The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-12-25
ELKS MAKE GOOD
Give Hundreds of Topeka Chill
dren Time of Their Lives.
Judge Yates as Santa Claus In
trOduced by j. l.. King.

! Ever see an Elk Christmas tree?
Ever watch twelve or fourteen hun
! dred wfde-eyed, eager children
youngsters whose home Christmas is
a slim affafr-greet a real live Santa
| Claus with the knowledge that each
and every one was to receive a present,
candy and fruit, followed by ice cream
and cake?
If you haven't you don't know what
you missed this morning when the
| Elks opened their doors tc the unfor-
tunate children of Topeka There was
a steady stream of boys and girls on
| West Seventh street from nine o'clock
on. There were big. oVergrown boys
who scorned the idea of a Santa Claus
but who wanted to get in on the good
things. There were big girls, too.
There were children of all ages and
sizes, white and colored, good and bad.
There were sturdy boys and girls,
then there were pathetic little cripples
For the time, all were happy, made so
by the good offices of the Elk lodge.
The big assembly room was filled
even to standing room long before the
pilgrimage to the Elk building ceased.
The late arrivals were ushered into
two rooms downstairs and entertained
until the main entertainment for the
first section was over Then they
trooped up the stairs and took their
turn.
Judge r. L. Yates acted as Santa
Claus. He was Introduced by ]. L.
King, who first told the children the
meaning of Christmas day. He told
the story of Christ in such simple
terms that even the smaller children
listened intently to every word of it.
Santa Claus talked to the children al
so, then passed down among them
shaking hands right and left. By so
doing he almost started a stampede.
Every one of the smaller children
wanted to shake hands. One diminu-
tive colored boy insisted upon hang
ing onto his hand.
Tree Was a Marvel.
The tree itself was a marvel and
when the heavy curtains were pulled
back revealing it the children yelled,
whistled and stood on their chairs.
There was almost as much of a din
when Santa Claus bade them goodbye.
A thousand boys and girls stood and
waved their hands shouting Good
bye, Santa, goodbye"
The distribution of presents was
conducted in D very orderly manner.
Numerous ElkS acted as uShers- The
children in the front rows marched
forward first, receiving all they could
carry in their two hands. From the
assembly room, with beaming faces,
they marched down the stairs to the
dining room, knowing there was a fur
ther treat awaiting them. Eighteen
tables were spread and 40 children
cakes at one time. AS fast as the
seats were vacated new delegations
were brought down. AS the main
room upstairs was vacated new dele
cations from the waiting crowd on
the main floor were conducted up
After the wheels started there was
no stop until every boy and girl had
received the allotted presents and the
refreshments.
The children were not alone in
their ha ppiness. Old gray-haired Elks
stood around at the edges of the
crowd watching and unconsciously
the expressions on the faces
of the children. There were present.
wives of Elks, who thoroughly en-
joyed the affair. For the hour BUSH
ness and household cares were laid
aside ana the grownupS entered into
the happy world they had made for
the children