Los Angeles herald., 1908-12-25
HANDS EXTENDED
FULL OF GIFTS
THOUSANDS MADE HAPPY BY
CHRISTMAS KINDNESS
ASSOCIATED CHARITIES HOST TO
CHILDREN OF POOR
Little Ones staqqer Home Loaded with
Presents from Trees Set Up
in Various Parts OF
the City


earth, good will toward mem more
beautifully amplihed in the efforts
which eliminated in a stupendous dis
tribution of Christmas gifts at various
points throughout the city by the OF
fieers and friends of the Associated
Charities yesterday afternoon than
by anything that might be mentione1
as among the first harbingers OF
Christmas day.
The Associated Charities elected to
hold a celebration yesterday afternoon
i'm order not to conflict with other
Christmas events both public and pri-
vate and it is well within the facts
10 say that nothing ever attempted py
that humane organization has ever
equaled, much less exceeded, the sue
cess recorded this year.
1t Is estimated that no less than zoOV
moor children were furnished with
Christmas gifts by the Associated
Charities. either at the main Christmas
tree i'm the basement of the court
house or at the various co-opefallnS
branches in different portions OF the
city This number was about equally
divided among boys and girls, and the
gifts furnished to each We're selected
with a view to their fitness for eacn
child. Every child, boy or girl, was
furnished with fruit of various klnds
and with candy, while books, games.
tOVS dolls
great variety were piled high in the
arms of the little ones, who fairly stag
eered homeward under the weight If
Christmas cheer and blessings that
had been showered on them with such
generous hands.
Judge Wilbur Talks
At the main Christmas tree in the
court house the services opened with
brief remarks by Judge Wilbur the
Juvenile court justice, in which ne
talked straight to the children in
vein in harmony with the occasion anu
In a way to force a lesson home TO
them while their little minds were in a
receptive frame.
santa Claus was then introduced and
a howl of pleasure went up from the
hundreds of little ones who, with VIDE
ly opened eyes, were pressing against
the big counters that separated them
from the tree. The tree had been hand
somely decorated by the women ard
was a Joy to any childish heart. As
RAPIDLY as possible the gifts were
passed out, a dozen or more men and
women engaging in the work.
Though the services began promptly
at O'clock it was after 4 o'clock be-
fore the last child had been supplied
with gifts and sent on its homeward
way along golden pathway of youth
full delight far outshining the bril-
liancy and warmth of the bright AFTER
noon sun.
Fully 1000 children were supplied at
this tree alone, the extent of the gifts
handed out being indicated in the fact
that more than 900 dolls alone were dis
tributed.
AT the other stations the same gen.
eraI scenes were enacted. At Native
Daughters hall on Second street. be-
tween Spring and Broadway, the mem-
bers of that organization distributed
presents to hundreds of little ones
from a handsomely decorated tree
Other hundreds of little ones We're
made superlatively happy at a tree
at the home of Mrs. Hammond on tie
west side and at one in the Westlake
district, where the young women of
the FpWorth league of the Methodist
Episcopal church received scores of
friends. both high and low, and dis
tributed gifts with bounteous hands.
Hundreds in Cooperation
Secretary S. K. SeweH. assisted by
Assistant Secretary Miss c. Carver,
had general supervision of the inn
mensely successful celebration, but SO
complete a success could not have been
obtained without the enthusiastic and
self-sacrificing cooperation Of the re-
mainder of the staff, the scores OF
friends who proved willing workers,
and the dozens of little children who
brought every imaginable kind of gift
to the rooms of the Associated Chari-
ties for distribution among their less
fortunate brothers and sisters.
Secretary Sewell especially empha-
sized the wish that the newspapers eX-
tend his earnest thanks and apprecia-
ton to al who assisted in the gigantic
undertaking, a task which. he admit
ted, was wholly out Of the question
for him to do in person.
ct Pala
enacted or to be enacted during the
course of the day will only enhance and
magnify the splendid impetus given
the holiday season so well begun by
the Associated Charities and their CO.
workers.
Aside from the church services to be
held today and during the evening and
the mammoth dinner to be given By
The Herald to 2000 children, plans Tor
spreading Christmas cheer radiate in
"a dozen directions.
The Salvation Army, as is its GUS
tom will feed host Of INDECENT men,
women and children at the Monarch
rink today, it being calculated that
about 700 will be provided for there
Scores of "baskets" also have been sent
out by the army.
At the City Rescue mission, COG East
Fifth street, several hundred children
will receive gifts in the shape of toys
books, games etc, from three different
Christmas trees this evening.
Prisoners Not Forgotten
More than 200 prisoners at the county
iail will be furnished with a specially
prepared menu by the sheriff this aft
ernoon, Chef Henry Eldred having
planned a toothsome dinner for the un-
fortunates of that institution.
At Bethlehem institute, $40 Vignes
street, and at El Belem 61S New High
street, special Christmas services will
be held this evening for the benefit of
many foreign residents of the city
Rev. Dana Bartlett and his assistants
having these affairs in charge.
Inmates of the Southern California
Masonic home at East San Gabriel mis-
sion, numbering about 25, will be made
the recipients of many handsome gifts
today from the various Masonic lodges
of this and surrounding cities, while
a Christmas feast is also being pre-
pared.
At the Volunteers OF America hall,
1913 East First street, this evening many
poor children Of the city will be pre-
sented with Christmas gifts, fruits,
candies, etc. Au immense tree will be
loaded down and the distribution will
be in charge of a real Santa Claus.
At the Volunteers OF America chill
dren's home, corner of Vermont ave-
nue. and Twenty-third street the in
mates will be given a Christmas dinner
this afternoon that is expected to pro-
I,.oo All fha Youthful Nightmares fhaf