The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-25
CHRISTMAS HAS COME ID CHEER
 AND MAKE HAPPY Santa Claus Has Filled Count 5. less Stockings By
 This Time
SALVATION ARMY
 SERVES DINNER TODAY
Elks' Christmas Tree This After noon-Special Church Services. Unique Potato Scheme at
 Woodawn.

ness, of gift-giving and merry making, and all Birmingham is teeming with the spirit of the season. The day will be generally observed and all business houses, with the exception of saloons, will be closed.
 Everywhere Christmas was in the air yesterday afternoon and last night The streets were fairly damned with peo- pie, many out merely celebrating the glorious Christmas eve in the custorm- ary manner by making all of the noise possible, while others, and there were many of these. were shopping and pre- pairing for the morrow.
 This morning, however everything is quiet and peaceful down town. Santa Claus made his annual round last night and this morning finds him again in his home in the ice-bound regions, where none but he has tread. There are hosts and hosts of joyous little hearts that have been made glad by the visit of the old gentleman, and
 among the older folk there abides the spirit of congeniality and brotherly love, and even in the lowliest hut there must be little soul made glad by a
 rag doll or perhaps tin soldier. Yesterday the Elks made final preIpr- ations for their big annual Christmas tree to be disclosed at the home on Eighth avenue and Ninteenth street this afternoon at 3 o'clock. No pains have been spared In an effort to do the poor and needy children full honor
 and it is the proposal of the commit tee in charge that no child be over
 looked
 Provision has been made by the Elks for 800 children. The tree is unusually large this year and every branch will be loaded down. Provisions are bounti-
 full and every child will receive all it's
 little arms can carry. There are
 something like 300 wagons for the lit- tie boys and 800 dolls for the girls.
 Besides, there are many other gifts
 that will prove highly acceptable and
 a source of much gladness for ,he little recipients. There is an abund- ance of fruits and nuts and candies ob- tained and each child will be sent home
 with a basket.
 In nearly all of the churches of the | city there will be worship at II o'clock. Some, however, will hold service at | 10:30 o'clock. In most of the churches also the Christmas trees will be lighted up with candies and heavily laden with gifts for the members of the Sunday
 school and church. Quite a number
 of the church trees have been decorated elaborately.
 | At the Presbyterian church at Wood- lawn the spirit of giving has topped that of receiving. Besides a contribu- i ton from every member of the Sunday 1 school for the orphans at the Home at 1 Talladega a novel idea has been odpued. An entertainment will be given tonight
 and every person who comes to church will be taxed the admission price of one potato. In this way 1t is hoped that
 a barrel of potatoes will be secured.
 Various other subst&ntials will also be received and all will go to the assist ance of the needy children.
 One of the most convincing arguments that the seasons attitude pervades all atmosphere Is probably at the Jefferson county jail. Yesterday morning the pris- oners all rose bright and early and as happy as man could be under the cir cumstances. There was nothing morose and even there where men are deprived of their liberty and are subject to the beckon and call of their guards there is happiness almost unimaginable. Yester- day morning they were all singing hap oily and in the evening service was held on the inside.
 Today the prisoners in the county jail
 will have a real Christmas dinner-tur-
 key, cranberry sauce, celery and nGm-
 Der of other relishes. Joe Lantsnaster
 steward at the jail, will be in charge and
 to him the men look for a good dinner
 which they will get. There are nearly 25O
 men in the jail and they will make mer-
 ry during the day. They will be given
 fruits and nuts and rendered every op-
 portunity to make the most of the day.
 The state eonvicts, those men who are
 compelled to dig coal in the black mines
 at Pratt City and Flat Top, will also be
 remembered with good dinner. Ward
 en J. J. Moore of Pratt City and Warden
 T. s. Dawson of Flat Top have placed
 orders for turkey, cranberries and other
 Christmas deicacies, which will be serv-
 ed to the convicts at dinner today.
 Next to the Elks in prominence but
 no less in spirit and the accomplishment
 of what is good and right will be the
 Salvation Army dinner. If there Is
 single man in Birmingham who was able
 and did not drop something in the pots
 he passed on the streets so many times
 with lassie standing close by ringing a
 hand bell. he would deeply regret that
 such was the case could he be at the
 dinner.
 Perhaps the lowliest in the city are cared for on Christmas by the Salvation Army. There Is always 6 plenty, for the
 army works hard and many people who
 have absolutely nothing are taken to the
 hall and given provisions which may last for some time.
 As stated, there will be holiday almost
 everywhere. County and city officials
 are scattered far and wide over this
 and other states and of course there will
 be no business transacted in the city and
 county affairs, this being the case. The
 postof1ce, banks, etc., will observe the
 day. There will be two mail deliveries
 in the business portion of the city and
 one in the resident districts.
 All theatres will give special matnees.
 Christmas comes but once year and
 there would not be real Christmas then
 if young America could not assert him.
 self with the cannon crackers and other
 fireworks. His noise will not be missinp