The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-12-15


 What is claimed to be the first Continuity Christmas of its lnnd. wasa held last year in Cleveland Team work in charitable action was the principle of this effort, according to an account of the occasion
 For the first time in twenty years, the Salavations Army removed it's ket-s ties from the streets. The Volunteers of America kept their chimneys and santa Clauses out of sight. The Anti TubeTculosis League ceased to sodtcat Associated Charities forbore to send outfts usual special cshrfstIr1as tl1 az Nea.rly three score other charitable and: pl1ila1thropic activities. ranging from orphan asylums to hospitals Joined in making great co-oI,olnate appeal for Christmas cheer through a Community Christmas Committee, appointed by Mayor Baker and head ed by Litutenant-Govern Greenlund
 DIvIDENDs IN CoNTEMPT
 This committee raised it's funds tl1rodgsh the sale of preferred stock in @Eleveland. the city of Good Will (Unlfznited9, ), under the laws of the. corra1konwealth Of Good Cheer
 Ho11y-bordered certificates specified that
 The holder of preferred stock shall be entitled to dividends payable daily in the form of the happy voices of TO- bust children, the contented faces of friendly fellow citizens and the gen. eral well being and the advancement Of the said City Of Good Will TheEnAr. ions Aa xzhh 1nfw5 They also stipulated that:
 ..Eaaat the capital herewith subscr-i- bettas to be turned over to the treas alrers Of the Cleveland Federation for
 
 investment in other works con ntinuos- ly expressive of the Christmas spirit Of good will toward men, Dividends as above specified are guaraTteed to Of this preferred stock during three hundred and sixty-five days from date after which this certificate re- quiEss renewal. z
 Tte sale of this stock Evas pushed through many channels Generous newspaper publicity was given the stock was on sale in all parts of the city,: te1Iers of practically all banks received payments; the Cleveland: Stock Exchange listed this among it's other securities PracitaIly all tn or ganized forces of the city jodned in this project for a genuine Community Chtistmas
 GOODIES BY THE TON
 Stock was bought by 450o people for total Of over $12,OO0 This sum carefully used, purchased over three tons Of chicken, three tons of potatoes 6 ton and a half of sugar. two tons of candy, 1,500 nnd1rce pies, 5000 popcorn balls etc cheer foI 0O0 families and 1ndfviduaIs. This, was aeconp1ish- ed without duplication of giving.
 Then on Christmas eve, before a seventy root tree, illuminated and starr tipped in the public square, Moess C1eve1and's great family sang songs expressiIls the common hope for better city and a. better world
 No personal solicitation for the pur- cilase of the stock was allowed The committee depended entirely upon the education of public opinion toeffect the sale Tn that fact lies the true suc- cess Of the Community Christmas. permanent Community Christmas Eommittee purposes to make definite capital Of the experience in the first community celebration.
 Evansville, Ind, benefited by Q piece of rapid fire aecompl lishlnent, as spirited as the tWin7Iing Of an eye. perfoFmance Of St. Nick in the Night Before Christmas But five days be- fore Christmas nothing had been done Then a woman took hold This was Vera Campbell, and she tells what happened.
 QUICK HEI.P FOR ST. NICK
 Before sn-thirty that mornirlg. I had written a little poem By half-past eight, the cheif dealer in Christmas trees had promised to put up his biggest Christmas tree in the Court House Square which I learned by nine o'clock the county comnis- aioners were glad to have so used.
 ssBy noon the electric company had promised to wire the tree and keep lighted six o'clock until midnight ev- cry night between Christmas and New Y ears By two o'cbIock dn the after
 
 suradlce that the affair would be a success to justify presenting the mat ter to the papers The city editor of the three papers in town kept the municipal celebration before the thought Of the people from then url- til Christmas Day, featuring it on the first page
 .sThe crowd that gathered at the Court House Christmas Eve showed that the city was ready for a tget to gether time at that season. When the pianist truck the first chords of s5tiHe Naehf, a spirit Of deepest rev erance pervaded the waiting crowd.
 The solo made 9. deep impression After the whole crowd had sung a number of the Christmassongs, tn chords of the HaTlelujah Chorus peal ed forth At the first note the hand were evidently on their way to that night shift in mine or mill, went straight to their hats, and. in deep est reverance, they with us all heard the whole chorus with uncovered heads.'
 BaItimoress first Community Christ mas festival was initiated by one of the daily newspapers. Like most of the community trees, the tree on Courthouse Piazza was illumined throughout the week from Christmas eve to New Tears, and to each day was assigned some special interest. On Christmas eve, from the moment that the mayor pressed the button that il- Iumined the tree. to the close of the concert by the Unitde German Singers and a reeirnenta1 hand. inc celebration