Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1914-01-01
CHRISTMAS SPIRIT At !
= The STATE HOSPITAL
CELEBRATION OF THE DAY BY
DISTRIBUTION OF GIFTS AND
CHRISTMAS DINNER,
Employees Lend an Efficient Hand,
Making the Occasion a Great
Success.


Nowhere through all the state,
perhaps has the spirit of Christmas
been better exemplified than at the
state hospital for the insane Thurs
day. Superintendent Hotchkiss and
officers of the institution decided to
do what they could to relieve tho
monotony OF institution life for the
nine hundred and more patients re-
siding within the walls of the state
hospital. Their efforts were crown
ed with success that was reflected
in the smiles and evident apprecia-
ton Of large majority of the in
! mates Of the institution. The day
was given over entirely to the un-
usual events and to the festivities
and distribution Of gifts that had
been planned.
The hospital interior showed evi-
dence Of Christmas day on every
hand, and Christmas decorations of
holly, bunting, bells, banners, and
other gala equipment we're to be seen
in the dining rooms, corridors, all
the ladies wards, and in the admin
istration building. If there were no
| snowy aspects outside, usual on
Christmas occasions, the evidences
! of the day were abundant inside the
building. At $50 Supt. Hotchkiss
| and wife and assistants visited every
| ward in the building, greeting the
patients, and distributing to each
| one a package Of candy, nuts and
| oranges. At noon a bountiful Christ
mas dinner was served, with turkey
and all the usual accomplishments.
of Christmas spread. At 2:3O'
o'clock in the afternoon the amuse-
ment hall was thrown open. and on
the stage appeared an immense
Christmas tree. This was loaded with
presents sent by friends and rela-
tives from outside the city, and for
those patients who had not been so
remembered. the asylum manage
ment gave some suitable and kindly
remembrance of the occasion. so that
| each of the 90 patients received a
Christmas gift.
Flash light pictures of the tables
and decorations were taken by a pho
tographer.
There were two performances in
the amusement hall given with the
moving picture machine, and accom-
panying them were selections played
by the asylum orchestra, which has
been recently organized and' whose
musical selections were highly COM
plimented. Steward Sinclair, who
has taken a great interest in the
preparations for the event, acted as
Santa Claus, dressed in the appro-
pirate costume, and directed the dis
tribution of the gifts from the big
Christmas tree on the stage. The
tree was covered with spangles and
lights, and was q glittering, joyful
sight, which could not fail to i'm
press itself on every patient, even of
the most feeble intelligence. Dur
ing the distribution of the gifts W.
A. Argall sang, "Harbor of Love-
accompanied on the piano by Miss
Hanson. Miss Della Bays sang 'At
the Gate of the Palace of Dreams"
Both of these selections were finely
rendered.
Dr.. Hotchkiss thanked the employ
es and all those who had been instru-
mental in bringing about the cele-
bration of such notable Christmas,
and expressed himself as highly
pleased with the evident enjoyment
of the inmates of the institution.
During the presentation of the gifts
from the tree, Santa Claus" Sin
clair made a short address to the
employees, who had rendered
such effective assistance in the pro-
duction of the Christmas celebration.
He said:
II must not let this opportunity
pass without saying what is nearest
to my heart, to the employees of this
institution. just want to speak a
few words in behalf of the superin-
tendent, and other officers of this
hospital. I want to say that with
out your kind and loyal help this
could not have been the very best
Christmas ever enjoyed here. You
have been filed with the loving
Christmas spirit, which only can
make Christmas cheer. You have