The Detroit times., 1914-12-26
YULE CHEER in
BIG CHUNKS IS
HANDED KIDDIES
Wolverine Auto Club Feasts
Thousand, and Couzens is Host
To Hundreds More
SANTA CLAUS BUSY
AT SALVATION ARMY
Giant Christmas Tree Yields
Gifts to Children of the
Poor

Some children-close To 1000 or
them-into whose homes the gloom
OF poverty had crept, dined in the Ho-
tel Cadillac. Christmas day. In the
spacious dining room OF the Detroit
Board OF Commerce, $50 more young
sters filled themselves with good
things to eat. To thousands OF homes
there came a man, woman or child
with basket, and In this basket was
food, and sometimes clothing, and
toys.
This was Detroit's way OF making
everybody happy on Christmas. The
children who feasted In the Cadillac
were the guests OF the Wolverine
Automobile club. Before going to the
hotel they had been treated to a spe-
cial program OF amusement In the
Cadillac theater. The youngsters at
the Board OF Commerce had been pro-
yided with food and music and merri-
ment by James Couzens, vice-presi'
dent Of the Ford Motor Co. Each lad
started his dinner with half fried
chicken. What followed would take
much space to tell. Mr.. Couzens made
a brief address. The Wolverine Auto
mobile club furnished entertainment
for the boys Mrs. NJ Edward Wilson.
w. r. Purdy and Pete" Kennedy
were among those who sang. l. w,
Schmidt and Walter Cole, OF the
Board of Commerce. were in charge
OF the arrangements for the affair
How many baskets OF food and 9th
er gifts found their way into the
homes OF the poor probably will new
l>a I'm 20 Enn N
izations of various sorts gave away a
number that would run far into the
thousands. Individual charity also
played large part in making Christ
mas, 1914, one OF the most bounteous
in Detroit's history.
Fifteen members OF the wolverine
Automobile club. after seeing the
large crowd OF children through their
orgy in the Cadillac, bedecked them
selves In the raiment OF Santa Claus
and continued their charitable work
until far into the night
In the Salvation army citadel.
Christmas night, at least 1000 chill
dren OF the poor were presented with
toys by corps OF Santa Clauses from
a great Christmas tree. The army
band played Christmas hymas, and
an enlivening program OF vocal and
amusement numbers was also part OF
the celebration. During the day about
$500 baskets Of food were given away
to poor families.
Detroit's municipal Christmas tree
attracted such a throng. on Christmas
night, that IL was necessary for an ex-
ira corps Of traffic officers to keep the
avenue in front OF the city hall clear
ed for traffic The moment the tow
ering evergreen became ablaze with
colored lights. crowds gathered The
sidewalks around the tree we're pack
ed until close TO midnight.
The Christmas theme OF Peace on
earth. good will toward men," was
made one of deeper significance than
ever Christmas day from Detroit pull.
pits. In almost every church In the
city. pastors referred to war-ridden
Europe and prayed that peace might
soon descend upon the warning peo-
pies. Thanks were given for the
peace and prosperity obtaining in the
United States. The musical programs
were of unusual beauty and elabo-
rateness, and the congregations In
Roman Catholic and Protestant
churches alike taxed the seating ca.
pacity Of the auditoriums.