Omaha daily bee., 1909-12-25
PLACES SANITY OVERLOOKS
Down on East Bottoms Are Some, but
They Are Not Forgotten.
PROBATION OFFICER VISITS THEM
Doe Carver AXE waEonlOad OF
Christmas Cheer TO These Homes
and Makes Young Hearts
Happy.

zone half the world doesn't know how
the other half lives" is as true OF Omaha
as Of any other city. The thought might
be carried further and an addition made.
"Neighbors don't know how neighbors
live"
A trip with Doc Carver. assistant
probation officer, Friday afternoon. would
have made mellow the heart Of Old skin
flint himself. Carver's buggy was laden
with parcels Of presents for certain chill
dren not usually on the visiting list of
santa Claus. A long drive was made
through the east bottoms, over the rough
est kind OF roads. to places apparently
lost to the world.
As soon as Carver is seen he is greeted
cheerlly. "Hello Doc" These folks and
their kind all know him. and receive him
in a friendly, matter-of-fact way. Sit down
and get warm" And neither NJ the two
chairs in the kitchen has a back to it.
The backs would look out Of place IL they
were there.
Here's some little trinkets for Christ
mas" says Carver. The set face OF the
woman lights up and she hastens out
doors TO call a little girl from a neigh
bor's house. When the girl comes she is
told to open the bundle, and as the toys
appear she pounces on a small trunk.
Just the thing for my dolly she ex-
claims as her eyes dance. and she busies
herself examining a new doll and the other
things that have tumbled out.
Lost IN the Doll.
What do you say?' queries the mother
sharply"
oh, thank you" says the hnd with
lowered eyes and again forgets the visi-
tors in the delight for fondling her new
toys.
That woman overlooked the real point, I"
says Carver, after leaving the place, If
she hadn't been so swift to call the girl
l meant to have her put the toys away and
let Santa Claus leave them
AT another cottage the mother had walked
down town with two children, see
Santa Claus as a strip Of a girl ex-
planned. She held a small baby in her
arms, and another little one stood very
close to her While the visitors were present.
Mamma promised us we co6ld all go
down to see the stores. but she could only
take two with her."
1t is a long drill from that cottage to
the stores, but the mother could endure
it and the sore heart the sights in the
stores must surely bring, to redeem her
promise that they should nave a sight Of
800 ~AAAN "a . ~
How is papa behaving now?' inquiries
the probation officer.
Nice as pie" says the little mother,
and she smiles with a very apparent sense
Of delight, in which the smaller girl shyly
Joined. The older girl went on to explain
that the father has been coming home at
noon and after his work is done at night.
She was wise, too, and took care TO lay
the package of toys away in another room.
w won't open them until tomorrow
night" she said.
Another Long Drive.
Then came another long drive through
a patch or settlement that the ordinary
Omaha citizen wouldn't suspect exists.
Presents were given at houses here and
there, and children encountered that the
officer knew were invited to call at the
probation office in the city hall and get
something" And they were on hand all
right Friday morning.
AS the drive proceeded the officer had a
story to tell of almost every house along
the street. Some were sad, a good many
sordid and others indicated brave hearts
and hopeful natures can exist even among
the most distressing surroundings.
Charity is the last thing many OF them
want, but they accept it in friendly spirit