Omaha daily bee., 1907-12-26

NEW YORK. Dec. B-There was no
spirit Of depression in this city this Christ |
mas day From the Bronx 20 the Battery
mad over into Brooklyn to the point where
Coney Island points its nose into the sea
there was merry-msking that must have
satisfied the Jolliest soul, and those VINO
had no cheer Of their own were bountnuly
supplied by those who had enough and to
spare Those in a position TO know, say
that never before have the good things
been distributed with 50 lavish hand or
so many Of the less fortunate made happy
with gratuities The salvstionists, Volun-
teers. Young Mems Christian association,
and a hundred other public and private
Humanitarian organizations WED with each
other in supplying to all who would ac-
sept bountiful repasts, surprise gifts OF
slothing and toys. with music ana bright
lights and wen wishes thrown in. In iact
the good cheer could not be dispensed with
In the traditional twenty-four hours. and
beginning at noon yesterday. Christmas
festivities were In full swing. Even at
the stock exchange, the scene OF recent
financial disaster Tor many. the walls
were hung with holly and mistletoe, and
the brokers proved they were not broke
bv making "a pool OF $1,000 for the $50
Exchange employers. Nearly every public
school had its Christmas program. Sec
tartan differences did not appear and the
cutest santa on the East Side. ii is said,
was a properly gotten up little Hebrew
girl.
Cafes and Halls FILLED.
Christmas eve filled the restaurants and
cafes, as always. but It also filled every
available hall in the city where the throngs
were made up of every element found in
the metropolis. Band concerts chorus
nd
turns made up the program. The opera
houses and high class theaters were
crowdede. as usual on a holiday. but
score Of places We're given up to free en-
tertainrnents for the crippled children, the
newsboys and thousands Of others without
the price"
Christmas day. though without snow
was as beautiful as the sentiment II en-
gendered Clear crisp and cool, the weather
filled the parks and invited the ever
ssaAr.aealzr parade on FIFTH avenue
It lifted the fog that had hung over the
harbor and rivers and the craft that frished
and wigwagged good will to each other
Even the stately transatlantic liners un-
hen, their dignity and accepted the good
nst,lred challenge from the most disreputa-
Bile tramp.
Toys and Carnations.
Down the battery Captain Davey Roach
~ the light tug e T. ,TimmonF made his
annual distribution TO his employees OF -
Rold pieces Of the same weight and fneness
of those that the employees OF Central park
received from the hand OF Mrs. Russell
SAGE. on Ellis island 1900 immigrants in
a babel OF tongues thanked Miss Helen
Gould for their first merry Christmas in
America. There was toy for every child
and a pink carnation for each adult The
he
tlons, where real home" dinners were
served. 1t found its way into the Tombs'
where Harry Thaw furnished cigars for
the keepers. handkerchiefs for the matrons
and smokes and chocolates for his fellow
prisoners II blocked the streets at a hun
dred points whtrN leftover stock of milli'
merry and toys were given away and big po-
Bcemen nearly lost their minds in frantic
Efforts to keep the blisgfuily Indifferent tots
from getting before the wheels Of street
cars and automobiles The police were
lenient. too, and the puah cart man. witt
everything from the papcr Christmas bells
To Teddy bears for sale. puShed their ware:
with impunity even int the sacred pre-
cincts Of Fifth avenue.
MaAy ChrIEtwl@s Packages.
II IS estimated that during the Christ
mas rush there have been $4,000 Par
cells shipped out Of the city by mail anS
express. Exact figures are of course, un
obtainablo, but these figures. based OF
estimates made at the postofhce anS
the express offices are thought TO b.
approximately correct The vane o
nackARes sent by express. where value
were given. is said 20 be about S7,400.
300. The number Of packages sent on
OF the city this year is about per cen
greater than last year. while IL isN esti
mated that the value is 10. per cent less
This decrease in value is said to b
due 10 the fact that goods are cheape
this year and that people are more care
ful in the expenditure Of money. NeN
York always gives more than Il receives
and Il Is estimated that not more tha
I 800. 900 parcels have been received in IN
city.
Next to the postofhoe and the expires
ofAces the busiest place IN the city dur
ng the last few days has been the Gus
toms appraisers warehouse. Here ali n
packages received by parcels post frOT
England and Germany are examined 10
iutable articles Up 20 last night 5000
packages were examined, and when n
ured examiners were forced TO stop Wor
last night nearly 1000 packages were lei
On the tables unopened. Many Of thes
win be days late when they are delivers
y the persons 10 whom they are sC
dressed IN various parts OF the Unite
states.
Christmas IS being celebrated IN gres
style on board the steamers in the harbo
The giant Mauretania was wreathed Wit
holly and other Christmas greens fror
stem 10 stern, and a great feast was 81
'1r the crew. al which each sailor or othe
smploye had bottle OF beer as an extrs
more than 90 bottles Of beer In ali. Tn
Baltic Of the White star Line ana N
New York OF the American line also
port. Were decked with holiday wreath
snd other decorations. and special dinner
Vere served the crews
The families OF more than so men vi
are serving terms In prison ate Christma
dinner furnished by Ms BaIlington Booth
IcOntinusd on Second PAEe)