davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1911-12-24
CHRISTMAS MAIL
BEING DELIVERED
BY ACTIVE FORCE
Busiest Day of the Year at
the Washington Postoffice.
Program of the Work.

Today was the biggest and busiest of
the year for the postoffice. The work.
room Of the main OFFICE was flooded last
night ana this morning with incoming
Christmas packages and post cards. II
Is probable the record in the number of
pieces of mail passing through the post
office for delivery will be broken.
All incoming mail is going through the
hands of the assorters to the carriers Is
soon as II arrives. Last nights incom-
Ing supply diminished rapidly. All
Christmas packages received tonight
probably will be delivered by tomorrow
morning. at the latest.
There will be one delivery only of mail
tomorrow morning. That will be COM
menced at 1880 O'Clock. The main office
and the branch offices will be open
until II o'clock, however. for persons
who may desire to call for Christmas
packages. Stations G and X and that
of Takoma Park will be open from to
o'clock In the evening.
The entire working force of clerks and
carriers was on duty a full eight hours
today. For this work they will be al
lowed time of after the holiday rush is
ended.
Postmaster Merritt said that, in his
opinion, nearly every piece of mail In
the Washington office would be deliv-
cred by II o'clock tomorrow morning.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1911-12-24
IN JAIL
This YEAR WILL Be .
T|NGED WITH GLOOM
No Special Dinner Will Be
Observed--Religious
Services Planned.

Washington's twenty-four rnurderers
or murder suspects Will spend q Christ
mas, the joys of which--if there are
any at all for them.-wiIl be tempered
with sadness. Only second in gloom to
tnese twenty.four men and women will
be the other seventy-slx residents OF
the District jail.
What Christmas cheer penctrates the
walls Of this place Of detention will be
furnished by relatives and friends OF
the detained. The jail authorities have
decided not to spread plum dun and
turkey tomorrow, although a substan.
tial meal Of meat and potatoes will be
given. At that. even II a truly Lucuilah
repast were set forth: II q dinner were
served which would meet the approval
OF the most cultivated gourmet. It Is
doubtful IL It would make happy the
men and women who have knwn other
Christmas days when they were not in
durance; when remorse or regret did
not lie ever in their consciousness,
when. in many cases. fear Of death did
not increasingly prey upon them.
Macdonald Loneliest.
or the two-score nurderers and mur-
der suspects in the jail four are women
and twenty are men. OF these, e. J.
Macdonald, who shot and killed his
wife in the Colorado building, will have
the loneliest Christmas. Since ne was
placed in captivity Immediately after
the murder. May "a, last. Macdonald
has had no visitor other than an at
torney. Seemingly, he desires none.
Matte Lomax will enjoy the day
little. for she has a number Of pieces
of needlework to present tomorrow to
the men and women who have been
kind to her since her doom was sounded,
and who have worked for q commute
ton OF sentence. The Lomax woman
feels thankful that she Is alive this
Chrstmastide, and under three months
reprieve from November 20. when her
day Of execution was originally dated.
man. is not singing carols this Christ
mas Eve in his jail cell. Johnson is to
die on the scaffold in February for
murder Of blacksmith. But Johnson
has wonderfully good voice, and other
prisoners are urging him to sing in the
services which will be held tomorrow.
Early Morning Services.
Mass will be sung at. the Jail at 10
o'clock in the morning by the Rev.
Father Gallagher and the prisoners Will
be permitted to come out on the bal
comics above the rotunda.
Again in the afternoon the jail Will
see religious services, the jail quartet
giving the anthem of the day. These
afternoon services will be Protestant In
character.
Mrs. Bennett and Mrs. Baker. the ma
irons of the woman's department, Will
give their charges a little more elabor-
ate dinner than the men will get, and
the festivities on this side OF the jail
promise to be little more like the real
thing, for the women prisoners have
entered more into the spirit OF the day,
and have gifts prepared for one another:
not to feel exactly Eat home" yet to
know one another we'll and to feel
friendly to companions in adversely. the
uses of which, contrary to the proverb.
do not seem sweet to them.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1911-12-24
Aged Man Killed as
He Bore Gift to Wife

