The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1914-12-07
Childish ScraWIS Plead for
Gifts-Members Use Judg-
ment and Care in Filling
Requests.

The Christ Child Society will
play Santa Claus for the twenty
fourth time this Christmas eve.
Hundreds of letters WTitteH by the
children telling what they want for
Christmas are pouring into the So
ciety headquarters. Each one is
turned oper to an individual mem
Der of the society Who sees that
the Wish for a go-cart, a teddy bear
or pair of roller skates is graft
fed.
How Idea Was Born.
The idea OF gift-giving to the children
OF the poor had birth in the heart of
Miss Mary V. Merrick. This work has
been a solace for an afrliction she suf-
fe7ed when a mere girl which has kept
her a cripple ever since. Although the
society has grown 10 include fourteen
branches in other cities. and to cover
many lines of social service. Miss Mer-
rick is still the active president. She
not only attends to the executive duties
of the position, but cuts ont all of the
little garments TINT go into the baby
outfits
Fourteen hundred letters were an
swered last year in this city alone. and
even more are expected to roll in for
the attention OF the Christ Child Santa
this year So far the majority Of the
letters ash for Terry bears. So-carts.
roller skates. and dolls. The peuman-
shin Is q childish scrawl. and the sta
tion"ry scraps of paper, half-sheets. or
biII-he ads, OF a leaf from a notebook.
Here Is one of this years letters:
Dear Christ Child:
am a little girl eight years old.
and / would like to have a pair OF
shoes My father Is dead, and my
mother has to work hard. I I'm
your little girl.
\ precocious younGster II two pen
ned the following.
Dear Christ Child:
am little boy two years old.
would like to have Tidiy bear
or anything you have to spare FOR
Christmas. ! thank YOU very much.
Demand For Dolls.
The demand for dolls is supplied
through the activity Of the junior
members Of the society, who meet
regularly from early fall to dress
dolls. The membership is not confined
TO girls. but boys contribute their
quot, to the stock. In few days 30
or moro will be brought to Miss Mer-
ri, ks home for inspection. and dis
triLUted 10 1T the tastes Of the chill
dren.
some of the requests cause the bene- /
factors perpleXity. One SRI Of seven ,
teen asked for big doll. Upon Inquiry /
II was found ont that she was a CON
sumptive. that she could not sleep with !
anv OF The family. and she wanted the !
doll IS a bedrpliOw. Another case was |
that OF q boy in the Industrial Home |
School. who sent in letter for a |
watch. The civers are asked to refrain !
from expensive gifts. and b"fu. .hc I
watch was purchased one Of the So |
cietv members looked into tho case |
She discovered that the hoy wanted a I
v atch because he had heart trouble. /
and he thought that with a timcpiece /,
always with him he would he kent +,
from oycrhurTy. Another little boy,
z skiing for a velOc!pede. WAS Il cripple !
" no could get about only in this way. |
He received the velocipcdc.
AfteT the idea OF the Christmas giving /
had been we'll Developed. the women Of ,
the society discovered that gifts of 4
need of clothing was out of the Ques-
ton. Relief work was therefore iuau-
;:uTated 10 precede tn" Christmas /
charity. which consists OF giving out /
new garments to children who present
an order from the friendly visitor.
Each child ia also fitted out with a
pair Of shoes asst year the society
had the satisfaction OF knowing that
not one oil the children who came for
garments We're turned away. The ward
robe Is procured through donations
through Ia" individual work Of the -,
sowing me mbCrS Ut Ia" society aud
houses.
Relief Work Under WAY.
Relief work has been under way al
the society headquarters. 2R, PcuusyI-
vsnis avenue. aimee the arst Tuesday IN