The sun., 1916-12-18
SANTAPLANS FIRST
TRIP TO MID.PACIFIC
Christmas Ship Will Take Car
20 Of Gifts to Lonely Pit
cairn Islanders.

There is q Christmas ship loading with
a queer Christmas cargo over in Brook.
iyn. It Ia going to a place. one of the
most Christian communities in the world
where the children never heard Of Santa
Claus and never hang their stockings
up because they don't wear any. The
place 10 Pitcairn Island. a lonely little
spot In the middle Of the Pacific, q
settlement founded Just after the Ameri-
can Revolution by the mutineers Of the
Bounty.
The Christmas gifts will be clothing
and dress goods. needles and thread and
pins. kerosene for their lamps. and other
practical things that men and women
need when they are cut of for long
months from the outside world. And
probably the best present Of all for the
islanders will he four copies Of Billy
Sundays evanselistic hymns. for the
greatest diversion these people have Is
In gathering in the middle OF their little
settlement and singing hymns and songs
30 old that very few OF them would he
recognised now.
To BE Queen One nay.
The hymns and many n the other
things are gifts from Miss Emily Mccoy.
q nurse in Bridgeport, who some day
will be queen Of the island. but many
other persons who have read OF these
lonely but happy people have sent books.
clothes and toys. These have been re-
ceived at the office Of E. b. vanderveer.
162 Montague street. Brooklyn. and will
be all slowed away on the ship Port
Hardy before she leaves on December 80
for her long voyage TO Australia. stop
ping midway at Pitcairn.
''rll send a few toys. not many. because
the children there have never had any
and go don't feel the lack Of them.
said Miss Mccoy. "The only toy that I
remember seeing there was doll which
was given me when I was n little girl
II came from San Francisco and was
quite curiosity on the island. The
children have never heard Of Santa
Claus.
I'VE always celebrate Christmas
though. by giving each other little gifts
Of articles that we make on the island
such as hats and baskets. or things thai
We raise. One OF the very finest Christ
mas presents ! ever received was 9
great watermelon so largo that my tive
arms could hardly reach around II.
was very happy with that gift.
Christmas In Mid.Pacific.
I'VE gather In the schoolhouse to ex
change gifts. and we are careful to Sc
that no one is overlooked. Then W
have a big dinner OF chicken. roasted II
| the native way In leaves on hot. fa
| stones: potatoes, grapefruit. yams. ba
nanas. pineaTples. oranges. watermelon
and other fruits that are ripe this tim
at home. Afterward we play simpl
| games, sing hymns and go to our home
about 10 o'clock in the evening"
! Miss Mccoy will not send the me
| either OF the two perfunctory Christina
I gifts Of this land. neckties and cigars
| The men DON, wear neckties and the
don't smoke. They gave up tobacc
| years ago because they decided II wa
/, not good for them. Drink is also tabo
there. and 30 the Christmas ship vi!
carry no alcoholic beverages.
zone OF my surprises said Miss Nc
, Coy, "is a toy automobile. They hav
| never seen one and ! want them TO knoy
/ what one looks like. IN put in u calen
/ dar too, because I don't think they hay
ever had one on the island"
! Miss Mccoy nd the task to which sh
has set herself are as interesting ~ he
! people. She came here sixteen year
ago with no money. for the islander
have none. To study nursing 80 that sh
could make herself OF the greatest hcl