The Washington times., 1908-12-24

Washington. meaning the entire over
wrought. tired. shopping mad. but joy
Gus population. stands on the threshold
OF another Christmas. Tonight the Cap
ital lays its weary head upon . downy
pillow and surTenders the night 10 Santa
Claus.
But one doesn't have 10 read the news
FaLcrs TO knoV that Christmas IL lust
over the hilItO s The bustIIng throngs.
the carriages .9don with mistletce and
holly, the ms j rush upon the depart
inent stores ami The salesgirIs last des-
perate stand, tle hundreds who struggle
beneath the weight Of the shopping
( baskets and are not ashamed OF il. the
toor Of an occasional horn, the bark o.
( the sidewalk spieler-they tell the tale.
I, ITS in the air.
Is a Whirlwind Finish.
It viii be- a whirlwind finish. The re-
turn II prosperity has made it so.
Never, it seems. has there been such
a unanimity Of opinion Of the one sub
jecJ Of exchanging coin Of the realm for
something that tends TO remind others
that they are stnI in the land Of the
living ard are remembered.
OF course everybody is going 10 be
tired out tonight Many Of our leading
citizens will hold up a deprecating hand
and utter the remorsefuI never again. %
But you Will. just the same YouH put
1t of until the last moment next year.
Then yOu'u rush downtown and xlare
at some tired and defenseIess salesIady
who isn't a. m!udTeader ana cant ten
you what you want to buy.
But there is another side 70 A Christ
mas SLOry-the people VINO haven't any
shopping TO do. and who stand wistfuily
before the windows facing the realizs-
ton that the things within, are MOI FOR
iheIu CHRISTMAS comes TO the Door as
well as The rich, and there is no Other
event that brings the tale Of lfe's bless
inSs and the lack Of them so closely
home.
Help for the Unfortunate.
u reveals the real significance Of the
day. therefore. when those who are
blessed hold cut a helping hand To the
less fortunate. brother. In Washing
ton today thousands Of such hands are
stretched across this chasu. and Deace
and good win rests with donor and re-
ceiVer- The c..y's poor. so far as il is
possible 10 visit the highways and bv-
ways Of poverty, viii be cared for. and
lonely. indeed, viii be the home upou
whose doorstep some remembrance of
the day is not found
The salvation Army. following its an
nual custom, viii distribute tonight
more than 800 baskets filled with lies
ne essitles. and a few Of its luxuries 10
lh'.se unable 20 purchase them Cach
person who receives such a gift has
Deen found 70 be especially deserv- -ng-
At the American Salvation ARM ana
lts wOmeu'S and children's home. the
sixty residents viii be given q Christ
mas dlnner t'morrow- A limited mum
Der OF ots6ets were sent out today 10
some Of the slty.S poor On January
the American Salvation ARMY viii have
Christmas tree. the evening being
postponed because OF the illness AT the
present time Of Mrs SmalIey.
Many Anxious to Give.
The Associated Charities has furnish
ed 10 private individuals. Charitable or
genizations, snd churches the names OF
hundreds OF poor persons who viii have
no Christmas except as is provided by
others. \ number Of persons have sent
money, food, and clothing through the
Associated Charities 70 persons on its
list who are deserving. It Is said that
seldom before has the demand for names
of the needy been so great and the as
sOCiati0n has been the Indirect means Of
providing many a pOverty-stricken fam
lily with something appropriate to the
day.
Everywhere. in fact. the spirit Of Civ
ing seems 20 be abroad and there seems
20 be a disposition on the part Of every
one 10 help q less fortunate being.
twenty-five thousand WaShingtonians,
81 is estimated. have passed through
iEa gates Of the Union Station 10 be
sin the Journey back home for the
holidays. Diplomats, Cabinet Officers,
Senator'S, Representatives, Government