davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-12-24
TAKE A TIP! THIS is OPEN
SEASON FOR TIPPING"
Even the Artful Dodger Couldn't Elude Smiling Sene-
gambians and Others Who Expect Trinkged, Pour
boire, Backsheesh Just Plain "Tip"

Apartment-house dwellers and renters
OF hotel apartments sympathize with the
soldiers in the trenches in Europe. While
no news would be more welcome to them
than that Henry Ford had accomplished
his ambition, still they have war Of
their own on their hands now. which oc-
cupies them almost to the exclusion of
everything else. They are not the only
ones in the conflict. although they claim
they hold the first line of trenches. Res
taurant patrons. barber shop frequenters
and just plain housekeepers are also in
the throes OF battle.
The aforementioned class is meeting
with reverses at the hands of the Sene-
gambian apartment house troops. AS the
timld tenant makes a desperate effort
to slip into his trench without being
noticed. the Senegambians espy him and
cut or his escape. a shudder passes
through him from his watch to his bank
roll.
Well might he quail at the sight of Il
uniformed bellhop or the brass buttons
ornamenting the exterior of the smiling
elvator man. Mr.. /. VI. A. Tightwad
sinks through the corridor on the way
to his apartment, but he is discovered
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-12-24
"HIGH JINKS" IN WALL STREET;
PROSPERITY CHRISTMAS" FUN
Stream of Gold Flows to Thousands
of Employees

NEW YORK, Dec. 24-Santa Claus
drew rein in the financial district today
and Wall street broke into one of the
widest prosperity celebrations in its his
tory.
High Jlnks" on the floor of the New
York Stock Exchange. on the curb and
on the Consolidated Stock Exchange
marked the advent of Christmas.
Employees OF the stock exchanges, arm
ed with noise-making devices. added to
the bedlam when $4,000 in gold was dis
tributed to them from a pool collected
by the members. Hundreds OF other en-
ployes of financial institutions, nearly all
OF them rewarded by Christmas gratulties.
thronged the streets. joining In the cele-
bration.
The financial district was n gala spot.
A Christmas tree on the Consolidated
Exchange was the centre of prosperity
frollc." More than 1000 brokers Joined
hands and danced about the tree. and
the tunes OF a regimental band were
drowned by the din of shouting voices,
horns and whistles,
'War millionaires," those whose riches
as yet are only a few months old. re-
membered the most lowly OF Stock EN-
change workers. Scrub women. their tired
faces wreathed In smiles, stood in line,
mops In hand, and surveyed the antics
OF the crowd on the floor. while a COM
mittee gave them presents from the
huge tree,
]. p. Morgan & Co. is reported to have
given employees 20 per cent. of their an
nual salaries as Christmas gift. Scores
OF houses gave as much as 10 per cent.
and one concern. the Central Trust Com
pRny, distributed 80 per cent. OF the an
nual payroll.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-12-24
HEAVIEST MAIL ON RECORD
500,000,000 Pieces Handled in Local
Postofiice During Last Ten Days
of Christmas Rush

More than a half billion pieces OF mail
will have been handled through the local
Postoffice Department by the time old
Saint Nick gets ready to slip down chim-
neys tonight. This is counting only the
number of pieces received in the last
ten days since the Christmas rush be-
gan, said Postmaster John A. Thornton
today, and the total volume of business
exceeds that OF last year by at least 40
per cent, the heaviest on record. In the
last few days there has been an Increase
OF several million pieces a day over last
year, according to the Postmaster
In spite OF this huge increase the local
stan has been able to keep abreast on
the flow, and IL was stated that the force
was in no sense OF the word swamped.
This is partly due to the fact that more
than 1000 extra clerks have been taken
on for the holiday rush, and to the fact
that two huge windows have been huIIt
in the main corridor. where packages
can be weighed and mall received In
large trays. thus doing away with the
old system. which required people 10
stand in line and mail their letters one
at time in the slots.
The office will be open all night and
there VIII be one delivery at Z a. m.
tomorrow.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-12-24
SANTA CLAUS LADY"
DISTRIBUTES GIFTS
More Than 1000 Children
Await Her at Ninth st. and
Washington Ave.

