Arizona republican., 1910-12-26

 MADE HAPPY E|ks Distribute Good Cheer
 To Needy Families MANY STOCKINGS FILLED Carloads of Good Things Are Donated, and Fruits, Foods, Clothing and Toys Carried to Deserving Poor of City
MANY STOCKINGS FILLED

If there was one home in need or one little heart aching because Santa Claus did not come to brighten it yesterday. it was not the faul: of the members of the local lodge of Elks. On the contrary many a little stocking was found filled yesterday morning. thanks to the good offices of this or der. which might otherwise have hung limp when the little one got out of bed at the peep of day. and many a table in Phoenix that might have been bare had it not been for the cpportune ar rival the day before of one of the vans sent out by the Elks to distribute good things and useful articles to those in need.
 Realizing that the Christmas season is the one period of the year when every child's mind is filled with visions of pretty toys and things good to eat. the Phoenix Elks spent all of last week in preparation for a general gift distribution.
 Can you imagine the feeling of ut ter sadness that must fill the heart of the little one who trustingly hangs up his or her little stocking on Christmas eve confident that Santa Claus would not be unmindful. only to rise the next morning to find the stocking just as it was the night before?" asked one Elk of one who rather secuted the feasi- bility of prOmiscuOus giving.
 Why. I would give the last thing I possessed in this world to prevent any such thing happening to one of my lit tie ones." he continued Isn't it bet ter that we be imposed upon ia few instances rather than take the chance that one such little child should be obliged to bear the bitter disappoint- ment of such a catastrophe? One such experience would embitter the whole year for child and cause him to lose faith in Santa Claus as the patron saint of children"
 Early Saturday morning the wagons and automobiles which had been se- cured to do service throughout the day. drew up at the Elks' club rooms and a number of Bills" began loading in boxes and packages until it began to look as though the lodge had found new quarters and was moving. In various directions these vehicles trav- eled. each with some definite locality in view. Homes of widows with chill dren were the most frequently visited and when stops were made properly addressed boxes were brought out.
 In few instances there was evil denced a slight spirit of resentment when packages were brought forth. but invariably an Elk propounded the spirit in which the gifts were being made It was shown that it was with no thought of charity. but for the mere pleasure of it that an effort was being made to bring a little cheer into every home. And often tears were seen in the eyes of some mother whose Christ mas must otherwise have been devoid of any semblance of good things.
 There were instances where the head of the family lay ill in bed and was unable to provide any luxuries and to whose families, living then upon the bare necessities. the coming of the Elks' van or automobile meant sunshine and smiles on a Christmas that must oth- erwise have been drear and cold.
 One old woman. well known in Ari- zona for many years. was found with nothing in the house to eat and barely able to make her way tO her door in response to the knock When she saw the packages coming she fell on her knees and offered a prayer of thank fnrUnf . ten her in her hour of need.
 Another younger woman, whose hus- band had died recently after long ill., ness and left her penniless and in debt. stated that but for the kindness of the Elks she would hardly have been able to secure anything to eat the day fol- lowing. She was taking in washing and only that day had returned a big bundle of laundry to a family who asked her that she wait until the next week for her pay in order that their Christmas arrangements might not be upset.
 Those Elks who were most active m the work of collecting and distributing gifts. stated yesterday that they were surprised at two things. In the first place they never knew the extent of dire need in Phoenix until they were brought face to face with the reality, and in the second they did not know just how liberal the people of Phoenix really can be when the proper occa- sion for such liberality arrives.
 One wholesale house offered all the apples and other fruit the Eiks could find use for. Another donated several hundreds of dollars worth of stockings underclothing and sweaters of any and all sizes that might be placed m worthy homes.
 Candy and toys in carloads poured into the receiving rooms of the Elks club. and flour, potatoes. wood, chick ems. meats. and everything that might properly be utilized by any family was donated in abundance. And then the Elks, with a system worthy of the