The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-21
SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
TO GIVE XMAS CHEER
All Doubt Whether Santa Really
Lives Settled by Adjutant-
General.

Churches OF New York are preparing
to make this Christmas one of cheer for
thousands OF poor families, Yesterday
many churches took up special collections
with which to provide Christmas dinners
for the poor. and others made appeals for
clothing and toys. To-day and each day
until Christmas Fifth avenue churches Will
send volunteer workers to the East Side
to seek out families In distress.
The Collegiate Church OF St Nicholas.
Firth avenue and Forty-elghth street. Will
provide Christmas dinners for the needy
and worthy families In its West Side mis-
sion In West Fifty-fourth street The
Brick Presbyterian Church at Fifth ave-
nue. and Thrty-seventh stree. has ar
ranged stocking filling party at which
children MI stockings for poor children
The Madison Avenue Methodist Church
the Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church
and the Church OF the Heavenly Rest are
preparing to spend hundreds OF dollars in
giving help
Ranyer Clarkson of 81, Bartholomew
Church, Forty-fourth street and Madison
avenue, will give Christmas dinners to
more than 1000 men al the Bowery y NJ.
e. A. Other members of St Bsrtholo-
news are giving out books OF ten tickets
good for meals and clothing at the East
Side Parish House in East Forty second
street. The West End Presbyterian
Church has a special committee called
the pastors cabinet. which will give
Christmas dinners In baskets TO hundreds
of poor families
The children who are TO spend Christ
mas in the shelter OF the New York So
clety for the Prevention of Cruelty to Chill
dren received an official communication
| Yesterday from the AdJutant-Generai OF
the state, 1t was in answer 10 an inquiry
which had been addressed to Gen. Henry
De Witt Hamilton by committee OF
seven recently appointed by the children
They had heard that the story about Santa
Claus was not true and they wanted to
know whether old Santa really did live
any more and whether he did fly about
in a sleigh drawn by reindeer, II was
suggested to the children that they COM
municate with Acknowledgement Iaml-
ton at Albany as the one most likely 10
know
A messenger from the AdJutant- Gen
erals office called yesterday at the SO
cietys building, 297 Fourth avenue. and
handed to Ernest X. Coulter. supern-
tendent the following official communica-
ton. which accompanied the original copy
of the inquiry by the chlldrens commit
| tee,
"REcElvEp A, December 18Th. 1914
THE Adiutant- Generals once. Albany,
y. Y, December 18th 1914. Returned ia
writer's through the Official channel with the
Information that according to our roster the
Sanitary Oficer referred 10 was last on duty
issuing and delivering supplies at posts in
the Vicinity OF these headquarters or
about December 10th, 1913,
AT that time his means OF transportation
was especially noted, as instead OF an army
wagon OF the standard pattern. or an aero.
plane, he used sleigh drawn by a team OF
reindeer instead of army mules. The speed
made, however, was swift, and deliveries
according 10 the best Information obtain
able, were accomplished with a prompt mes
rarely attained In our service
"A disbursement request on Form EbTO3O3l
has been transmitted to the Quartermaster
| ~ your post for The purchase OF forage for
the reindeer before arrival on Your reserva
ton,
| ID, HAMILTON, Adjutant-Go leral"
After the official communication 'by
| command OF the Governor" from the Ad-
| jutant General OF the State was handed
| to George Collella, chairman OF the com
mittee and the news flew through the
| dormitories and recreation rooms there
Were shouts of delight. The children took
up their preparations for the reception OF
Santa Claus with redoubled enthusiasm
There viii he q celebration ut the home
! of the society Wednesday evening. The
| preparations have been in charge OF =
! committee OF women of which Mrs 7
| Nelson Rorland Mrs Mortimer H. Schin
| Mrs William X Vanderbilt, Miss Mary
Is Choate, Mrs Morgan J, OBrien. Mrs
William X. Vanderbilt, Jr., and Mrs. Peter
q Gerry are members