Hundreds OF children assembled at
Ninth and Washington avenue today
for the annual visit of the SAINT Claus
Lady" The youngsters. many OF them
scantily clad. but happy with expectation
waited patiently outside tn residence of
Mrs. Mary Kelhower. of 955 South Front
street, where they were each given toys
or Candy-things necessar. to a real
Christmas. but not always included where
salaries are meagre and families large.
Accompanied by her mother, her sister
Dorothy and Miss Emma Bradbury, Miss
Olive May Wilson, the Santa Claus
Lady" left her home at 5l5l Morris street.
Germantown, in a big automobile loaded
with the toys and candy. The party pro-
ceeded TO Front and Washington avenue,
where the distribution began at 1880
o'clock. More than 1000 children were the
happy recipients Of the gifts.
Miss Wilson received more than Is 600
toys and gifts of various kinds to be dis
tributed this year among the worthy poor
children. 1t has been the largest number
ever received by her for the work, and
has kept corps Of eight young women
busy during the last few weeks, packing
and shipping the presents, More than
5000 packages were sent outside of Phlla-
delphia and Pennsylvania day before yes
terday.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-12-24
CHRISTMAS CHEER
AWAITS KIDNAPPED BOY
Mother of Richard Meekins Has
Toys and Tree Ready in Hope
of His Return

The dancing bear which will not dance
any more, because the little boy who
got it last Christmas broke the main
spring, was brought out today with all
the other toys OF Richard Meekins, The
s-year-old boy. missing for one month,
is believed to have been kidnapped. But
his mother, Mrs, Luke Meekins, OF 24is
South 61st street, is bringing his old toys
out of closets just for the one chance In
n thousand that Richard might come
home tomorrow.
She even bought him one present a
schoolbag that he wanted. The Teddy
bear he got when he was one year old
sits on the table beside the dancing bear
and the schoolbag, and a tree is there
and will be trimmed tonight.
James, the younger brother of Richard
who wrote a letter to Santa Claus, will
have as good Christmas as ever, al
though he Is constantly asking for his
brother. and runs to the door from time
TO time to see If he is coming.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-12-24

The enemy swoops down on him, picks
lint off his coat, brushes his trousers for
the 'steenth time and gives him the cor
rect telephone numbers OF the persons
who have called him up.
Retreat or the evacuation of his pres
ent position are alike impossible. While
they shower favors on him he would
gladly, with a song on his lips. fell them
with stone axe. Deep in the murk of
the main trench the janitor crouchcs,
awaiting his opportunity. The dumb
waiter attendant carols n light air as he
sends the soup on its upward journey
and offers in dulcct tones to put the
kitchen stove and the wash tubs on
the dumbwaiter If the tenant 50 de-
sires.
The while the covering tenant sticks
as close to his trench as exigencies will
permit. And in the very air courtesy
floats like the poisonous gases of the
Teutons
Restaurant patrons are evacuating their
sentry boxes, which they have occupied
for months to avoid a hand-to-hand en-
gagement with Mattresses and walters.
G. l. NJ. Close changes his barber shop
at this time to avoid being carved into
steak next year. But housekeepers are
obliged to stand by their guns-and
come across.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-12-24
GETS CHRISTMAS WISH-A CELL
"Here I'm Sure of Bed and Dinner,
Judge" Says Man Who Faces
Magistrate

Jim McGrath. n chronic prisoner in the
Northeast, elected to spend Christmas In
Jail today when all his fellow prisoners
were given their liberty by Magistrate
Glenn, who was sitting in the 4th and
York streets police station.
Eight men and two women were
brought before the Magistrate and he re-
leased them all 80 that they wouldn't
have to spend Christmas behind the
bars. Jim McGrath, though, was not
pleased He requested tho Magistrate to
let him stay in the station house.
Hero I'm sure of ped and n dinner.
Judge" he said, land / wouldn't have
either outside" So the Judge granted the
Christmas wish, and Jim went back to
his cell He took with him q box of
candy Ike that every one of his fellows
got from Magistrate Glenn.
In giving the prisoners their liberty.
the Magistrate remarked that among
the other things they had to be happy for
was that the last municipal election had
been won" 1t meant, he said. a brighter,
better Philadelphia.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-12-24
U. S. ARMY AND NAVY MEN
TO HAVE CHRISTMAS FEAST