CHICAGO. Dec A.-There will be no
Christmas celebration at 2421 Clybourne
avenue tomorrow in the two back rooms
that have been home" to Mr.. and Mrs.
Frederick Peters for the last ten years.
Tomorrow would have been their fif-
tieth Christmas celebration together,
and to fittingly celebrate the occasion
Mrs. Peters had been busy all day ar
ranging holly and mistletoe and putting
the finishing touches on a smoking
Jacket.
1t was late when the bell rang and
the woman was surprised to see Police
man De Witt standing on the thresh-
old.
After suffering incoherently for a
moment he finally blurted out: your
husband has been hurt. He Ii at the
hospital. He ia dead"
Two hours before an aged man had
been struck by q street car. He had
attempted to cross the street. but q
small Christmas tree and wreath Of
holly INSTRUCTED his view. He died in
the ambulance.
In an inside pocket was a sprig of
mistletoe and a new silver thimble
wrapped in tissue paper.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1911-12-24
Boston Gifts to Poor
Show Christmas Record

BOSTON, Dec. 24-In anticipation OF
the thousands Of hungry little ones who
will throng the Peoples Palace Christ.
mas day to its utmost capacity, the Sal
walton Army has made the most elab-
crate preparation in its history.
Promptly at $3.50 o'clock Christmas
morning Mayor Fitzgerald will begin
the work of distributing the 1900 bas-
kets OF food to the eager crowd. Each
basket weighs more than thirty pounds
and contains fowl. one pound box of
candy, bread, coffee, condensed milk
and q variety Of vegetables.
Christmas afternoon at 2 o'clock the
line of tots will fight through the main
doorway of the assembly hall, expec-
fancy written large on each wan little
face. to realize their hearts desire in
. doll. a drum, or maybe a sled, from
the all-providing Christmas tree Colonel
Chord estimates that between 1000 and
5000 gifts will be made to the poor of
Boston and that three hours will be
required for the distribution.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1911-12-24
SPECIAL SERVICES
NCTTY'S CHURCHES
Musical Programs, Masses, and Appropriate Sermons
Mark Observance of Day Among Capital Relig-
ious Organizations.

night mass at the Shrine of the Sacred
Heart at midnight. The Rev. Eugene
de l.. Mcdonnell will officiate at sol.
emn high mass at st. Augustus at that
hour also. At 81. Dominics solemn high
mass will be preceded by an organ re-
cital at n:+s o'clock tonight.
The Rev. F. X. Bischoff, pastor Of tho
Church OF the Nativity, will be assisted
by two Paulists from the Apostolic Mis-
sion at the midnight mass. special
musical program has been prepared for
st; Joseph's Church fought.
AT the associations room in the Union
Will conduct special Christmas services,
st which Congressman J. T. Lloyd, Of
Missouri, will make an address. At 4:1t
o'clock this afternoon special services
VIII be conducted at st. Johns Church
Christmas Services.
At st. Margaret's Church, at O'Clock
tonight. Christmas services will be held
The new vested choir at st. Paurs will
sing special service tomorrow. Holy
communion will be celebrated ut Christ
Church, Georgetown. at Has o'clock to.
night. At Trinity Episcopal Church THE
Holy Child" will be sung at s O'Clock
tonight.
At st. Pauls Catholic Church solemn
high mass will be celebrated at 6 O'Clock
tomorrow morning. Solemn high mass
will be celebrated at midnight tonight
at st. Peters BY the Rev. James O'Brien
Christmas at the Franciscan Monas.
tery VIII begin with the chanting Of the
FIRST vespers at $3.50 o'clock this after.
noon. At IL o'clock and midnight rnasse.
will be said. Midnight mass will bt
celebrated at st. Patrick's, with the
Rev. William T. Russell as the cele.
brant.
In nearly every Washington church
Musical services were conducted.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1911-12-24
"Aunt Della" Sends
Box of Presents to
Her "Nephew Bill"

MILIBURY. Mass. Dec. 24-For the
third successive year Aunt Della
Torrey has dispatched her Christmas
tox to Washington for Nephew VIII.
more formally known as President TAFT
Today Aunt Della is quietly awaiting
the arrival of Christmas Day Mt heI
colonial home In Elm street. She has
no particular fear that the box for
Nephew VIII" will arrive safely a,
the White House, for she addressed
1t In her own hand. writing to "Wil.
liam H. Taft. President of the United
States" White House. Washington
D. c.
Furthermore she put on the injunc-
ton:
Handle with care"
The contents Of the box Is secret
however. though Aunt Della" hints the
White House table will not lack In
homemade Millbury jams and jellies
for Christmas dinner, made from grapes
and apples grown on the Torrey place.
Aunt Della ID in excellent health,
especially for q woman of eighty-seven
years, She looks forward to receiving
visit from the President early next
year
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1911-12-24
Jewellers CAUSE
POLICE BUT LITTLE
TROUBLE THIS YEAR
Christmas Eve, Celebrated
Last Night, Quietest in
Departments History.

