The Washington herald., 1907-12-25

new York Avenue Church.
Christmas, that has been scurrying
about for the last few weeks, getting
TO surprise all children who have
" very, very good for the last
~esterday morning This
news to some Washing
undeniably true.
of his aid-de-camps,
ne first business Of
record. as they might
departments. just about
c as serious business, too,
business iidn't concern children
SO mnch as q, their elders. to whom
life has long been a problem.
But Mr. Christmas aid supplied
through the kindness Of the members Of
Almas Temple Of the Mystic Shrine. with
200 baskets, instilled some of his own
Jovial spirit In those who came To meet
him ~ the National Rifles Armory.
In those baskets he had ham and sugar.
flour and potatoes. coffee and canned
goods. with which the tired hearts of
the seven hundred might be revived 10
hope again. Through many hours. until
almost noon, the aid stood there. giving
out concrete evidence that he and his
friends, the Shriners. were about the
business of his Master.
In another part of the city, at later
hour the same aid, or, perhaps. this
time his chief. enacted scenes almost
similar. This time il was the Salvation
Army Barracks. where the hundreds Of
the poor who cannot think of Christmas
for thinking of other and more terrible
days. gathered 10 receive the aid which
these workers among them had ready TO
give.
Truly in Need.
At O'Clock the procession of more
than four hundred people. holders of the
necessary tickets showing that they were
truly in need. started on its slow Journey
past Mr.. Christmas and the Salvation
workers who assisted him For five hours
perhaps little longer. with but few in
teTuptions. that crowd OF desoIate hui
manity slipped by.
Some Of them skunk past. borne down
not so much by the weight of what they
had done TO merit sinking, but overpow-
cred in their own souls by the conscious
belief that they had not done enough.
To al! of them the Salvation ARMY ex-
tended their help in the form of a has
ket of food. In each basket were chick
en-, bread coffee. tea. potatoes. celery
onions, butter. and sugar. The long and
sad procession ended shortly after s
o'clock. and Christmas turned from Adm.
Quirk and his ten assistants 10 go to other
fields
Next. perhaps. if Mr.. Christmas went
the same way as the reporter who wrote
tlis story. he landed in the New York
Avenue Presbyterian Church. where the
scene had some Of the color Of joy that
IS associated with his coming in the
minds of the nations fortunate.
Entering the door, which stood wide
open. but az the passage OF which he had
10 give something for the poor Christ
mas found several hundred children wait
ing in expectancy for something that
was sure TO come This was a cantata
entitled "The Real Santa Claus" sung
by the younger members of the Sunday
school. The chorus was forced. on many
occasions. TO respond to the applause
with encores.
Direction OF Mrs. Johnson.
The evenings entertainment was under
the direction of Mrs. Holcomb johnson.
WHO was assisted by Miss Jane Luste
Mrs. @. Z. Cannon, and Miss Isabel Cur
riden. The musical numbers were di-
reeted by Paul Fishbaugh.
A song by the entire Sunday school
was the opening number on the pro-
gramme, after which Rev. Wallace Rad
cliffe. pastor Of the church. led the
audience in prayer \ carol was sung
by the primary class, and Dr. Radcliffe
led the responsive reading. in which the
audience took part.
After another song by the school. DR..
Radcliffe greeted the audience with a
Merry Christmas and Happy New
Nedr." Christmas Is a Merry Time"
was sung by the primary department
Robert Morris member Of the Junior
department. recited Christmas is always
a merry time Evelyn Finch and Muriel
kellar gave "a recitation entitled MY
Christmas Doll" After n carol bv the
primary department. a recitation by Rob
ert Somervilie, and a song by the entire
school the cantata began
The young folks were very much inter
ested because Santa Claus was to take
part and was going to distribute real
presents They were not disappointed
Tor Santa appeared and gave out gifts
generously. The real Santa was never
more free with his presents.
The part of Santa Claus was taken by
a. H. Janus, and that Of Santa. ir"
by Warren Baker They were the only
two ''grown-ups' in the performance.
Those who took part in the exercises
were Chauncey Winsted. Norman Lynch.
Thomas Hills. Charles Stott. Harry By
ers. Myron Jones Alan Moses. Robert
Morris, Heath Parker. Paul DonnelIav.
Theodore Cannon. Felaid Cannon. Ralph
Marr. Howard Somerville. Bellmen Jones.
Miss Evelyn Finch. Miss Doris Wight
Miss Hannah Doritee. Miss Nettie Raw
ner. Miss Elizabeth Hills. Miss Elizabeth
Randall Miss Marjorie Darlington. Miss
Anna May Parker and others.
Candy was distributed 10 the children
after the entertainment. Clothing
money. and food was donated for the
congregations OF Bethany and hope
chapels, which are supported by the
church
As the evening progressed. Christmas.
finding himself entirely too busy for one
who had worked so hard all that day. and
likewise on SO many preceding days, re-
tired to the Washington Monument.
where. with wide-Opened ears, he heard
n thing or several. He had good ears.