The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-12-24
ALL BRIDGEPORT AWAITS COMING OF SANTA CLAUS Lighting of Municipal Christ mas Tree This Evening VIII Usher in Formal
 Observance of
 Feast. How the City Will Spend the Holiday = Hundreds of Poor Families to Be
 Made Happy.
How the City Will Spend the

Made Happy.
 Over 100000 ueople in BrtdgapCet will awaken tomorrow to participate dn the festivities of Yu4etide- Thou sands will be mace joyous by the thoughts of others, and for one day in the year almost every one will have that shining ray of pleasure cast into their lives which was synbolized by the coming of Christ over twenty centuries ago.
 i From the todd9ing infant, hardly aware of the deep significance of the spirit which occasions the tubTa,don, to the hoary headed patriarch, bend ing low with stimened joints and sluggish vitality oN old age, all will awaken to some sd0ed pleasure in the course Of the year.
 For, on every hand. charity has been the keynote of tne Yuletide and organizations have been particularly active this year. The Salvation Army coutadninG turkey, chicken, and all the viazrds and accessories so needful to the table of the great American family. Likewise have the various fraterna1 organizations about the city prepared food, clothing and toys for the needy and deserving, and private organizat tons have extended shelter and aims to those who are tfrnfd Of applying publicly.
 Tonight the auSptcioJ1s municipal recognition of the coming day with a Brilliantly lighted Christmas tree the voices, will be followed at early day break by the arising of thousands of youugstens-boys and gfrls-walo with beaming faces will open the stockings and packages which Santa. Claus has thoughtfuf1y brought from the ice bound land of St. Nicholas. Though few observe his prsGncing reindeer or hear the merry tin1xling of the bells as his iron shod sleigh merrfly g1ides over the frost laden heights above Bridgeport, his influence will be felt in every home here tomorrow.
 In the local hoepiIaIs patients for a while will be taken from thoughts Of pain as white robed nurses display to their gaze the offerings which thoughtful friends nave sent At St. vincent's hospital through the gener- osity of one who comes annually a fully costurned Santa Claus will de- scend a. real chimney and distribute cheer
 At the jail and I4akeview. Home, larger and more varied dinners will cause the long tables to bend with the weight, and deIeaeies seldom gracing the board will be the portion of each inmate
 In the churches beginning at an ear ly hour the most impressive and de- vout services of the year will be held, many having added special Yuletide music to their regufar program.
 In the clubs there will be special dinners and private celebrations among the members.
 In the theatres special holiday bills will be rendered amidst decorations pleasing to the senses and enhancing the spirit of the day.
 In home, hall and barracks, meeting and greeting will be the order of a day propitious for good-cheer and holy celebration
 In schools, banks, stores and other public offices excepting the hospitals and police services there will be closed doors.
 Washington will contribute cheer to the occasion, as they have promised that with snow tonight the area of storm will pass eastward leaving the air cold, crisp and a reminder of the traditions of an earlier generation
 Yet in Bridgeport tomorrow thou sands who must perform their daily task will do so with a light heart. In the boiler rooms q factory, ships and stores, where the glow of red coals sears it's reflection upon the face of the worker, in hospitals where sur geon and nuree perform the life sav- ing functions on police patrol where a cheery greeting of the day will be given and the inebrtate urged towards home, on the trolley car which takes Bridgeport to and fro, on the railroad where the engineer, signa1man and track walker will use double precau- ton that none of the happy travellers may come to grief, in the post office where good tidings are distributed, and in hundreds of other places, there will be a cheery spirit of Peace on Earth Good Will Towards Men, for duty sometimes becomes a pleasure where the happiness of others is con- cerned.
 At the Y. M. c. A. a, Christmas tree with gifts to little ones, and other en- tertainment will be provided at 5:3O, | many special invitations having been distributed.