The Washington herald., 1915-12-27
BY MARY MARSHALL,

4
| Many a scene of Christmas fcstivity
ana merrymaking was enacted In the
old Todd mansion in the days when
the corner Of c and Third streets north
west was still in the heart of the FASH
ionable world and many Yuletiie
toast was there pledged around the
festive board. but surely none OF those
| Christmas revelries that are gone were
more full of Christmas cheer and hap
p.ness than the celebration that will
take place tonight when the boys who
| make up the present residents of the
old home have their Christmas tree and
party.
When ! called at the Working Boys
Home to learn of The plans for Christ
mas Mrs. J. d. Tyson. who has for
| many years been superintendent of the
home. bade me first warm my hands al
| the CHEEKY coal crate fire in her office
once the reception room of the Todd
! mansion. And there by the cheerful
fire with the winter evening shadows
settling down outside this remarkable
| little woman told me of the work that
| lies nearest to her heart.
Il am a great believer in good times.
The boys like the fun and 80 do l. At
Halloween I had to think up all the
/ stunts ] had ever heard of. and then
| ut Thanksgiving we had fine dinner
with some of the old boys hack with
US. But Christmas is the greatest time
OF all and besides dinner on Christmas
Day there is the entertainment Mon
day night when the boys get their pres
ents and have the tree and other good
times.
she Relieves in Plenty of Fun.
81 believe" Mrs Tyson told me, that
If boy is old enough 10 earn something
toward his living he is old enough to
spend a little OF that for pleasure. And
So besides the fun and frolics in the
house. the boys arc allowed what we
call 'theater' night once a week. Then
the doors arc open till II o'clock and
the boys can go to whatever entertain
ment they wish Monday, Wednesday
and Friday are school nights for the
boys who are at work and Thursday
night is club night
The Working Boys Homo. is. as its
name indicates. a place where boys
either employed or learning a trade can
live amidst home surroundings at very
small weekly rate. At present there are
nine little boys who go to school. one
boy in high school and the rest of a
total number of thirty-elEht are at
work or learning trade. The little
boys sleep in a dormtoTy by themselves
in the third story of the old Todd mansion
ana eat IN Wndt useu 10 De the ulninS-
room. The older boys. who sleep in the
rooms of the second floor. eat together
at long table in the basement of the
house. Breakfast Is served at half past
six week days and at on Sundays.
Luncheon Is served from II to l to the
boys who can come home and, for those
who cannot. substantial lunches are put
up for them to take to work with them.
For breakfast. Mrs. Tyson told me. the
boys have in winter a. hot cereal.
potatoes and either ham. eggs, sausage
or some other hearty dish, bread ana
butter and good coffee. Luncheon con-
sists of soup. bread and butter and a
desert. and dinner Is a hearty meal with
meat and vegetables and a made dessert
"The boys may come to breakfast and
luncheon in their working Clothes" Mrs.
Tyson told me. but we all dress for
dinner. That is every one takes pains
to wear a collar and tie and to make
dinner little different from the other
meals"
What the Boys Do.
Many sorts Of trade are represented
by the boys now In the home. One isl
learning to be a carpenter, another Is a \
plumbers helper. three are In the cleo
trical trade, one Is studying to be al
printer. There are two stock boys I'm a '
department store, a bundle wrapper and