Last night. which, to all intents and
purposes. was Christmas Eve WINS the
quietest in the history Of the Police De-
partment. ....
Sleeping accommodations down at the
First precinct station, usually overtaxed
on that night, were more than ade-
1,late for all Corners. Ten cases of
drunkenness are recorded there this
morning and only half that many
charges of disorderly conduct
The Ninth precinct station. which in
cludes II street northeast, usually the
scene Of revelry at the least oppor-
tunity. reports but one disorderly case,
and the usual Saturday night haul Of In
toxicated citizens. Even Eighth street
southeast, where the marines hold forth.
was as quiet and orderly as a church
yard
At that. the police say. there were
more belated shoppers than they have
seen for years. All the stores were
crowded until the closing hour. and
some had to be emptied when midnight
came by the help of the police. who
.'shooed" the belated buyers into the
streets. .--... ....
The cafes and hotels were crowded.
Fearing that tables would be hard to
get on New Year Eve. many took last
night for an informal dining OUT and
later the shoppers drifted in for a late
supper
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1911-12-24
Wilmington's Poor
Get Presents TODAY

WILMINGTON, Del. Dec. '24.-The po-
lice Of Wilmington and the st. Nicholas
Girl Of the Evening Journal acted as
Santa Claus to the p. " children of this
city this year. This afternoon at
o'clock there was a di ner distribution
from the journal office of hundreds of
toys and useful articles to the poor
children of the city, the gifts having
been donated by the public during the
past month. Tomorrow morning Santa
Claus will appear in the police court
room and will distribute bags of candy.
fruits. and nuts. and wearing apparel to
1900 of Wilmington's poor children, $500
having been donated for the purpose by
Q charitable man of the city.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1911-12-24
Pardons for Three
California Convicts

SACRAMENTO, Cal, Dec. 2.-Three
convicts In San Quentin will receive
their freedom as Christmas presents,
and Gov. H. w. johnson will be Santa
Claus. The governor has signed par
dons for Gertrude briggs. an aged
woman: John F. Bushnell. and A. A.
Lebuff. rardons were placed In the
mail yesterday morning. and will ar
rive at San Quentin in time for pre-.
scnation to prisoners tomorrow.
Gertrude briggs was sentenced to nv:
years imprisonment from Los Angelo.
on charge of forging a will. She Il
SIXTY years old. broken in health, ana
has only short time to live.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1911-12-24
All of DOver's Poor to
Have Old-Time Christmas

DOVER, Del, Dec. 4.-Beautiful dolls,
trimmed Christmas trees. bags Of -four.
vegetables and fruits of all kinds, to-
gether with large quantities of candles,
were piled in a huge pyramid around a
decorated cross and beneath an electric
star at the Peoples Church last night.
The poor of Dover received the gifts
from wagons and messengers sent out
by the trustees. 1t would be hard to
find a poor family in Dover today that
will not be preparing for an old-fash-
systematic canvass, all were reached.
Exercises in the Peoples Church took
the place of the regular Sunday school
Christmas entertainment. and instead OF
presenting gifts to the pupils and teach.
ers, the whole system was reversed and
everybody gave to the poor
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1911-12-24
GIFTS ARE SENT TO
R|CHESON, WHO IS
GREATLY IMPROVED
Boston Woman Sends Flow
ers, and Former Parishion-
er Will Provide Dinner.