WASHINGTON. Dec 4-Every ship In
the United States Navy and every Army
post and camp wherever located showed
real signs OF Christmas today. Decorat-
ing ships and army stations began today.
Another and more important part OF the
Christmas program was that OF preparing
$50 600 pounds OF turkey for the hundreds
OF ovens on man-o'-wRrsmen ana at Army
stations.
siNty-fiys thousand pounds OF the ma
tional bird were required for the Navy
alone Other items on the Army and
Navy bills of fare were 60O0 gallons OF
oyster soup. 5000 pounds OF celery. 6000
gallons OF eranberries. scores OF barrels
OF sweet and white potatoes. 5000 or
more pumpkin and minee pies and 5000
pounds Of plum pudding. The Navy men
were 70 top on their Yuletide dinners with
the best or cigars.
AT many Army posts In the Hawaiian
Islards. the Philippines. along the border
and throughout the United States, ana on
scores Of WaEships special programs were
naaRiaed foE tezaeEFsH aIght.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-12-24
90 CHRISTMAS BABIES,
EACH ONE YEAR OLD, TO
OBSERVE CHRISTMAS
Parents Plan Birthday Anniver-
sary Celebrations for the In
fants Who Arrived Last
Yuletide
SORROW IN ONE HOME

Ninety babies, who made their entrance
into the world on December 25, 1914 will
celebrate their birthday anniversaries to-
morrow In these ninety homes Christ
mas will have a double significance.
1t Is expected that about 12o new babies
will arrive in this city tomorrow. That
Is the figure estimated by the clerks in
the Bureau OF Vital Statistics, by de-
terminlng the usual number of births in
proportion TO the total population. Last
year loi babies were born.
The 90 who will enjoy a new experience
tomorrow-the celebrating of their birth
day anniversary are all who are living
of the 10i born last year Sickness, either
hereditary or contracted, made their stay
on earth a short one.
II Is safe to wager on the one name that
will BIO In the majority among the girls
born tomorrow. II has been found that
parents find Mary n desirable name for
girls born Christmas day.
Christmas Day will have a triple or per-
haps a quadruple significance for 1-year-
old George Warren Kaufman, Jr., who
lives at 1882 North 3lst street It will not
only be his birthday anniversary 1t will
not only be Christmas Day. but 1t Will
be the occasion for reunion OF four gem
erations of the family, which will Join
him in the celebration of the important
event.
Christmas baby is nothing new in tho
family of 1-year-old Myrtle Mary Niece,
337 Chelten avenue, Germantown. Her
great-grandmother was & Christmas baby
who lived to be l0l years old. Myrtle is
the daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. Warren
Il. Niece.
a really fine Christmas present awaits
Mary Elizabeth Ruhnke, 147 North Sal
ford street. Her parents decided when
she was born they would keep every
coin that came to them bearing the date
or her birth-l9l4-and Put It away foi
her. Little Mary may not appreciate this
present now, but when she gets older he:
parents believe she will be quite grateful.
Other happy year-old Christmas babies
will be Harry Breitenbach, 4319 North 9th
Wanamaker street; Robert Warren Plank
l545 North 62d street; Anna Marie O'Don-
nell. 1887 Carpenter street; st. Claire
Stinson. 523 Newmarket street, and Ma
talina Rancase, 1885 South Broad street.
over at least one or the Christmas ba-
bies heavy shadow falls. 1t is the shad-
ow or war and poverty. Harry Bluesten,
457 North 9Th street. is the only source
of Joy In the home, whore they are mourn
ing the death OF baby's two uncles, sol
diers In the Austrian army. His father is
a reservist in the Austrian army and there
is danger that he may have to go, leay-
Ing his baby boy behind,
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-12-24
WILSON'S SUITE
] CHRISTMAS BOWER;
\ AWAIT RELATIVES
apartments Occupied by Presi-
dent and Bride Beautifully
Decorated for
Holiday
GGUESTS PLAN AFFAIR

r. HOT SPRINGS. Va. Dec PA force
of decorators today transformed the pres
saidential suite occupied by President VIII
son and his bride, into veritable Christ
mas bower wreaths Of holly and mistle-
toe were festooned over the walls and
b electric light fixtures. while a beautiful
spruce tree was in readiness to be set up
! should the President so desirs Prepara-
tons have been made for the entertain
. ment OF any members OF the families OF
Mr.. and Mrs Wilson who may come to
stay here over the holiday. Meanwhile
an effort was being made today to have
the President consent to being the guest
of honor at the Christmas Eve celebra-
tion here in the hotel.
The President sent n very heavy bag
OF mail back to washington through
messenger who left here on the night
train. 1t Is understood that included in
the list was batch of instructions for
Colonel T.. NJ. House, who sails for Eu-
rope next week. and documents dealing
with the Ancona case. IL has been deti-
q nitely decided that the President and his
bride will not return to Washington until
january 3 The rest and seclusion is
greatly benefiting the Chief Executive
] and he wants to stay away from Wash
ington until the return of Congress makes
% his presence there necessary.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-12-24
MIDVALE STEEL CFTS
Big WAR ORDER FROM
FRENCH GOvERNMEN
Contract Amounts to Po.,
$2s,ooo,ooo and $8o,ooO,oos, S,''
Company's Volume of
Business Large
FUTURE OUTLOOK com

