Evening journal., 1914-12-26
NEEDY Of CITY
IRE made HAPPY
ONCHRISTMASD DAY
Police Tree Shakes Gifts for
14OO Riddles at Glad
Season
ELNS and RELIGIOUS
bodies SUPPLY FOOD

Wilmington was happy yesterday
Christmas Day found all with light
hearts and holiday joy reigned SUI
preme. The big public celebration of
the day came at . o'clock when the
hearts of fourteen hundred poor
children were gladdened with gifts
from the City Hall tree. Each child
received a bag of candy. nuts and
pair Of stockings TO cap the climax
the kiddies, many of whom had no
Christmas trees at their own homes,
had a peep at the handsomest and
largest Christmas tree in the city. Big
strong policemen, who are ac-
customcd to scenes of misery and
suffering demonstrated they mad SOFT
hearts when they played the roles OF
Santa Claus in the practical sense OF
the word, and not one child was allow
ed to leave the courtroom without a
present.
Yesterdays Christmas treat, the
fourteenth annual affair held by the
police. was on a larged scale than
ever. Heretofore 1900 tickets were
distributed, each policemen on a
district having ten tickets to give
away. Yesterday. it was learned, that
the number allotted was too small
and had il not been for the kindness
OF Fred II. Steinle, the well known
baker. more than 200 children Woulu
have been turned away.
The ancient old court room. the
scene of perhaps more misery and
suffering than any other building IN
the state, was resplendent Win
Christmas cheer The II foot tree
aglow with vari-colored electric
lights and Christmas balls was treat
that the children will long remem-
Der. This treat was not the only one
the kiddies received however, as each
child black and white alike. received
stocking filled with good things
consisting of a box of candy. an
orange. an apple, a pair OF warn
stockings and a pound of ASSORTED
nuts. It was a great sight TO witness
tho pihchcd little faces light up will
JOY as they received the presen
which meant so much for them. Pal
little faces grow rosy with pleasure
while two little bright balls of ivor,
shone like silver in the little ebon.
faces Of the colored children.
Tn many instances the tots who re
ccived the pitiful and yet splendi'
little present, clutched to his breas
the only present TO be received b.
them from Old Santa this Christmas
II is almost impossible TO cOnjectur
how many homes in this city the pa
thctic little query. Mamma. VIII
didn't Santa Claus come to our hous
this year?" would have been hear
had II not been for the great generOu
heart of the benevolent citizen of Wi
mington who donates the means {
give out the Christmas cheer 10 tn
children each year.
As the long limo of children wa
thinnod out it soon became apparer
that several hundred would be dis
appointed as the supply of goo
things was running low. tt wa
at this time that Mr. Steinle, who wa
present. undertook TO enroll himse
rs Santa Claus. Mr.. Steinle at ono
had hundreds Of pounds Of candy an
numerous cakes brought from h
siorc and these were placed in ii
stockings that had been left over wit
tho nuts and fruit II was in III
manner thai the hearts of all Il
children who went to the police cou
wcrc made happy.
Many of those who were delighi'
appeared with shoes worn out at I'll
toes. and many had no ovcrcoat
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