Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1914-12-26
SANTA CLAU US FINDS 700
CHILDREN AT DITMAS HE
MIGHT NOT HAVE VISITED
Generous Children and Par
ents Through Evening News
Help Kris KringIe to Bring
Joy to Many Needy Children.

III
ity entertainment was held at the
D1tmas theatre Thursday afternoon.
1t was an event imDued with the true
spirit of Cnristmastide, making the
holiday one of the brightest and
most eventful that the klddies have
ever experienced.
Santa Claus, that never-failing
friend of the children, arrived ex-
actly on schedule time, having had
good sletghIng over the soft mantle
Of snow which fell just shortly be-
fore the big, happy event began. Old
Kris had with him a galaxy of bright
new toys that brought Joy to the
heart of many a child who had not In
his widest dreams expected that this
Christmas held 80 much in store for
him. Then, too, there were good
les" to eat-an orange, box OF
candy and bag OF dainty little as
sorted cakes for each one.
The doors of the Ditmas theatre
were thrown open shortly after 2
o'clock and the children, some of
whom had been budding up In the
cold with bright expectancy since IL
o'clock, hurriedly entered the spa
cious playhouse in the quest of
Santa Claus and happiness. Tickets
for the never-to-be-forgotten event
had been distributed by Miss Alma
Widerstrom and Captain Patterson,
Of the Salvation Army, but other
children who did not hold the covet-
ed red ticket were admitted to see
the moving picture show.
And such pictures were shown to
cater to the happiness of the chit
dren! There was Billy Jacobs and a
cunning little cast of famous juve-
nile actors in "Billy's Charge" Hal
Reid In four part drama taken from
that famous old play, Human
Hearts" the Universal boy in "Rur-
al Adventures" bringing into promi-
nence that popular boy hero, Matty
Robbins. and 1.-THE Extex Treas
ure,' a two part western drama
These pictures lasted from shortly
after O'Clock until after 4 and the
delight with which the children re-
ceived them was manifested by &C.
static applause at frequent inter
walls.
But the climax of happiness was
reached at about 4:15 o'clock when
Santa Claus, attired In his snow
trimmed suit of red. stepped into
the spotlight on the Ditmas stage
and voiced hearty welcome to the
children. lii short speech Of a
brisk. bright nature, Old Kris told
the children how his visit had been
made possible through the generosity
of Perth Amboy friends and he
called for three cheers to be given In
their honor. Stunned by the sudden
happiness that the visit of Santa
Claus and his messenger Of goodwill
had brought to them, only feeble
response was made to the first
cheer. "Is that the best you can
do?" asked Santa Claus. Just then
the building was rocked with a vol
ume of applause and cheers that
burst from the lusty little lungs OF
over six hundred children-children
who probably were tasting for the
first time the real Joy Of Christmas
through means Of the big fund that
was supplied by generous friends OF
this city in response to the appeal
made In the EVENING NEWS.
In one corner of the stage a large
Christmas tree had been erected, and
at a given signal its branches were
Illuminated with brightly colored
electric bulbs, thus adding to, the
brilliancy of the scene and the &C.
stacy Of the children.
Although astounded by almost
colossal happiness, the children be.
haved In an orderly manner that ex-
ceeded the expectations OF those who
arranged the event. The real time
Of rejoicing came at the end, when
the gifts were distributed. The
children were ushered out in three
rows at a time and as they passed
out the door they were given the
presents that brought Joy into theil
little hearts. There were drums
dolls, swords, guns, fire engines, balls
woody dogs, wagons, tops, and 9
hundred other kinds Of bright toys
distributed to the children.
Could everyone who had respond.
ed to the EVENING NEWS appeal
to give the children this merry time
have been present the sight present
ed as the children received their gifts
would have done their hearts good
for they would have realized that
their donations of money and toys
could not have been put to better
use than to gladden. the children in
this way at Christmas time.
Loaded down with toys and good
les, the children left the theatre
beaming with JOY. Some little tots
there were who received more than
they could safely carry, and the only
looks of regret that their faces car
ried during the afternoon was when
they realized that their little arms
were too short to hold more.
One little lame boy--"the king OF
Willocks lane"-was especially favor
ed. A toboggan cap was filled to
the brim with candies and cakes,
while gaily painted toys were hung
about his neck and tied to his crutch-
es. Too full for more lengthy utter
ance, the little fellow could only
murmur a low but grateful thank
you'' as he passed out OF the theatre
that to him had been the Mecca of
happiness. The heavily burdened
lad when he reached the street found
that he had too much to carry, and
kind friends helped him to his home
In a wagon.
The true spirit Of Christmas even