to-
possess dividend paying stocks and interest
hearing bonds had the additional cheer yester-
day Of knowing that next month they would be
sbarers in the distribution Of interest and divi-
dends amounting to nearly S177.OOOOO0. This is
q new high record total. being several millions
more than the similar disbursement year ago.
Not in years have the stores done such a
large holiday business which indicates the
spread of the custom of giving presents And
il is said that the gifts this year have been
more of the useful kind than ever before Thou
sands of persons. in addition to holding their
own family celebrations took part in some way
in making the day happy for the poor and un-
fortunate. Much of this was done privately by
individuals and it's extent cannot be estimated.
although unquestiOnably this kind OF benevO-
Ience was large. But in addition to this were
the dinners and celebrations given by various
organizations to those whose lot in life is cast
in hard places The city and county did their
share toward the happiness of the persons IN
their care as inmates Of the various public In
stitutions.
Looking at it from the standpoint OF ths
weather. it was a glorious Christmas Day. The
air was crisp. clear and bracing. with a moder-
alton OF the piercing wind that had blown Over
the city for two days. 1t was day to inspirs
happiness and good will. well as courage and
hope to those who needed it most.
Many began the day by attending the special
services held in the Catholic and EpiscOpalian
churches. There were six masses at St. Pat
rick's Cathedral, several thousand persons att
tending the last one at IL O'Clock The sermon
was preached by Father Sheahy. OF the Socisty
of Jesus and the pOntifcaI blessing was gfvaa
by Archbishop Farley.
MAGISTRATES WERE LENIENT.
The city magistrates. called upon to deal with
the grtst that came to their mill as the result OF
the arrests of the night before. exercised tbs
utmost leniency. In every case where they wers
able to do so they discharged the prisoner. In
all the tails and prisons prisoners were treated
with a consideration and kindliness seldom
shown to them. 1t was estimated that 10000
persons in the penal and charitable Institutions
Of the city enjoyed their share Of the Christmas
cheer including special dinners. Religious ser~
vices were held in all OF them The cold weather.
had sent the number OF patients IN Bellevue up
to 1000. Many OF them were made happy by
the distribution Of fruit and flowers by various
societies.
The efforts to bring good cheer and happiness
10 the inmates were more elaborats in the vari-
Gus institutions conducted by religious and prf-
vate societies. The happiness that came 70 the
inmates was less than that which came to
those who assisted in the various entertainments.
The Salvation Army provided dinners for moro
persons than any other single organization.
From It's headquarters In the Grand Central Pal
ace 5000 baskets and bags. each containing ths
'rnakings" Of substantial dinners for fve per-
sons. were distributed The Volunteers ~
America gave out material enough 10 provide
dinners for 5000 persons. The dinner of Big
Tim Sullivan. one Of the features of Christmas
Day the Bowery. provided much needed uour-
ishment for more than 5000 men -Four rhou-
sand men were fed at the Mission of the Iumac-
ulate Conception, at fth and Lafayette streets
MISSIONS ENTERTAINED GENEROUSLY.
FrlendIess and unfortunate women found a
bOuntiful dinner spread for them the Florence
Crittenden Mission. in Bleecker street. Two
hundred took advantage Of II. Seven hundred
little mothers" daughters of working mothers.
dlned at the Murray Hiu Lyceum in East S4fh
street. Their host was Frank Tuford OF Park
& TilfOrd There were many other smaller din
ners Of a similar nature in various parts OF ths
city. The BOwery Mission was not behindhand
in welIdOing. During the morning rs baskets
OF food. enough for ten persons. were given
away TO as many working poor women having
families. and at night the annual dinner and
meeting held, az which twelve hundred or
more men We're bountifuuy fed. Tonight tho
FLORIDA INFORMATION BUREAU.
Broadway, cor Soth St Two great trains south.
a.. Rail AfFxrk