Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-10-27
CHRISTMAS SHIP
TO BE HERALD OF
CHRISTMAS SPIRIT
City Hall avilion a Revela-
ton of Self-sacri6ce of
Givers to Wars Helpless
Victims.

II you want to be imbucd with the real
Christmas spirit; to see eXemplifed the
real principle of generous giving, the
giving which represents a sacrifice and
which takes no thought of a gift to be
received in return, then pay a visit to
the Christmas ship pavilion in the City
Hall court, where overfowing the count
ers and piled ceiling high are packages
and crates of contributions for the young
sters of warning Europe.
You wouldn't believe that any such
things as hard times" or Financial de-
preston" were in existence, and yet, ac-
cording to the officials of the Child FEEDER
alton, it is just those people least en-
dowed with this worlds goods who are
giving the most.
Five and ten dollar bills are being
dropped into the contribution bowls as
though those precious notes grew on
and wooden underwear and outer gar
ments which cannot be bought for
song are being carried in in carloads.
The parcel post automobile and huge
trucks from all OF the express companies
crowd each other out of the way in an
endeavor to deposit their burdens. Little
pushCarts bearing gifts wedge their way
in and help make the pavilion seem the
busiest little Santa Claus workshop ever
dreamed of. Never has City Hall court
seen such a sight before.
EVEN THE AFFLICTED SEND AID.
From all over the State and from many
of the bordering States the gifts are
coming. Even the State Asylum for the
Insane is represented among the con-
tributors. This morning the Pennsylva-
MIA Institute for the Deaf and Dumb
sent q box containing one half dozen
warm caps and half dozen equally warm
sweaters. In fact. there is scarcely a
school or an institution within a hundred
miles OF Philadelphia which has not given.
Mrs. Thomas Robins and her corps of
assistants are doing their very best TO
keep their heads level in an endeavor TO
meet the onrush with equanimity and to
keep from being swamped by It. Pack
ages are being shipped open feverishly
and hatchets are being used TO make
huge crates yield their contents.
The sounds of industry I'LL the air. In
addition to opening the packages every
single article, from the tiniest baby sock
to the large blankets, is being listed This
means work. and work is being done.
Prospective contributors are still cry
ing for more time.
do not close the pavilion tomorrow
afternoon" say they, land the orphans
will receive even more presents"
And then the Child Federation Is nut
to the task of explaining that to close the
pavilion on the 2sth is necessary for the
success OF the expedition. The task of
delivering the gifts to the various coun-
tries is going to be such a very colossal
one that time will be needed in order to
have them reach each and every child
on Christmas morn.
WHERE GIFTS WILL BE LANDED.
Bordeaux will be the port OF entry for
France. Germany will be served by Rot
terdsm. Belgium will be taken care of
by England. but Russia, Austria and
Servia present problems. Negotiations
with the Swedish and Norwegian Minis
ters are in order at present TO see II it
will be possible to reach the Cars chill
dFen across the Finnish frontier by way
of Bergen, The ServlRn remembrance
win 90 into the Greek port of Salonika,
and 1t Is thought that the Austrian
youngsters will be served through
Trieste. though the mined Adriatic pre-
sents difficulties. But II doesn't seem
too much 10 expect that the good ship
Jason freighted with her precious cargo
will sail safely in. watched by some spe-
clal guardian angel, and no little child
even In the most impenetrable belllger- |
ent nation will be disappointed.