Perth Amboy evening news., 1913-12-26
GALE PLAYS HAVOC WITH TRAFFIC
ON NLAND AND SEA; BOATS STRANDED
BASKETS GIVEN
NEEDY PEOPLE
FOR CHRISTMAS

The littl headquarters of the Sal
vation Army began to be crowded
with persons bearing dinner basket
tickets, which had been discriminate
ly distributed to the worthy poor, by
the Army's officials. From o'clock
until past noon the baskets contain
ing five dinners each were given to
those who had met with adverse cir
cumstances in life and had been cast
aside in the struggle and of neces-
sity made to seek charity. The
Army is preparing for big Christ
mas tree at 8 o'clock Wednesday
night, on which they desire to hang
presents for $50 poor children. Cap
tain Patterson would appreciate any
help toward providing such gifts.
This morning he expressed his thanks
to those who had contributed money
to finance the Christmas dinners to
the poor, especially mentioning the
philanthropy of the lodges and
church charity organizations. A few
derelicts wretchedly clothed. applied
at the headquarters for clothing,
which was given them. A few per
sons donated wearing apparel in
stead of money. Captain Patterson
says there are many in the city that
are really in need of warm clothing
to face the winters winds cold
blasts
The convalcscing patients at the
hospital were aware that Christmas
had come by the presence Of large
two superbly embell.shed Christmas
trees, one of which stood in each
ward. Dainty deserts and an unus-
ually luxurious turkey dinner was
served under the supervision Of Su.
perintendent Hermann. Flowers
, were sent to comfort the patients by
the w. G. T. u. organization of the
| city. Each guest at the institution
was presented With souvenir postal
card bearing picture OF the hospital
| by the staff Two big turkeys, or
anges, apples and other good things
were sent to the institution by diff
ferent merchants. The bounty of the
storekeepers of the city was shown
in this manner at the Thank sgiving
season also. No death or accident
overloaded the day of cheer in the
white-f furnished rooms of the institu-
tlon. The sufferings of many were
forgotten when their minds were fill
ed with the happiness Of the holiday.
At the city aims house eleven old
men, bent by the weight of time, re-
called younger and more prosperous
days, aided by the motherly matron,
Mrs. Salmon. The matron saw to 1t
that each inmate was provided with
new, fresh package of tobacco In
the morning at breakfast, made each
of the three meals of the day more
elaborate than norma, and hung
wreaths at the windows. The old
men laughed and joked and on the
whole seemed to forget Roast tur-
key and all the accessories formed
part of the unusual menu for the in
mates at dinner yesterday. Fruit
cake, chocolate cake and many other
varieties of delIcaeies were relished
by the aged guests of the citys hos
pitality.
According to the reports from the
postoffice and the stores the city has
learned the oft repeated lesson, do
your Christmas shopping early and
but little congestion was experienced
during the last hours preceding the
advent OF the holiday. The usual
cramming and jamming of the stores
| Christmas eve was not nearly so
! marked as in previous years.