The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-12-26
Citizens of Richmond, Rich
and Poor Alike, Had the
Happiest Christmas in the
City's History.
NOT A NEEDY PERSON
NEGLECTED MONDAY
Elks Distribute Baskets of
Provisions, Eagles Provid-
ed Toys, Salvation Army
Toys and Clothes.

Toys and Clothes.
II there was 4 home in Richmond
Christmas Day where the spirit OF
orotherly love and good will failed to
enter 1t was not the fault Of the host
Of big-hearted men and women who
worked Ions and enthusiastically SO
that the split Of Christmas would not
be hollow mockery to the many poor
people
The good fellows" Of Richmond
proved to the satisfaction of the sour
est pessimist that they were good fel-
lows" in deed as we'll as name For
weeks before the festal day food,
clothing ard toys were purchased by
committees these good fellows had ap-
pointed and supplied with ample funds
end Monday morning a host of vOlun-
:cer Santa Clauses went forth in auto
mobiles, groaning under their loads Of
baskets filed with provisions and
clothing These good fellows were
Elks
What the Eagles Did.
In the afternoon another set of good
fellows. the Eagles. brought happiness
TO small army Of poor children. At
the Eagles hall there was a great
Christmas tree, nearly bent double
with its load of toys. which were rap
| idly distributed to the youngsters.
In the evening the Salvation army
gave away t..ys to poor children at the
Rhcde Temple The Army throughout
the day also distributed clothing and
other necessary articles to the needy.
Other chari able organizations wero
active in bringing happiness to the
roor.
| Santa Claus was also extremely kind
tc Rlchmond's more fortunate citizens,
thousands o" dollars worth OF gifts.
big majority OF which were purchased
IN this city. being given.
| A Palladium reporter about o'clock
| Monday morning swung aboard an
Elks' auto, after its cargo Of Chrisa.
hlae cheer lad been slowed away. So
interesting was his first trip that he
shipped fo- f1ve more. He had the hap
piect Christmas OF his life, as result.
! In one home near the central dis
trict of the city was found a mother
and her hve children. the Oldest
twelve. The youngest baby girl was
just recovering from the effects Of &C.
Of coffee pot. The next to the young
est, boy, was blind
Blind Boys Gratitude.
Besides the big basket Of provisions
the boys Of the family were given
sweater jackets. and the girls receiy-
ed gingham dress goods and stock
ings. Abject poverty reigned In this
home. The joy the gifts brought moth
er and children made the volunteer
Santa Clauses choke up" q little, e.
pecially when the blind boy. to express
his gratitude played a Christmas car.
oil on an ancient little organ.
Then the auto sped toward the New
man hill district, where a little shack
was found in which its lord, a negro
over ninety years of age, was stretcn.
ed on bed, very sick. Probably he
will never see another Christmas. The
Santa Clauses were escorted to the
bedside of the old negro by his wife.
With the courtesy of the old time ne
gro he politely welcomed his guests.
thanked them for the gifts, and proud
ly told how he had. unaided. built the
house in which he and his wife IiveG
Nanny" supports herself and hus-
band by taking in washings. He used
to help gather up wood, but he can't
do that now." the old woman said.
L lnGf ceinA Eeoun Inv
= Way down in the southern section
of the city is home in which lives 4
father. mother and eight children, and
the stork is expected again. The hus-
band works hard. but he cannot make
enough to provide for his big familv.
and the oldest boys are still too youcs
to be much assistance in the bread
earning line. Some of these children
had no stockings. Besides the big bas-
ket of food. the children and the mot
er were provided with needed artf-
cles Of clothing, and one little chap
was SO delighted with his sweater-jack-
ct. little too small for him. but ST.:
more than acceptable. that he burst
into tears. Merry Christmas" chorus
ed the entire family, standing in front
of their home as the auto sped away.
About $50 baskets were distributed
by the elIks. Each basket contained
five pounds of beef, sack Of flour. fruit.
bread, coffee, potatoes, crackers, etc
i The Salvation Army.
More than three hundred poor chill
dren in the city who had to depend
on public charity for their Christmas
were guests Of the Salvation Army at
the Rhoda Temple on Christmas night
and not a child went away with .
heartache- Toys, candy, clothing and
lCoQtinus6 On Paxe Eshtl