New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-25
,u Over New York
They Give Children
Presents
NNOO POOR GET
HOLIDAY DINNERS
ssny Sing About Tree of
Iiqht-Home Celebra-
tions To-day

y,s York CITY began It's celebration
4 1c,,trss yesterday On the eve OF
!, s-,,, hohdsy Father Knickerboeker
=, sis false whiskers, with the in
-, Of beng known only as Santa
g...urtil ton Cht How well he sue
L..s,s r rss premature beginning OF
:, .,f3sy. tho thousands OF children
:, so,ssd 70 his police stations. the
.,ua,5s o. their elders who sang
=, headed sbou. the Tree OF Light IN
lh3ison Square may tell
r,.6sv IS the Christmas Of the home.
..,rss, was the city's celebration. In
,.-7 pohce station. from the furthest
,,,sss Of The Bronx 10 Coney Island,
,,,.nss trees blazed. and the men
,.o.s ds,y Tor SEA days in the year re-
IRE. that they mount guard over the
r. Yesterday gave their earnest At
,.non 70 bringing JOY TO the hearts
ae c.iy's children.
New Significance IN informs
s-,ss suttons and blue uniforms have
,s, on new significance in the
IDS Of many thousands OF boys and
-, Thcv mean not only d ban on
,,,bsll .r -he streets and swift extinc-
- 70 bonfres. but also glltterlng
-. and presents and candy and
i-Nras cheer.
gser the Tree OF Light kindled INTO
t~s q. The touch Of little oiind
-Iss land the city's work for the DAY
~ done The voices that chanteo the
j .-,s.n,as carols In Madison Square
| .-6ed a sitting finale 20 the work mat
made untold numbers OF children
Wv hat had fed more than 50.OOO
r,ute adults. that had brought
i NJ crowd OF men and women TO the
:. 10 sing. bareheaded. beneath the
!, of .A,hleheal. Of the Christ Child.
,s rcd instead OF the blue uhlIorm
l., With the same smile, Santa Claus
a. found Yesterday. as ne can be to
H. lr every police station. he mas
Il sd 'ram with presents, put IN a
40. and frightened the places be
n recognition nth colored lights,
,rr and pictures Of himself in the
Uniform Of scarlet and fur.
Meets 25.ooo Children
-yl'y 10 900 children met him face 70
i,s. sang songs with him, laughed
nth him. and then went home with
.-ns full Of gifts and minds full OF
'ordernent 70 WAS enough 10 puzzle
uy k.nd 70 find that the old fellow
us-of al persons the cop on the
rrrsr
The FIRST Christmas celebration man
'ssd hy the police comes in TWO install
-ents While some stations we're be
rg disguised ss branch offices Of the
thileisn's saint. others were deep in
he work Of entertaining children Of
i,e reirhoorhoCd. IL will be late
hour this afternoon when the last pre-
iic; plays santa Claus 10 the last
4 'Ad The first celebration was-but
Police Commissioner Woods say IL
Wasn't 10 wonderful the way the
- ,osk hold OF ~" he commented
/ night The Commissioner and
n Woods Rad returned home after
ny spent a. many Of the stations.
4 nave been in a. least fifteen, and
'prt 1ss nne IN every one. The
'sdli for the success Of this celebrs-
?, ngst 20 20 the policemen. i was
'sr party and q great deal of good
~ cone from 10
lhis celebration isn't solely to give
leren a happy Christmas. however.
- rHnt 20 make the police and their
tgtbors mutually helpful. We want
Impress upon the Kids the fact that
policeman is their best friend. ]
~ they hsye seen d different side
U. policeman to-day. This celebra-
% Will actually help prevent crime y
Begin al East Fifty-first Street
' The police and their neighbors be
ni 70 be mutually helpful yesterday
! ne tast Fifty-frst Street station.
sS'ui l,sOO children received presents
s'f, but before the distribution took
scs there was session Of singing
l Ngroups Of $50 the children marched
\ Nagh the decorated station house
- ~ the stairs 20 the assembly room.
ERE Tss piano in that room, and
cosno Il the best police voices in the
etlnc. Patrolman Niece. who has
voice like John McCormack's. sang
zane sort OF songs. and Patrolman
ft~ handled tho topical stun.
40 everybody sings the chorus,
tew ordered
Aspbody cid. There wasn't a pop
song In his repertory that WASH :
'tlitr 20 the youngest. They switched
w There's a Little Bit OF Bad IN
~ Lood Little Girl' 10 the sonorous
'~ Of America and then they
t''atc downstairs for the real busi-
y" (" the afternoon.
tpl.in Duggan acted as distributor.
selling % play with, something 20
~ and something 70 eat was gwen
each Of the 500 There were a doll
ne girl. a toy FOR the boy. candy.
~ and shoes The selection was
''al o. al stations.
h Ps,roImen Give Up Sleep
ne comment Of the well known
Naeaed offender on seeing the in-
r o. precinct station yesterday
80 have been interesting The pa
men devoted hours that should have
gwen 70 sleep 20 Transforming
s.nn,e interior, Of the station houses.
~ vreaths hung in every window,
tNo bells from gas fixtures and les
20 Of ereen stuff from all corners OF
Rooms.
,.s well hole Of the East Thirty
-, btreet station WAS one gigantic
w bell, stretching from roof TO
,.'n.nt and trimmed with roses and
ne green lights. In the dormitory.
,Ysso of beds for the occasion. stood
sen'fooi Christmas tree, with which
raolrsen McNeigh and MURRAY and
..V had fused for hours. II WAS
with lights ard decorated TO the
r'rg With gay balls and ribbons.
ttf flsfxa hnaior II nrnsnnAs ui1I