The San Francisco call., 1906-12-24
SPIRIT OF HOLIDAY
SEXES CITY
Citizens Turn Thoughts
to Fellow Beings in
the Refugee Colonies
GIFTS FOR THE POOR

All is in readiness for one of the
most enjoyable Christmas seasons ever
experienced in San Francisco. So far
as can be learned, there IS not a man,
woman or child in the city who will
not be entertained in some way during
the week, and IL is believed that not
one child will be forgotten in the dis
tribution OF toys, no matter how poor
its parents may be.
For the time being individual and
public cares have been forgotten. For
the moment all thought OF the evil
effects Of the fire. or the doings of the
egaspipe men and Of the city grafters
have been cast aside.
Even John Siemsen. awaiting what
seems to be his certain doom on the
scaffold. is imbued with the spirit of
Christmas, and for days he has been
industriously drawing pictures of mem
bers Of the courts. to be sold for 81
each. that he might buy for his child
wife holiday present even though
she spurns him
CHEER FOR REFUGEES
In the various refugee camps, which
g few months ago were scenes of pri-
walton. the holiday season is making
itself felt. They are expressing graf
ftude 70 the great world of humanity
for coming TO their aid IN a time Of
dire need. The sympathetic attention
Dec1 people
from all places has aroused a fraternal
feeling. which they are exhibiting in
their kindly attitude toward each
other.
Naturally. the refugees and their
children are receiving the most atten-
ton from public-s spirited people. After
Il was determined that ample provision
had been made to entertain refugees in
the various camps and to furnish the
children with toys. the employees at re-
lief headquarters discovered that the
refugee children who are living sep
arate from the established camps had
been overlooked
The wages paid the employees of the
Relief Corporation are low in compari-
son with the general cost of living, the
average salary being but a little more
than $50 a month. But, in spite of the
fact that their money was needed al
their respective homes in a hundred
different ways. they concluded to give
u sc poor children a Christmas enter
nment they will not soon forget
\ US, next Friday these employees will
gather all the refugee children not con-
nected with the camps at a big Christ
mas party. where toys and other good
things viii make their hearts glad.
SALVATION ARMY BASKETS
Members Of the Salvation Army have
been working night and day of late
preparing baskets of good things to
eat for those who are not financially
able TO buy a meal equal TO it, Ac-
cording to the number of applications
that have been received for these
baskets it is estimated that they will
feed at least 5000 people. The baskets
viii be given out at the headquarters
OF the Salvation Army, at 1871 Mission
street, this afternoon.
Last Sunday night the Salvation
Army gave a Christmas tree and en-
tertainment for children residing in
the central part of the city at the
Central Theater, ana other children
will be given the same kind of treat
Christmas night in the regular halls
u the army. The Sunday night cele-
bration was held in the Central Thea
ter. and IL IS estimated that 1900 chill
dren were there, each receiving toys
and candy
Some Of the schools viii hold private
Christmas festivals. Saturday night
the teachers of the Bryant School en-
tertained their pupils at Maennerbund
Hall. It was a Christmas affair, and
its success was aided by the work OF
local theatrical people Similar enter
ttnments are scheduled for later dates
sunday schools of the larger number
Of churches will have Christmas trees
and entertainments. An example OF
the popular genial spirit and the desire
to bring pleasure TO others is the vote
taken by the members of the Sunday
school Of the Hamilton Baptist Church
to give the candy intended for them or
the church tree to the refugee children
at the Richmond camp
GIFTS TO CHARITY