BOSTON. Mass, Dec. 24.--Triends of
Clarence ". T. Richeson, the minister
awaiting trial charged with the mur-
der of Avis Linnell. are trying to
make happy as possible the Christmas
which he must spend in confinement.
He IL improving steadily in health,
and will be able to eat q light Christ
mas dinner. which will be sent to him
by f. p. Vose, former parishoner.
Yesterday stranger brought to
the prison q huge bouquet and asked
that 1t be sent to the prisoner. The
doner was Mrs. Mary Cleveland
Wyman, of Boston. who said she did
not even know Richeson. Her gift
was made, she said, from philan-
thropic motives.
Il become Interested in the case
and believe he has atoned for what
ever wrong he has DONE" said Mrs.
Wyman. I am simply taking this
method to show how 1 feel. bought
him the flowers to show that SYM
pathize with him in his ordeal"
Doubt was dissipated as to the atti-
tude Of the Edmands family toward
the imprisoned pastor by the arrival
at the jail Of two gifts-a bouquet
OF cut flowers and a package said to
contain sweets and holiday delicacies.
Miss Violet Edmands. fiancee Of the
pastor. sent the package. Other men,
bers of the Edmands family gave the
flowers.
Richeson's condition shows a mark
ed Improvement today, although he
has not yet been able to confer with
MS attorney nor even sit up. Main
tanning his stoical attitude, despite
his intense agony, no word escapes
his lips that can in any way be con.
strued as an admission OF guilt,
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1911-12-24
SANTA CLAUS DUE
TO ARRIVE TONIGHT
Drilling Rain, Threatening to Become Slcet, Makes
Final Day of Preparations Disagreeable- Church
Services Tonight

With drizsling rain making Its ap-
pearance at irregular intervals through
the day. which threatens to be con-
verted into sleet before nightfall; with
weary postmen trudsing Though the
streets under large piles OF Christmas
presents, postcards, and letters; trains
running hours behind time because Of In
creased traffic and, bad weather, thus
delaying expected visitors and relatives.
Washington bound, the entire city to-
day is making ready for tomorrow, the
real holiday OF the year.
Everything is In readiness for the
coming Of Santa Claus. The climax of
a months preparation will be reached
tonight, when goodnight has been said,
and the youngsters tucked away in
their beds to await tomorrow. when
the results Of the visit of the gray
whiskered man will be- seen, and when
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1911-12-24
Christmas Tree for
The Alley Dwellers

Three hundred alley dwellers-rnen
women. and children-wil be guests OF
the Alley Improvement Association and
the Alley Helping Hand Society at a
Christmas tree celebration on New
Year Day. from I to 9 o'clock IN the
afternoon. at Shiloh Baptist Church.
the children will give q concert.
A little more than $50 In money has
been subscribsd. Money, confections,
toys. shoes. or clothing for this Christ
mas tree may be sent to Mrs. M. M,
Walcron. acting treasurer Of the so.
cieties. 1884 v street northwest: to Mrs.
Pocahontas Doncho. 1922 L street north.
vest. or the Rev. DR.. WalGron, Shiloh
Baptist Church. Seventeenth and /
streets nOrthXest.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1911-12-24
Service of Song at
Church of Covenant

An impressive choral service will be
sung on this Sunday. Christmas Eve, at
the Church Of the Covenant, beginning
at 1880 o'clock. The regular evening
choir Of sixty voices. directed by Otto
T. Simon, with Lewis c. Atwster at the
organ, will sing two chornses from the
Lord" and Since BY Man Came
Death" The choir will also sing There
Shall Star Come FORTH" from Chris
tus," by Mendelssohn. and also the Ger
arranged by Damrosch. as sung by the
Motel choir at their recent concert.
Ernest Lent will play two cello solos,
accompanied by Mr.. Atwater, the
Largo" OF Handel, ana "Cantique de
Noel" by Adam.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1911-12-24
EPISCOPAL HOME
CHILDREN RECEIVE
CHRISTMAS GIFTS
Presents Come From All
Parts Of City--Money
Left In Banks.
WASHINGTON TIMES BUREAU.
ANACnaTTA a


