The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-12-14


munity Christmas of its kind was held
last year in Cleveland. Team work in
charitable action was the principle of
this effort according to an account of
the occasion
For the first time in 20 years the
Salvation Army removed its kettles
from the streets. The Volunteers of
America kept their chimneys and Santa
Clauses out of sight. The Anti-ruber-
culosis league ceased to solicit for the
sale of Red Cross seals. The Asso-
ciated Charities forbore. to send out it's
usual Christmas appeals.
Nearly threesoore other charitable
and philanthropic activities, ranging
from orphan asylums to hospitals,
Joined In making a great co-ordinatc
appeal for Christmas cheer through a
community Christmas committee APP
pointed by Mayor Baker and headed by
Lieutenant Governor Greenlund.
Dividends In Contentment
This committee raised its funds
through the sale of preferred stock In
Cleveland. the city of good will (un-
limited, Incorporated under the laws
of the commonwealth of good cheer"
Holly-bordered certificates specified
that:
shall be entitled to dividends payable
daily in the form of the happy voices
of robust children, the contented faces
of friendly fellow citizens and the gem
eral we'll being and advancement of the
said city, f Good Will"
They also stipulated that.
"The capital herewith subscribed is
TO be turned over to the treasurer of
the Cleveland Federation for Charity
and philanthropy for --- investment
In other works continuously express
sive of the Christmas spirit of good will
toward men. Dividends as above spe-
Gifted are guaranteed to holders of this
preferred stock during s65 days from
date, after which this certificate re-
| quires renewal"
The sale of this stock was pushed
through many channels Generous
| newspaper publicity was given: the
stock was on sale In all parts Of the
city; tellers of practically all banks re-
ceived payments the Cleveland stock
| exchange listed this among its other
! securities. Practically all the organ
| lied forces of the city Joined in this
! project Tor genuine community
Christmas.
Goodies By the Ton
Stock was bought by 1900 people. for
| total of over $4,000. This sum, care
| fully used, purchased over three tons
| OF chickens. three tons of potatoes, a
| ton and half of sugar, two tons OF
candy. 1900 mince pies 5000 popcorn
balls, etc.-cheer for 1900 families
and individuals. This was accom-
plished without duplication OF giving
Then on Christmas eve, before a 70
foot tree. illuminated and star-tipped
in the public square, Moses Cleveland 8
great family sang songs expressing the
common hope for better city and a
| better world.
chase of stock was allowed. The COM
| mittee depended entirely upon the ed
ucation of public opinion to effect the
| sale. In that fact lies the true sue
cess of the community Christmas. A
permanent community Christmas COM
mittee purposes to make definite cap
| ital of the experience gained in this
first community celebration.
Evansville, Ind, benefited by a piece
of rapid-fire accomplishment. as spir-
4 tied as the twinkling- Of an-eye per-
| Torrance of st. Nick in the might Be-
| fore Christmas" But five days before
| Christmas nothing had been done.
| Then a woman took hold. This was
Vera Campbell, and she tells what hap
pened
| Quick Help For st. Nick
| Before $50 that morning / had writ
| ten little poem. BY $3.50 the chief
dealer In Christmas trees had prom
ised TO put up his biggest tree in the
| courthouse square which, learned by
| Q o'clock-the county commissioners
were glad to have so used.
by noon the electric company had
promised to wire the tree and keep It
| lighted from o'clock until midnight
| every night between Christmas and
New Years. By 2 o'clock in the after
noon there seemed to be enough as
| surance that the affair would be sue
cess to Justify presenting the matter TO
the papers. The city editor of each of