The Midvaie Steel Ordinances o..
has closed a contract with N. e'I r.I
Government for 12-ineh shells ..n'.a .a0a
to between S2aoo0,ooo and t,oooo M ~
statement Is also made on v,.~ ~. l'
authority that between now ana NJ. s0
another contract with the sar. o.- uN
ment will be entered into, the sr,aUSsn svSsn.
which will be considerably lars". q
the total Just mentioned, "sh
Aside from this large aAnoun, :.
order business with foreign co,s,.r w
the Midvale now has on ia honsN
orders for domestic business. H.
the company's volume OF buaina.s h..u't ~
Is 80 large that orders are not nor' $3.50 49,
taken except for delivery well int es NJ,
The company manufactures n vsrv A,.s ~
grade steel which ls used extenslv.," sa .a-
car axles and the demand for this n.s,,.s W
lar class OF Its products has hs.r w
usually large for several months au
The fact that the directors Of IN. ,,,
vale Company have authorized tba Nv
penditure of several millions Of doit..'
for additions TO It's plants ia taSsa =
Indicate that its orders are subviss,w.,
and that the outlook for the f,,n,. !.
Tor heavy increase In business.
Directors of the company do M, :.
gard the Midvale In any sense as "
order proposition, expectations bs,r,
that 1t will enjoy liberal and snbs,,,
tial volume of business in normal lima.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-12-24
XMAS AT GERMANTOWN HIGH
Original Sketches, Songs and Reel.
tations Given by Pupils

+ Two original sketches. written and
acted by the pupils OF the Germantown
High School were the features OF the
Christmas exercises held in the audi
torium of the school at Germantown ave-
-nue and High street today. Another fea-
ture on the program which attracted much
attention was the Christmas tree dance,
an original idea 18th several OF the girls
OF the institution.
The sketches were entitled "The School
Christmas Tree" and THE Redemption OF
Santa Claus" which was a musical skit
in three acts. DR.. Harry Keller, princi-
pal Of the institution. presided over the
exercises of the boys section, and Miss
Mary Holmes assistant superintendent OF
the school. directed the girls exercises.
The boys celebration was held at 8
o'clock and the exercises by the girls at
1880
Singing OF Christmas carols. school
songs, selections by the boys orchestra
and the glee club. and several solos and
reeitations were on the program. Among
those who participated were Merritt W.
bard. ]. Douglas Trower. Albert C. Beatty
and Miss Dorothy Elcombe. Short ad-
dresses were made by Doctor Keller and
Miss Holmes.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-12-24
KENSINGTON'S "TINY TIM"
DEAD OF PNEUMONIA
Ralph Whites Many Friends Mourn
Loss of CHEEKY Little Boy

Tiny Tim" OF Kensington is dead of
pneumonia and was buried today His
name was Ralph White; he was 12 years
old and lived at 24H Frankford avenue
he was pupil at the Horatio b. Hackett
School. York and Sepviya streets, where
his average in study and examination
was 80, but in disposition, in his daily
contact with his playmates, schoolfel-
lows and those within and without his
home he maintained a constant average
Of ss and fraction.
There was always a smile upon his IT.
tie face and always a kindly, cherry
word falling from his lips. Yesterday
w. b. Lowrie, principal of the Horatio
B. Hackett School, spoke collectively 10
all the pupils OF the sunshine In Ralph's
nature. and said he was well entitled 10
being likened 10 Dickens immortal hoy
character, that he was glad the boy had
been so known for many months past
Tiny Tim" worked on Friday nights
and all day Saturdays for his father. who
keeps tea and coffee store, and he care
fully put away the 80 cents he received
for smllingly delivering tea 10 customers.
with the idea OF buying Christmas pres
ents for some little kids who wouldn't
have much at Christmas" His father.
TO whom he had conhded their names
will see that Tiny Tins" savings are
spent after the funeral today in the
way the boy intended.
Funeral services were held al thu
Emanuel Reformed Episcopal Church.
opposite the school he daily attended
Mr.. Lowris, the principal. and many OF
the boys who knew Tim" attended the
funeral.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-12-24
CHRISTMAS EVE; WHOLE
CITY REVELS IN JOY
Continued from Page One

