Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1914-12-26
Elks Lodge Has Big Distri-
button of Baskets at
Theatre.
TOYS FOR MANY TOTS
Stockings Distributed at Homes Of
FOur.ScOre Little Fellows Made the
Day Perfect for Them-Eyery
Y0ungster Remembered.

If there is any little kiddie in Pine
Bluff, who failed to receive visit or
a remembrance from Santa Claus yes
terday, it is not the fault of that most
beneficent of childhood's friends, be-
cause Santa had made ample prepare
lions for all the youngsters. and even
had some stuff left over after making
visits or sending reminders to all the
homes and all the kiddies on his list
Through the Pine Bluff lodge of
Elks, $50 children obtained their
Santa Claus gifts, fruit and candy.
Through the Pine Bluff Christmas
club, organized by Miss Julia Houston
and Miss Rosalie Philpot, aided by the
Volunteers Of America, who delivered
the stuff. SO other youngsters. most
of them of very tender years, found
their stockings filled with Christmas
toys and goodies yesterday morning.
The Elks were able, after their for
NAL presentation closed. to see that
several late corners were not overlook
ed, and the stockings provided by
the Christmas club exactly filled the
demands from the little tots.
What the Elks did at the Elks the
atre, at their public presentation, was
only a part, although the largest part
perhaps, of their Christmas work.
The Elks did not make any announce
ment of the fact that quite few lit
tie sick children. unable to visit the
theatre, had their toys delivered to
them, and that provision of other
kinds was made in several other in
NV hA G
keep their charity work secret, and
even when asked about specific cases.
''fail to remember" Hence the public
distribution of toys by the local yes
terday was all the more appreciated
by those members who have an
inkling of what the lodge is doing.
Something like two hours was nec-
essary for the distribution of toys and
goodies to the kid1ies. The auditori-
UNI of the theatre was packed and
damned with kiddes and relatives in
charge of them, and the upper floors
of the house were crowded with in
terested Spectators, when the curtain
rolled UP at 10 O'Clock, for the begin
ming of the distribution. Every
youngster received something, and
somehow, each youngster appears tC
have received exactly the thing he OF
she wanted most. Such broad smiles
such bright eyes, such eager little
faces, and such childish squeals OF
delight never were heard before ex-
cept on just such an occasion. Spec
tators appeared to envy those Elks
who were serving as ushers. diStribu'
tors or in other capacities because
these appeared to be having so direct
bearing on the work of giving pleas
ure to the little folks.
Rev. J. I. Norris Of the First Pres
byterian church opened the affair witt
a brief ceremony In which he invoked
Divine blessings upon the work. 4
most pleasing feature of the fore
moons program was the singing. as ;
duet. of "The Rosary" by the Misses
Norris
With the Christmas club stockings
however. it was different. A score o.
more girls spent the greater part o
Thursday filling the stockings and as
sorting toys of all kinds, for TIL
eighty odd tots whose visit from SAINT;
Claus was thus assured. Late Thurs
day evening, the offices of the Associ
ated Charities were filled almost t.
suffocation with the stuff. all read
for delivery, and Miss Houston, Mis-
Philpot and their assistants were tir
ed but happy to the utmost degree
despite the wet weather and the fac
that their own private Christmas af
fairs were yet to be attended.
Distribution of these stockings an,
toys to the homes OF the tets was en-
trusted to Staff Ca; tain Dowell an
his assistants Of the Volunteers O
America, and these were kept bus
all through the night, to make sur
the stockings and toys would occup
their proper place by the open fir
place or chimney when the tots awok
yesterday morning.
That eighty-two tots, and at leas
half as many heart weary moth
ers found real Christmas pleasur
when they awoke yesterday morning
may be taken for granted, as resul
of The unselfish work of Miss Hous
ton, Miss Philpot and their men an
women assistants in the Christina
club plan.
nIREV kRsS MISTAKE