The children Of the Episcopal Home
at Hillbright, received their Christmas
gifts last evening after gathering about
q handsomely decorated tree In the ad.
ministration building. Gifts came from
all over the city, and the charitable SO.
cieties associated with the various Epis.
copal parishes were responsible for
many Of them. They consisted of ar
ticles OF wearing apparel, books. games
toys. and sweetmeats. The children will
have their Christmas dinner tomorrow
Among those assisting at the enter.
tainment last evening were Miss Fran.
ces Davenport, matron, and the Rev
and Mrs. Willard @. Davenport. the
latter being the president of the man.
aging board. There are fifty-six juve-
niles cared for at the home.
There will be general holiday to.
morrow at the Government Hospital fol
the Insane. and as many OF the work.
ers there as possible will be permitted
to have, the day or.
Some Of the people connected with the
hospital departed yesterday for out-of-
town trips. among them being DR..
Mary O'Malley, in charge Of the female
0opeilHicHts wuO Will Nioit AIIenuB III
New York; Mrs. H. O'Bren and Miss
Jane Ross, who have gone to Baltimore
and Miss Hall. who will visit with rela.
tives In Philadelphia.
That there was more money deposited
in Anacostia savings institutions during
the last month. with it's Christmas obi.
cations, than was drawn out. IL the con.
dition denoted by an inspection Of the
financial records at the close Of bust.
ness last night. Savings banks expect
ed to see their deposits dwindle.
The commemoration of Christmas a,
q religious festival was begun THU
morning in the Anacostia Baptist. the
Methodist, and the Garden Memoria
Presbyterian churches Each church
held services at II o'clock. In the Bap
list Church. the Rev. Frank l.. Bardens
pastor, delivered a sermon on the nativ
costa M. e. Church. on the incarnation
and the Presbyterian congregation
heard q sermon on the birth of the
Savior by the Rev. George N. Cum
mings. pastor.
searched all yesterday for the load o.
dressed poultry stolen from the wager
of Ernest Seaman, in Congress Heights
Mr.. Seaman was about to sell the fowli
In the city markets. There were thirty
two chickens and eleven turkeys stolen
worth In all ~.
Peter Allen, thirty-five years old, oil
Bite Plains, was found Ill at Good Hope
road and Thirteenth street, last night,
and was taken to the Casualty Hospita
in q patrol wagon.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1911-12-24

In nearly every church In the city
today Christmas services OF varying
character have been or will be con-
Quoted, while tonight the choirs and
II usicsl organizations of these churches
will engage in their annual musical
concerts and cantatas, for which tho
choiIs OF Washington long have been
famed.
In every church today services were
attended by record-breaking crowds
All unusually attractive series OF musi-
cal numbers, as well as list of special
sermons by the various ministers, in
duced Thousands of Washingtonians to
spend at least q part Of their morning
III church.
The rIe-Christmas services of this
year were begun today by the Catholic
churches OF the city. Six o'clock mass
brought thousands out. A. T. 8, 0. 10.
and 1. o'clock other masses we're cele-
brated.
Indications are that the long hoped
for cover Of snow for Washington will
not be in evidence tomorrow. On the
other hand. Christmas day Is likely to
be an unusually warm one for this time
of the year. Tho real cold weather, the
Weather Bureau says, will put In an
appearance on Tuesday. WREN the tenn
perature will begin to drop. and before
the New Year real wintry weather
should have the city in its clasp.
Midnight Masses.
In most Of the Catholic churches Of
washington masses will be said at mid
night tonight. while in few Protestant
churches services scheduled to begin al
Has o'clock will be conducted. The Rev
Joseph r. McGee will celebrate mid
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1911-12-24
CHRISTMAS TREES
HUNG FOR INMATES
At ST.EL|zABETHS
Special Religious Services
Also to Mark Holiday
at Institution.

Eighteen Christmas trees, shimmerina
with decorations Of gold and tinsel In
the light of the electric bulbs hanging
in their branches. today ere conveying
the Christmas sentiment to the patients
at the Government Hospital for the In.
sane.
valescent man and women sit and chat,
Christmas trees stand before them.
In the hospital wards are cedars and
other Christmas evergreens. Poinsettias
from the greenhouses complete the
decorations. The patients friends have
remembered them In numerous in
stances, and the gifts are piled high
around the base of the Christmas trees.
Candy. oranges and cigars have been
furnished by the institution. The trees
were put up last evening.
1t formerly was the custom to have
but one Christmas tree for the entire
Institution, with a general distribution
Of gifts, but the method now followed
Is more effective. That the inmates
should have as enjoyable Christmas as
possible was the early order of DR.. WILL
liam A. White. the superintendent.
Religious observance Of Christmas
takes place this Afternoon in the chapel
Of the asylum. The Rev. Hugh T.
Stevenson. a Baptist clergyman from
this city, will officiate. The audience
will number about 100 insane patients.
men and women. The musical program
will be given by q choir Of sixteen
voices, led by Prof. Edward r. Davis.
The choir OF the Garden Memorial
Presbyterian Church. Of Anacostia,
Daniel c. Smithson, leader Of the Ana
costa M. f. Church choir, and George
w. Jones, Of Washington will assist.
The organist will be Mrs. Elisabeth Mel
son.