The Washington times., 1915-12-25
HUNDRED POOR BOYS
GET NEW OVERCOATS
Saks & Co. Also Give Shoes and
Money to Needy Little Ones
in Annual Distribution.

Forgotten by Santa Claus, 100 boys
from cherries homes in Washington
had a little of the Christmas spirit
brought into their lives this morning
when they were taken from the streets
by saks & Co. and clad in warm, snug
fitting overcoats.
This Christmas treat was the annual
overcoat distribution made by Saks &
Co., which has become one OF the fixed
charitable events OF the holiday season.
Long before 10 O'clock the hour at
which the doors of the store were to be
thrown open to the possessors Of the
coveted tickets distributed by the Assoc
ciated Charities. the nondescript line Of
thinly-clad little beings had formed In
Seventh street
When at length Isaac Cans. manager
Of Saks Co.. gave the signal, a woman
CARRIED in typical south European stye
and bearing a baby in her arms. led into
the store an &eleven-Xear. old boy. The
little italian was only ore of the FIVE
children that this mother in endeavor-
ing to support from the sale of flowers
in the streets The father In tubercu-
lar atient.
Tony's ticket colled simply for an
overcoat. but before he had been re-
leased by the attentive clerks he sported
a new pair of shoes and a heavy pair of
corduroy breecbes To make his happi-
Cans tucked in to his grimy fist crisp
hill. with directions that it be sient in
the purchase of something substantial
for the family Christmas dinner,
Case Merely Typical.
This was merely a typical case. Be-
fore the distribution was concluded 10C
boys had passed down the line and been
fitted out. AS they handed i'm their
tickets Mr.. Cans and his assistants gave
them a close inspection. If the shoes
were down at the heels, the stockings
torn, the breaches ragg ed, or the
Jackets unusually thin, these garments
were replaced before the new overcoat
was fitted on.
To many a wan-faced woman a faint
smile OF appreciation was brought by
Went to many of the cases which Mr.
Cans had had especially looked into
The distribution was interrupted brief.
ly when a bright-faced girl of eleven
slapped to the head of the line and pre-
sented two tickets, calling for coats
for her little brothers, Morris and
Benny, aged, respectively, four and five
years. When these boys, looking like
twins, toddled out each wore a neat
gray overcoat and on their long yellow
curls were perched new caps.
This was not the only instance In
which brothers shared in the gifts
There were two sets of twins who re.
ceived gifts, and brothers, ten and
twelve years old, the sons of widow
with ten children, were cared for.
That all of the cases were deserving
was quite evident. There was none OF
the patter and profuseness that marks
the professional charity seeker. In many
instances the recipients of the gift
slipped quietly away with abasheC
acknowledgements, while others spoke
their appreciation in modest, manner.
A striking feature of this years dis
trtbution, according to Mr. Cans. wal
the appearance Of those who made ap
plication. There were few of the ex
oeptionally pitiful cases, and the boys
ne SAID. We're generally better clad.
Daniel, manager of the clothing de
partment; L. l.. Crandell. manager o
the shoe department. and s. L. Phillips
manager of the fIIrni shinRa dena rtment