The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-12-24
EIGHT THOUSAND
HEARTS MADE GLAD
STOCKINGS DISTRIBUTED TO THE
CHILDREN OF THE POOR
YESTERDAY.
READY FOR TONIGHT
{ HRIsTMAs TREE CELEBRATION
EXPECTED TO PROVE EVEN
MORE SUCCESSFUL THAN ON
LAST CHRISTMAS EVE.

Eight thousand mouths were hIiea
and 5000 hearts were made happy yes
terday when the committee headed by
Mrs. J. H. Capers in a number OF auto
mobiles, placed at their disposal py
the owners covered the city ike
Gordon of army spies and found out
every child who could expect a Christ
mas stocking from no other source
Not child. it is believed. was over
looked, with the exception cf re"
who viii be visited today. An orange,
= handful of nuts. aud little candy
were put in each stocking. and the
goodies then distributed. This morn
ing the little that remains to be done
will be completed, and II any chiid
wants for n little touch of Christmas
cheer after noon today 1t will not be
through any neglect on the part oil the
committed.
Touching Incidents.
Many touching incidents are told oY
those distributing the stockings. AT
tone homie in a bottom in the Northside,
scantily clad tot stood In the door
way of a ramshack1e cottage and
watched the "otermobeer' picking its
way toward it's home. With staring
ewes and wide open mouth the child
stood as If transfxed. Not a sound did
IL utter until the stocking was placed
: in its little hands, which took 1t GIN
rerly at hrst, then grasped II eagerly.
Then. peering inside, the child turned
on It's heel into the darkened interior,
shrieking:
! "ooo-oh, NANNY. fought yuh sed
I Sanity Claus wuZ daid.
The other children-those who were
at home when the gifts were brought
received them In varying moods.
Some few of them were on the watch,
their parents having evidently read to
them from the newspapers of the i'm
{ pending visit, but others had their de-
/ light increased by the unexpectedness
/ OF 1t.
1t was Christmas Day prematurely
for the white children yesterday. but
later the colored Santa Claus will pay
his visit. Colored children are to share
, the gifts next week. when a portion OF
the funds raised by the white people
| will be added to those donated by
negroes, and stockings purchased with
the proceeds Next Wednesday night
| Christmas tree celebration for the
colored youngsters will be held on the
old Ford Hotel lot.
I In the distribution of stockings yes
terday, the Boy Scouts of the city rem
dered valuable assistance. Always to
| the fore when work for the general
! pu DIG Is TO De zone, these knights Oh
service. were active yesterday with
! their aid to the committee.
/ The Christmas Tree.
/ Last night the lights on the Christ
mas tree on the lot across from the
City Hall were tested and every
rangement against possible failure was
made The work of decorating the tree
was completed late yesterday after
| noon.
| Everything Is In readiness for the
big celebration tonight The chiidrens
choir will be the largest that ever sang
together in Richmond. and according
to Musical Director Walter Mercer, is
now so well trained that their part OF
the program Is certain to go through
! without a hitch.
/ A great throng is expected to wit
ness the ceremonies tonight. Last
Christmas eve several thousand crowd
ed around Ford Hotel lot to witness
, the exercises attendant upon the first
municipal Christmas tree celebration
ever held in Richmond. and tonight
when there Is more elaborate pro-
| gram to attract. when the tree Is much
taller and more brilliantly lighted
and when there is still lingering the
memory of the great success attained
last year. an even larger crowd is ex-
pectcd.