Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-12-18
MERCHANTS Give
GENEROUS Gifts
TO SANTA CLAUS
Many Donations of Merchan-
disc as Well as Money
for Poor.
COMMITTEE NEEDS AUTOS
Work of Distribution of Christmas
Presents viii Be Facilitated
by Machines.

\ word of cheer and enCouragem
is a great incentive in carrying on an!
work: it acts as a lubricator and help:
over the hard places in the road. Yes
terday there came TO The Argus office
this letter from a business man, en-
closing a big fat check:
Here is something for the Christ
mas Fund. You certainly deserve {
lot of thanks for taking up the details
of such a good work as this and max
ing the way easy for a lot of fellow:
like myself to do at least a part OF oul
duty in this direction which otherwise
We would probably neglect altogether
The Argus is sure enough Santa
Claus for hundreds of poor little kids. =
/ Contributions have come TO The Ar
gus Santa Claus Fund not only in the
/ form of money, but the merchants
have been most liberal in their dOna-
tionS and have contributed generously
from their stock and with reduced
prices. The department stores, Young
x NcCombs and l.. :. McCabe x Co.
lave given merchandise. Mr. Mace of
the Woolworth five and ten cent store
gave ribbons, from the Schocker Pa
per company came bags, paper and
Irvine. Henry Darts Sons contributed
nuts and cookies. the Gansert Candy
company gave candies and Rachman
X Co. gave box of oranges. all of
which are a very big help and are
most thankfully received.
Committee Purchases Gifts.
The work of purchasing gifts for
q, g oft i. n 10
Job. much larger than the average
person realizes and il means the eX
peuditure OF large sums of money.
There are on the list of The Argus
Santa Claus committee the names of
over 400 children. a third more than
were provided for last year and the
selecting of gifts is the work of days.
\ yesterday the committee made a sin
gle purchase of hair ribbons for the
little girls that tOtaled $50. Practical
~ 300 pounds each of candies, nuts.
and cookies are needed TO fill the bags
for the kiddies and in the same pro
portion must drums. books. dolls, balls.
horns etc, be bought. The average
person at Christmas time has a mighty
hard time deciding just what to get
little Mary or Johnny TO please them
most. but the committee has 400 to
think of and an effort is made to give
each child the things that it has asked
Tor in letters sent to The Argus Santa
Claus.
Ladies in Charge of Fund.
Miss Dina Ramser, who has been
chairman OF the committee in general
charge since the inauguration OF The
Argus Santa Claus Fund four years
ago. is serving again this year and
she has very efficient help in Mrs. c.
7. Dugard and Mrs. G. II. Sherwood.
These ladies compose the purchasing
and upon their shoulders
falls the brunt of the work. Every
family which Santa Claus is reported
TO have neglected TO put on his list
has been visited by the laGies with the
help of Miss Mary Knox, and the !
wishes and needs of each has been as
certained. This has meant days of
hard work but which the committee I
has cheerfully done. knowing that the /
pleasure of the children will reward !
them many times.
The committee on wrapping the |
gifts has as its chairman Mrs. J. G. !
stanton and assisting are Mrs. W. \. |
Darling. Miss Mary l.. Carter. Miss |
Marie Koch and Mrs. Sam Switzer.
Miss Mary Knox has in charge the .
OF the candies and nuts !
and she will select her helpers very
shortly
The work Of distribution viii be be
gun Wednesday and in order to facili- /
ate the work the committee i'll charge
las asked that four automobiles be
placed at their service. As the work
: one of charity, The Argus asks
hat any person who can give the use
II machine for the day or part of
ne day inform The Argus Of that
act. This service will be very Il
greatly appreciated. i
Letters Come From Children. 4
Letters continue 10 come from the
little children asking for gifts and to
he uninitiated it j. surprising how
lauy children would have had broken
.earts Christmas morning were no
und established To bring them happi-
less on what should De the merriest
ay in the whole year FOR the little
mes. They tell stories OF sickness i
nd poverty and dire need that are
.onderfully pathetic. II takes so lit
.e 10 please a child but even this
-Ould he denied them were there no
Iood Fellows in The city The time
very short before the actual work
wrapping tine gifts viii begin and I
hose who contemplate contributing
iust do so al once if they are 10 get
] on the cheer that viii surely come
Ieir way IL they do So
Lest YOU forget, The Argus Santa
laUs Fund j. for the purpose OF buy
X toys and goodies for poor children
Z the city who would otherwise be &
yerlOoEed by Santa Claus in his an
ual tour Christmas eve. and who
ould be denied the thrill and JOY OF
- happy season, BY finding empty
OcEiugS.
Institute Shrine.
a large number Of the members of Z
-