Continued from Page One
a limousine. followed by an older wom-
an, bent and gray. also In furs. There
were several packages. wrapped and
sealed. in the car.
20 hurry. mother" said the first wom-
an. We must get Jimmy's electric
railway, and then see about the turkey"
There was the same light In her eyes as
was in tho poor woman's. And In both
cases 1t was said as plainly as IL they
had spoken that Christmas is COM
ing.
decorated with green. Christmas Is COM
ing there, just as It is in all other parts
OF the city.
The grimy region of the wharves has
Down at League Island the warshIps are
caught the fever OF It, Stevedores haul
at ropes and struggle with casks of oil
and cases of clothing with a vim, for to-
morrow will be a holiday.
a wharf rat" small and ragged. was
watching a crane and shovel unloading
coal from a barge.
What is Sanity Claus goIn' to bring
you?" asked skeptical loafer. ironic-
ally.
"A bag OF candy" responded the boy
promptly. IAN n little boat"
"Where1l you sail It? On the rlver?"
pursued the doubter
Nav. at home" replied the gamin;
"in a tub"
A rat" with home! Christmas is
there, too.
Christmas, though, will be dreary for
the sailors of the Rhaetia and Prinz
Oskar the interned German vessels. They
are standing today along the rail. look
ing down on the water as 1t moves be-
tween the wharves, and they are waiting
for their second Christmas in exile from
the Fatherland.
To jump back up town. the railway
stations are humming with travellers,
boys and girls" going and coming home.
The railroads report more travelling this
Christmas season than ever before, and
today is a buster one for the trainmen
than was this day last year. II Is a new
type of commuter that sits In the walt
ing room or runs for his train; he car
ries a package or so instead of suit
case.
The markets, like the stores. are alive
with "last-minute" customers. for the
Christmas meal is important
More Christmas business than ever
before" said George II. Mckay. super
intendent of the Reading Terminal Mar
ket. People are buying more than usual
and money seems easier"
The market will remain open until 9
o'clock and perhaps 10 O'Clock tonight
for the rush Of actual "last-second" shop
pers. which is expected 10 keep the
straining clerks and statesmen of hundreds
OF stores and shops hard at work until
both hands OF the clock under Father
Penn's feet, on City Hall tower, point
straight to the zenith.
And II will all be over as suddenly as
the drop OF a piece OF mortar down the
With the dawn OF day the hur-
rying crowds. the peddlers. the pseudo
Santa Clauses. the hustle and the hustle,
the packages, the eager. worn faces-all
viii have been brushed from on the
streets as II by a broom.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-12-24
MANY GIFTS TO POOR
Mrs. E. T. Stotesbury Plays Lady
Bountiful to 1900 Needy

Hundreds OF poor mothers and children
IN Philadelphia are unusually happy to-
day, Mrs. Z. 7. Stotesbury. although
unable TO be present owing to delayed
train from the West played the double
role of Santa Claus and Lady BountifuI
In spirit, at least, to the 1900 mothers and
children who attended her annual Christ
mas treat In the Starr Garden recreation
centre Uh and Lombard streets. last
night,
Any one doubling the success of the
festival should make inquiries from the
youngsters. Upon arrival each one of a
happy army of children received a boxful
OF fascinating toys, candy and fruit, and
a second box containing ice cream and
cake The older boys and girls received
suitable presents,
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-12-24
GET CHRISTMAS MONEY
Tardy Husbands and Fathers Yield
$4,000 Under Legal Pressure

Hundreds of wives and children were
the happy recipients today OF special de-
livery letters from the District Attor-
ney's office containing money for Christ
mas. Nearly 5000 was thus distributed
The money was collected by the staff
In charge OF non-support cases, which
literally squeezed and prodded the money
out OF wayward husbands and fathers 10
whom a joyous ChrIstmastlde for those
dependent on them meant absolutely
nothing.
II was necessary to threaten the tardy
husbands in many cases with a term on
the county stone pile IN order to get the
money promptly. II is hoped TO make
another distribution of about 5000 on
New Years Day.
Assistant District Attorney Fox takes
the stand that there are fewer men out
Of employment this year than ever be-
fore, and Is, therefore, using every effort
to reash delinquent husbands. Nearly
400 letters containing money were sent 10
poverty-strieken families today.