New-York tribune., 1908-12-26
CHRISTMAS CHEER
FOR RICH AND POOR
YOUNG And OLD ENJOY
THE DAY.
Dinners for the Hungry, Encourages
ment for the Sex and Gifts
for the Homeless.

for the Homeless.
1t didn't matter much who you were. you could
feel that it was Christmas yesterday. And il
was no mans fault that everybody did not get
some Of the cheer. II came ike the quality OF
mercy and was not strained II came TO many
thousands in hospitals jails, missions and places
where private individuals gave freely The turn
aside and help spirit tugged at the sleeve OF
the with plenty and he turned aside In 4
multitude OF homes the rejoicing was added TO
by the feeling that some Of the holiday gladness
had been diffused-
There was none Of the white crispness so
longed for to make the day brighter But the
warmth did not dull the rejoicing. neither did
the moist streets crowd the people indoors No
rain fell, and that was cause for content None
OF the poor was suffering from extreme cold. and
that was for Joy The seemed to
struggle to get a glimpse Of the city. and ne
just managed il several times The late morn
ing, afternoon and evening saw the streets OF
old Manhattan teeming with men. women and
children, radiating peace and content
The man with crouch had lost it. Enemies
dropped the keen bitterness OF feeling in con-
temptation Of the meaning OF the day. "On
earth peace, good viii toward men," was more
than fine spun sentiment. The hardships Of
the months Of leanness had borne the fruit Of
consideration for others. That was why the
Charity Organization Society. Salvation Army.
Volunteers of America, churches and mission
organizations in general able to give in
plenty.
In the hospitals there was not a patient who
had not some attention in keeping with the day.
At the Sea Breeze Hospital. at Coney Island,
maintained by the Charity Organization Soci-
ETY.. there was feasting, and the little sufferers
from tuberculosis received presents Smiling
joe who for months had been strapped down
at frequent intervals in the fight against the dis
ease which had attacked his joints, and never
whimpered. up and about. lively a
cricket. He will be back in his homo in this
borough to-day The 1.5OO children in the hos
pitaI on RandalTs Island sang Christmas carols.
and then gladdened with many presents.
In all other institutions where the sick. MANNED
and blind are housed the day was duly observed
In many there were trees. and none OF the suf-
ferers went without present
ORGANIZED CHARITY's WORK
Needy families which nave seen better days
were remembered in a way that could not give
occasion for offence The greatest charity or
ganization IN the city. with its agents every
where, learns Of these homes, and yesterday
many persons received gifts Of money from un-
known sources. The mails were the medium.
and the sums though not very large. renewed
season OF moderate toll. and he was glad The
Christmas mail was the heaviest ever handled.
and the time Of work was not in the Post
masters calculation. Everybody duty
many hours day until the last package was
delivered.
At the New York Society for the Prevention
OF Cruelty to Children. Fourth avenue and 23d
street. Elbridge T Gerry was the Santa Claus
The night before he had filed the stockings OF
the chi with
them dinner. and on the roof CT the building
two large trees were placed. one with gifts for
the boys and the other with presents for ths
girls Then the children sang and played games,
and Mr.. Gerry and the superintendent, E Eel
lows Jenkins. romped with them In the Muir
ray Hill Lyceum Frank Tilford gave a dinner
for 750 little girls. Two big trees decorated the
stage and electric lights Illuminated them
For the eighth Christmas Henry Rosenstein.
OF No. 11S Park Row distributed presents 10 the
boys and girls Of the nearby tenement houses.
There a regular shoppers rush TO get them.
and four patrolmen had difficulty in keeping the
youngsters in line. The waits cared for by the
Mission of the Immaculate Virgin. at No. 375
Lafayette street. received big dinner and also
gifts from a great tree. At the Mount Loretto
branch OF the mission twenty-five hundred chill
dren also had feast and presents More chill
dren were made glad at the Harlem Boys Hotel.
conducted by the Department OF Charities.
The neighborhood OF the Grand Central Palace
resembled a great market place at and before
noon. Basket laden men and women were
streaming from the doors and each was smiling
These baskets contained dinners for Eve per-
sons and five thousand Of the baskets were dis
tributed by the Salvation Army. There %
crush All was order. In the afternoon thoas
sands Of children received gifts from EvankeI
line Booth, the commander. and her many as
sistants The great Palace had never contained
such a crowd OF the needy: but who
tered in rags went out without bundles contain
ing clothing. for that was part Of the Christmas
Day remembrance OF the Salvation Army 70 its
many grown-up wards.
CHEER FOR THE BOwERT
General Ballington Booth, assisted by his A.
teen-year-old daughter Theodore. went around
in an automobile and distributed twenty-five
hundred baskets, each containing six 10 seven
dinners. These were at stations where the aD-
plicants called. and when they were not we'll
enough to call the baskets were taken their
homes. 1t was a whirIwind tour that left
blessings in its wake. The many Young Mems
Christian Association branches did much quiet
giving.
Bowery waits and strays the dereIcts ot
humanity. drifted to the many missions in thaI
centre OF congestion. They found dinners wait
ing for them at the noon hour None was
turned away. They had 70 hurry sometimes,
but there were paper napkins in which enough
for other dinners was wrapped UP. Coffee was
served without limit AT the dinner given by
the two Sullivans. there coffee and there
was also beer. but. strange 10 say the dark
beverage was taken first every time II warmed
the shelterIess more than the brew. The Bowe-y