The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-12-31
ARMY OF CHILDREN
GET CHICKEN FEAST
Over $50 Boys and Girls
Stampede Into Pythian
Temple At Noon.
KIDDIES ARE HAPPY
All Were Fed to Their
Hearts Content and Then
Presented With Gifts.

More than three hundred and fifty
boys and girls were guests today of
the Penny club, one of Richmond s
most deserving charitable organiza-
tons, at its annual banquet for poor
children.
The feast was served in the Pythian
Temple, South Eighth street, and the
feature of the menu was real chick
en-" as one of the diminutive guests
expressed it, when a large drum
stick" was placed on his plate before
his wondering, almost worshipful eyes.
When the doors of the temple open
ed little before noon there was a
genuine stampede on the part of the
Juvenile army which had assembled
outside the building. and 1t must be
confessed that number of ragged and
expectant future voters paid scant
heed to that rule of gentlemanly de-
pertinent which calls for courteous
treatment of the gentIer Sex. But the
scent of stewed chicken, waited out
the building when the doors flew open,
proved as alluring to the little girls
as 1t did to the boys, and they joined
in the Wild rush with such fury that
for minute or two 1t appeared as
<
clans might be required.
A Regular Stampede.
BY the time half this mob of happy
youngsters had crowded their way into
the dining room the seating capacity
at the four long tables had been filled,
and tears came to the eyes of many
disappointed youngsters unfortunate
enough not to get into the building in
time to get chair. However, the
tears disappeared when they were in
formed they would be served as soon
as places could be provided for them
1t was almost two o'clock before the
last youngster departed with filled
stomach and happy heart for home,
where chickens are unknown.
After the boys and girls had once
gained entrance TO the temple and
were assured that the promised
feed" was to be theirs, they were
on their best behavior and their 'ta-
Bile manners" showed that their home
training had not been altogether neg
lected. Occasionally some rudy
|Tcheeked boy or girl, with just enough
ICES of dirt discernible to make
I'm appear normal, would become
patient with cumbersome knives
forks and promptly grasp pieces
chicken in sturdy hands, and
fnptly dispose of the work at hand
ten-year-old lad, custodian and
dc of younger brother, whose
a barely appeared over the top of
table, was horriaed to discover
charge using both hands to IA
ate the transportation of the con-
. of his plate to his mouth Cut
out. Jimmy; amt youse got no
4e" rebuked the elder brother,
tnen turning to his tablemate. disgust
eddy remarked, Hell, amt it fierce de
manners some of desc brats have?"
All Received Gifts.
Ummy's modification and his broth
ers embarrassment were turned to the
thirty-third degree Of delight a few
minutes later, when each child at the
four big tables was presented with
Christmas presents. The boys got
dolls, dressed by the members of the
Penny club. All received sacks of
candy and fruit. Frankly expressed. en-
thusiastic delight greeted the distribu-
ton OF these gifts, plucked from a
large Christmas tree. the only excep-
ton being a wee miss, who was keen
" disappointed because her doll had
red dress instead of yellow one She
effected trade, however, and every
thing was serene again.
Mrs. 8. w. Traum addressed the
children during the banquet and re-
lated to them the ever-beautiful Christ
mas story, which greatly impressed
all the little folks, some of whom ap-
peared never to have heard it before.
A number of women. pale and tired
faced, brought large coveys of their
offspring to the banquet, Zone brought
eighty and sat in corner of the room
watching with mother-love In their
eyes their little ones getting
square" meal