Arizona republican., 1907-12-26
CHILDREN OF THE POOR
 MANY REMEMBERED
Three Hundred Enjoyed the Christmas Cheer at the Salvation Army Bar racks Last Night.

hearts three hundred children Of the
 poor gathered last night at the Sal
 vation Army barracks to take part in
 the Christmas exercises and receive
 the distribution of presents, which had
 been generously provided through the
 army and the assistance of various
 funds publicly and privately contribu-
 ted One had to but glance for a mo-
 ment upon the assemblage to see the eager. anxious faces of the small | figures crowding the hall and the | lighted tree loaded with gifts, in order
 to carry away with him a picture in-
 delibly stamped on his memory and
 thankfulness that even the poorest and most humble were remembered i Christmas. which should be the time
 of cheer, and is so for the majority of people here. would, but for the efforts
 and devotion of such charitable or ganizations. be the darkest spot in
 many clouded lives. rendered more so i by the gayety and gift-giving all about them. and in which they car l oft times take no part. But the dcca-
 sion last night at the barracks was
 for the children. and. while many older folks came to see the sight. the hall was so packed that only the little folks found seats. The Army. led by | Captain C. C. Smith. had previously | investigated throughout the city for | the cases of most deserving poor. and ! sla ones of these families. These tickets were required at the door before ad- mission was granted This provision
 was necessary in order that the un- deserving and those really able 10 se- cure gifts could not take the places ! and presents of the others.
 Owing however. tO the hearty re- | sponse tO the call for toys and money, one hundred extra presents were on hand for distribution. so that those who came without tickets were also given a share in the Christmas fes- tivisies Before the distribution very pleasing program was given by the children. which included songs. duets. guitar and mandolin music and dialogues. and led up to the hour which all were expectantly awaiting Captain Smith gave a very appro- priate talk to the little folks. telling
 them the meaning Of Christmas. and brought forth the lesson which the commemoration of the occa sion teach es. The list of presents included
 books. horns. little express wagons. games Of various kinds. dolls and other trinkets too numerous to men
 ton. bags Of candies. fruit and nuts
 To know the fullness Of joy in the hearts of these children the olds folks but have to call up the memory of childhood days and recall what Christmas time meant 10 them.
 While the gift giving to tho child
 ren has been more elaborate with the Salvation Army this year than usual nere there are other good and com
 mendable deeds upon which 70 dwell. Ii is readily acknowledged by all that the Salvation Army can and do reach a class with which no other religious and charitable organization comes in touch. Tn its daily devotion to relief work among the needy the army be- comes acquainted with the cases most ! deserving of special Christmas atten- tions. Ii is not possible to reach all cases which come to it's notice through | lack of funds. Those who received service first at this season are Iami- ] lies poor through sickness. To them and others much clothing was given. Captain Smith stated last night that about forty baskets. each filled with dinner which would cost from & to s5 were distributed yesterday and the ! day before to the most needy. To get . ha rt-Hf ' basket provided. it may be stated | that the contents included a chicken, 1 bread. butter. celery. cranberries. pre- ! serves. canned fruits. oranges. apples. | cream. coffee. olives and other deli cacies which seldom find their way to i the table of many poor If space per- ] mitted many instances touching in 1 the extreme could be related At one ' home visited on Buchanan street members of the corps found no fire. scarcely a piece of furniture save a bed. and not a crust in the house for another meal. When the basket was , set down on the table the mother burst out crying. "Oh, the Salvation | Army. they think of us when no one 1 else does. Not one mouthful we got, 1 but for this Christmas dinner" Such { pictures were to be found in many ! cold and cheerless shelters.
 The gratitude Of these forty hun gering families was something worth while. and the Salvation Army corps ! of the city deserves the encourage ment and praise of every good citi- zen. There are many who are as kind ! in their intentions to assist at this season of the year but the work of i looking into the cases and finding the ones to whom to render aid is a work ] that requires time which only sucn
 workers as Captain Smith and his wife can give.
 l Captain Smith said last night it ] was very hard to reach the most i worthy. for they. as a rule. are the last I to seek charity and are sometimes too l proud to acknowledge their true con- ! dition. These families must be sought out and assistance given with diplo- macy lest their feelings be wounded | These same families would be the last | to send their children to the Christ mas tree exercises at the barracks, | and many would not have come had 1 they not been visited and given tickets and made to feel that a warmth of | welcome would be theirs. and that | they were as much a part of the L ,riFt