The Washington herald., 1911-12-21
STORIES OF THE YULETIDE

Four more days before Christmas.
Washingtonians realize the joyous truth,
and the whole city is astir. The down.
town crowds are increasing in size, busi-
ness on all sides is brisker; the Yuletide
spirit is growing upon the population Of
the National Capital. Faces beam with
the Joy of the Christmas season. There
is no mistaking the time of the year.
Christmas is at hand. Innumerable signs
testify to the glad tidings.
To properly realize the eXent of the
Christmas rush, one should visit the OFF,
ces and depots of the express companies
and parcel delivery firms. The great ware
rooms are crowded; the delivery vans are
hurrying about the city: and still con-
tinues the influx of packages. 1t is esti-
mated that the express and delivery COM
panies Of the District are handling from
between Is and % per cent more pack
ages than they did last Christmas.
Avalanche of Packages.
One Of the largest transfer and storage
companies. which handles the delivery
business for about go of the big stores.
announces that it is delivering from s.,
coo to 1000 packages a day. This company
is. employing forty delivery wagons, in
cluding eight motor propelled vehicles.
This is exclusive of a large number of
big wagons for delivering the heavy
packages. The tide of trade is expected
10 reach its height tomorrow and Sat-
urday.
The express companies estimate the in
crease over last year at 10 per cent. The
railroad freight stations are crowded; de-
livery wagons are being operated day
and night, and still the boxes are pour
ing into the city from outside points Of
ficials of the company say the greatest
rush will come Saturday and Sunday.
The companies, however, are making
every effort to have the packages deliv
cred promptly upon arrival.
Little Deeds of Kindness.
On all sides are stories of deeds of
kindness and of efforts to make the
Christmas season 4 time Of happiness for
the less fortunate members Of society.
Yesterday thirty-four orphan children
visited the Palais Royal to wander
through tOyland and long for the things
which might never he theirs. The dele
cation was composed almost entirely OF
girls, and when the children reached the
doll department there were great mani
festations Of joy at the sight of the daz-
zling display of beautiful dolls.
Isn't she pretty?" said one little girl
pointing to a beautifully dressed doll.
That's the one that I'd like to have"
H'i4t dllONIleI SlTl GAtlleulNp extending neT
finger toward the choice of her heart.
-bHd so all of the little girls designated
the doll which they liked best. An elder
ly man stood watching the little orphans
with great interest. His heart was
touched. He walked up to a salesman.
and placing several bills in the hands Of
the employe, bought d doll for each Of
tho thlrty-fOur children.
Sidney Heller. i'm charge of the doll de-
rartment, noticing how the hearts Of the
orphans were gladdened by the gift of
the dolls. rapidly had the bill changed,
and devided the money among the delega-
tiOn. There was a broad smile upon
the face Of every girl in the crowd as
the children filed out Of the store and
proudly walked up the street. holding
their dolls tend"rly in one hand and
tightly clcnChing their money in the
other.
Christ Child Society Work.
On Christmas morning 2,pOO poor chill
hren will be made happy through the
efforts OF the Christ Child Society. The |
society is organized TO brighten the |
homes OF the poor during the Christmas |
season by the distribution of gifts and |
provisions And the hest part of the |
story is that the children are to set just :
what Icy want.
Thousands of letters have been re-
cciyed by the society from children max
ing known what they desire for Christ |
mas. The homes are visited, and if the !
cases are thought worthy the wishes of |
The youngsters are fulfilled so far as !
possible. Most of the requests are mod |
cst, but occasionally there is an extrav- |
aGant one. One little girl asks for an |
automobile. She will get it, hut it will |
be only a foot long.
Scores of girls write for dolls. saving |
that they have never in their life owned !
one. One of the letters reads: Dear |
Christ Child: My papa is out of work:
he has a sick hand. | am eight years
old, and I thank you. Please send me
'PeCks Bad Boy
Vans VIII BE Busy.
Early this morning three big furniture
moving vans will begin the distribution
" the Christmas presents. The packages
will be kept safely ny tho parents until
Christmas Day. Thcu they will be given
TO the youngsters. 1t is expected that
the distribution will take all day. Among
the presents are $50 wagons and nearly
900 dolls.
The society has headquarters at 24O5