The Sentinel=record., 1914-01-01
SALVATION ARMY'S
 BIG XMAS TREE
FIVE HUNDRED CHILDREN MADE HAPPY BY RECEIPT OF USE
 FILL AND TOY GIFTS.
Many More Substantial Gifts Find Way Into Large Number of Needy Hot Springs Homes.

Hc aNthe enacted last evening m the big tent used by the Salvation Army which stands at the corner Of Ouachita and Central avenues. would have touched the heart of the most pronounced "grouch"
 Five hundred children, boys and girls of poor parents of the city, shout ed themselves until they could not speak above nmsper, for Santa Claus, all the way from the North Pole. came to visit them, and before he left each child received a pres ent
 Do.you think it wasn't some effort 10 get 500 presents for these kid dies?' Try it some time and see. and then you will appreciate the work that the Salvation Army. under the supervision of Adjt. John Howard and his corps of assistants, has done.
 The children were not gathered tc- gether merely to be made recip- tents of holiday remembrances There was a lesson to be poken, a duty to do, and, all in all, the two combined itself into a most delightful program, for the Child of Nazareth was not forgotten and the little ones mount ing the platform, recited Christmas prose and poems. took part in dia- logues, all with the one holy thought of the Him who handed down to the world the edict to remember the lt- tie ones and forbid them not to come unto Him.
 In the rear of the tent stood the canvas brick wall, representing faithfully the side of a house. It had a large window and through this at the proper time Santa, after making a record run from the North Pole. gazed on the happy faces that await ed him. Two great Christmas trees, each loaded down with presents, stood at either side of the platform. From them extended streamers of tiny col ored electric lights. The atmosphere of the holidays was noticeable throughout. A messenger boy from the Western Union office tore through the crowd and down the aisle during the observance of the program. He handed up telegrams to Adit Howard who read them to the crowd. They were all from Santa Claus. The wires told of the progress the patron saint of the little ones was making in his effort to reach Hot Springs and the big Salvation Army tent. Think of it. in Milwaukee Santa collided with a chimney In Chicago he had hard time getting away from the sky scrapers" This side of Little Rock his sleigh was overturned and he had to stop 10 gather up his presents but when Santa looked through the win dow, gee, how those youngsters did shout and dance. A moment more and he was on the platform. Santa made the children nice speech Then commenced the distribution ol the presents. There were over 500 names of little ones called off. Yes, it took time, but who cared how lons To see the smile of happiness and inc look of thankfuIness on the face of each "kiddie' as he or she wea' forward to receive the presents made one forget time and become, like the recipients, "a child again, just for to- night"
 It was the greatest Christmas dem onstration for the children of the poor tho Salytaion Army has ever given in Hot Springs. And here's the best .rart of it. Those who made it pos sible were even more happy than their little guests They went out into the highway and byway and they gathered them in. The joy of the children is their greatest reward. the knowledge that they made others hap py and directed young minds to things religious sanctifes their work and Is the end they sought
 In addition to the good cheer and happiness radiated from the Dig Christmas tree Adit Howard and his assistants had not forgotten the more substantial gifts for the needy homes. Orders for coal. wood, groceries, dry goods. clothing, bedding, blankets, and a hundred other good and useful al ticles were distributed last night by the Salvation Army Santa Claus.
 It was an occasion never to be for gotten in hundreds of homes in this city. and the Salvation Army people were happy-happy in the knowledge that they had brought cheer to the cheerless and comfort to the needy'
 
 Cured of Liver Complaint