Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-12-31
Salvation Army and Volunteers
of America Alone Provide 75,-
600 Dinners for the City's
Poor.
CHILDREN MADE HAPPY
Private Charity Is Larger Than
Usual-Churches Play I'm
pOrtant Part-Sing Sing Con-
victs See Theatrical Perform
ance and Eat Big Meal.

New York, Dec. 25.-Charity and good
day and made the holiday in many ways
one OF the most memorable in the citys
annals. For the one day at least the
pinch of poverty was relaxed even in
quarters whore it had been most severe
lY felt and virtually the entire city
made merry.
Scores of thousands OF persons were
fed by charitable ORGANIZATIONS, the
Salvation Army and the Volunteers OF
America alone. according to estimates
Of distributions, providing $4,000 din
ners for the poor The missions and
other institutions gave Christmas gifts
to many thousands Private charity
was unusually in evidence despite the
heavy drains that have been made in
the way of contributions to the suffer.
ing millions of the European war zone
WEATHER IDEAL.
The synchronizing unusual for this
particular town. OF Christmas dar and
what is known to tradition as typical
Christmas weather. helped to make this
years celebration a notab." one. The
day outdoors was ideally Christina S ike
indoors. within institution and within
homes, the Yuletde spirit prevailed tn
an unwonted degree.
Municipal Christmas tree celebrations
! begun on the eve of the holiday were
continued on the day itself: poor chill
dren were gathered together in numerous
centers and made happy with Gifts and
feasting that their homes in the crowded
sections could not afford them and
home upon home was blessed with lene-
I fees in the shape of needed supplies
! for the holiday table and presents for
the little ones of the family. Hospitals
( orphanages, homes for the aged and in
! firm. correctional and other institutions
provided dinners and entertainments for
their inmates.
SERVICES FOR ALL.
The churches played their usual impor.
tant part in the celebration. with serv-
ices for all and entertainments for the
juvenile of their parishes. Notable serv-
ices were those in the cathedral St
Patrick's of the Roman Catholic. and
St. John the Divine. of the Protestant
Episcopal Church-whilc old Trinity and
other Of the big churches We're attended
/ by large congregations.
! At Ossining the prisoners in Sing Sine
witnessed a play by New York com
! panY and Toasted SumptuouslY at dinner
time. Warden Thomas Mott Osborne was
/ presented with resolutions thanking him
for adopting suggestions made by the
Golden Rule brotherhood, a prison or
ganizaton. for changes desired in various
prison rules
The Yuletide spirit hovs"ed aGoat and
ashore. Men on the big German liners
in port at Hoboken since early August
and the families who tenant the un-
slightly harges in Cfowanus canal shared
alike with the provided and tho needy
on land whatever offerings came witt
the Christmas
Aliens, seamen. ncwshoys, conviCts. tn,
I NOTWITHSTANDING and thousands ~ fam
lilies who awoke hungry and poorly clad
ON Christmas in the city were aided
Every policeman received time of by
special order from Commissioner Woods
to eat dinner at his home.