The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-12-24
Almas Temple, Mystic
Shrine, Gives Dinners
to Destitute Families.

Santa Claus put on a linen duster,
drove team OF twenty-fOur camels
across the burning sands OF the desert
and landed with a whoop in the middle
OF the hOOr OF National Rifles ArmOry
ing.
He came by the no. ana arid path
instead OF the frozen and icy North
because he was the agent OF the Mobiles
or Almas Temple. A. A o. y NJ S, who
had employed him as their agent TO
distribute TO 1000 OF tFe deserving poor
families OF the District / 900 Christmas
baskets filed to the brim with Christ
EiaS dinners. The Mystic Shrine was
right on the Job with help for the trav-
eler. They had the baskets waiting for
him, and q committee was on hand 10
help in the distribution OF the gifts.
Call for Baskets.
The deserving poor were also on the
Job. They streamed into and out OF the
armory from I o'clock IN the morning
until noon Each brought a card signed
by one OF the mobiles OF Almas Temple
vouching that the bearer was worthy
to receive one OF the baskets This was
done because the mobiles make It a rule
TO give only to those who deserve the
charity. and they make this plan sure
by having individual vouchers.
Santa Claus was kept busy. He was
like an overworked cook at a country
barbecue He handed out food instead
Of express wagons and monkeys. All
the baskets were heavy. and he pretty
soon discarded his linen duster. so ar
duous was the labor. TIE poor were as
hungry as they were deserving, and the
baskets were lugged away OF the
double-Quick.
These baskets were wonders. They
were packed 70 the limit and everything
they contained was the real thing. Each
contained an eight-pound ham, one
sixteenth Of a barrel of flour. One-nalf
Of a peck of potatoes, two pounds OF
coffee, two pounds OF sugar. a can Of
corn. a can OF tomatoes. and a can OF
pork and beans. Nothing was Of the
second grade and everything was full
weight
Mobiles Help Distribute.
Among those who bore the magic
cards Of admission" were men, women,
boys, and girls. Some Of the men ana
women were so old that they staggered
pitifully under the weight Of their has
kets. When this was noticed. Santa
Claus gave the high sign to the mobiles
who were assisting him, and, straight
way, one Of the mobiles helped the tot
| teTing one to the street car, provided
a car ticket for the journey home. ami
shouted a Merry Christmasr' after
/ the departing one.
Whenever any OF the applicants Tor
baskets looked tired the car tickets that
Santa Claus lad found useless in his
! dash across the burning sands were
showed out with great cheerfuiness.
I There were one or two instances when
/ the linen duster he had discarded would
/ have been acceptable TO some OF the
poor, but he had TO hold on to thatso as
| to make a quick-getaway across the
sands at noon and return for the stock
/ Iing-filling stunt by the frozen path to-
night.
Excursion Furnishes Money.
! These 900 baskets we're provided from
the proceeds OF the annual summer ex-
cursion of Almas Temple. as has been
done for the past ten years. They COW
cred the entire hrst floor Of the armory
and made the place look like the bar
| gain counter OF a grocery store. One
of the best features of the distribution
was the orderly manner in which this
great charity work was done For this,
| thanks are due to the committee OF no
! bles who managed the affair
I This committee consisted of r A Sc
bring. l. A. Dent. Alexander Grant ].
A Ellinger, Roe Fulkerscn, Harrison
tCoptipued on Second Page.)