El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-12-25

the faces Of over loo inmates OF
x = the county hospital Friday after
noon when the Womans cluD acted as
host and presented a Christmas pro-
gram about a beautifully decorated
Christmas tree from which presents
nuts. candies, oranges and apples were
distributed.
Tears were frequent. old men and
old women. out Of whose lives the sun
shine of hope had long since passed.
rubbed tears away with roush hahos
from furrowed cheeks, tears that
came to the surface at thoughts OF past
Chrfstmases: of memories happy thar
had not been blOtted even by the years
of adversely: tears of JOY at being re-
membered: in realization that at least
s.sorrebody cared" The women who
brought the JOY could every now ana
then be seen stealthily Wiping away a
stray drop from watery eye a tea
of 10Y that mingled with the smile OF
happiness that came from tuH hearG
joyous over a duty well done
The exercises were held al 4 O'CLOCK
in the mems ward on the tnlrd Iio9I
of the building All the patients apr
to leave their beds-and this Included
all but about 15-were grouped about
the beautifully Illuminated tree some
of the men were sitting up on their
little white beds, unable to pc dresssu
for The exercises. but their faces radi-
ated the happiness they were expert
encing. Several children We're among
the number and their happiness was
almost beyond their power OF express
sion A little Mexican boy IN pa1amas:
sitting on his bed near the tree, sheq
tears as he received his presents ana
pie. An old man Shouted Amen
when Mrs. : H Sutherland, president
Of the club said she was thankful Inal
conditions had changed in the admin
istration of the county hospital so
thai il is now possible for the patents
TO be visited and TO receive humane
Patients shed Tears.
An old man who hObbled in on pair
OF crutches, his frame twisted with
age and rheumatism, shed tears dur
ing the rendition OF one OF me SOM
numbers A younger man. sufIerlnS
with tuberculosis. wept audibly during
the singing OF Holy Night IL was
altogether very touching scene anu
the women who made il possible 10
give these people without frlends or
funds a real Christmas entertainment
declared il was one OF the happlest
events of their lives They vowed that
no future Christmas should ever pass
without a tree and presents at the
hospital.
The tree was decorated in electric
lights and wreaths Of green and tin
sci. with the presents hanging from
all the limbs. Mrs. R B. stevens iur-
nished the decorations and with MIS-
W. c. Mccormick. supervised the
work of preparing the tree
Beneath the tree and on tables on
each side were piled nuts, candies, or
An Received Presents.
Every patient in the hOspital-those
able 10 attend the tree and those un-
able 10 leave their beds-recelVed q
present Besides. the men all received /
tobacco Everybody also received
nuts. fruits and candy.
DR.. H H Faux, house physician; !
and the staff OF the hospital received ,
the guests and locked after the seat
ing of the patients where they could
hear the exercises and see all that
went on A NictrOla which is one OF
the appurtenances OF the new hospital
played during the distribution OF pres
ents, after the program by the WON
ans club.
The exercises opened by the singing
OF "Hark. the Herald Angels Sing. by
the WOman's Lyric club, under dlrec-
ton OF Mrs. Parvin Witte-
Mrs c. .. Rucker followed with a
recitation, and the Lyric club then
sang "Oh Come All Ne Faithful
object OF Tree
Mrs. 5. H. Sutherland, president Of
the club. told Of the purpose OF the
visit She said
= have the honor of speaking to you
on behalf Of the Fl PasO Woman's club
This beautiful tree from the mountains
OF New Mexico bears fruit appropriate
to the sea son. with its oranges. candies,
nuts and other remem brances. when
may, we hope. in the hours 10 come,
remind YOU of this hour and bring
warmth and comfort 10 you, but IL
bears another fruit not visible TO the
eye. but of JOY not only to the recipient
but much joy to the giver-
This is the spirit Of Christmas, the /
spirit OF service and good Will one !
man and wife who have worked hard I
the past weeks TO bring JOY 10 the I
hearts Of the unfortunate, told me they
had not bought a thing FOR anyone, DuI /
had been working for the sick and ]
little children and, said they, its the
happies1 Christmas We have ever spent !
These women of the Civic Commit p
tee viii agree with them that this has 4
been their happiest Christmas II they I
may bring some little bit Of the spirit ,
of the Christ Child into your lives
we are thankful for the new hospital /
thankful for the new management that Z
permits US TO come here and take part 4
in Christmas with you and, now IN the
words Of Tiny Tim, God bless US all
1 wish YOU each and all a merry Christ
mas from the II Paso WOman's club
More songs and Recitation.
GounOd's Christmas Carol followed
and Mrs. Rucker recited another ap-
propriate selection. which pleased the
patients immensely.
Miss Virginia Burk then sang Noel
by Adams. and the exercises closed
with Haydn's "Oh Holy Night, 'oy the
Lyric club.
The tree was given under the aus
pices of the civic affairs committee or
the WOman's club, with the cooperation
of the entire club. Mrs W c McCor-
mick. as chairman of the civic affairs
had charge of the arrange
ments and worked hard for several
weeks completing arrangements lot
the tree. the music. the donations and
their distribution. other members OF
this committee are Mrs. He'll Hale,
Mrs. r 3. Stevens. Mrs Gertrude Led
better. Mrs. L. l. Mundy, Mrs. T. NJ
W ailer. and Mrs. e. A. Martin. Numer-
GUS other members OF the club lent as
sistance in the work.
The singers.
The members. Of the Women's Lyric
club. who participated in the singing
Were
Mrs. Zula r. Bowles, Miss Virginia
Burk Mrs. Fred c. Emery. Mrs. Paul !
Heermans. Mrs Frank NJ. Lynch, Miss
Irene Davis, Mrs Carl Lee Smith. Mrs.
nLnsen.a Atm Ms