Evening journal., 1916-12-26
CITY Observes
Christmas IN
JOYOUS Strain
lconLinued from Flrat Pagel

again this year and who prefers %
keep his identity a secret, 1000 chill
dren Of this city were provided with
some of the good cheer OF the season
The police celebration
proved to be the biggest affair OF the
kind ever held in the city.
The tree was set up in the big drill
room at the new police station and
handsomely decorated. II will be on
exhibition until after New Years and
Illuminated with hundreds OF lights
every night
Long before the time scheduled for
the opening OF the doors yesterday
morning.
The children began TO assemble In
the City Hall court yard of French
street. BY the time the City Court
session had been concluded there
were more than one thousand boys
and girls shouting and rushing about
the enclosure. each anxious to be the
first 20 got into the building.
When the doors finally we're open
ed, sixteen hundred children we're IN
a crush and the traffic officers had 10
take them in hand and form them in
line They marched single file through
the drill hall, and after they had had
a view of the tree each was given his
or her present. These consisted OF a
bag filled with one pound of the finest
mixed candles, two pounds OF assert
cd nuts, an apple and a banana OF
orange.
The big surprise OF the occasion
was the presence OF the First Infan-
try Band. This organization furnish
ed excellent music during the entire
affair. In addition there was a player
piano furnished by the Robelen Piano
Company. There was q big crowd Of
people present to witness the dis
tributlon OF the presents to the little
ones.
Just how clever the young Ameri-
can is was demonstrated yesterday.
Some OF the kids" we're caught. ere
peating." After some OF them got
their bag OF candy and nuts they went
outside, gave II TO friend to hold for
them and then they ran around the
building to the entrance door and got
in again and got a second bag. This
was made possible by their having So
cured two tickets OF admission. Sew
eral performed this trick until the pO-
lice became aware OF what they we're
doing and kept watch on them. Six
teen hundred bags we're given out,
and there wero about one hundred
children who applied who did not
have tickets and consequently could
not get in. In addition 10 this affair
the police provided good cheer for a
number OF families they knew TO be
IN distress.
After the children had been dis
posed OF the boys from the Negro or
phanage across the street from the
City Hall we're brought over 20 tia
building and given an opportunity TO
see the tree
More than 400 poor widows and
children were given a free Christmas
dinner by the Volunteers OF America
with STAFF Captain and Mrs. Louis
Boss, the officers In charge Saturday.
Starting at o'clock in the afternoon.
the Volunteers were still giving out
baskets at IL o'clock. Each basket
contained a hve-pOund roast of beef.
one-half peck or potatoes. onions, car
rots, turnips. celery, cranberrles, Jelly,
can OF soup, coffee, one pound OF
sugar, cakes and candy for the chill
dren, fruit and copy OF the Voluu-
teer's Christmas edition OF the Ga
zette, the official organ OF the Volun-
teers OF America, with General Bal
lington and Mrs. Maud Booth at the
head
Many families who would not have
had any Christmas cheer at all but
| for the food distribution on the part
80 H. N..Ira - H.
ton of Captain and Mrs. Bose. One
sad case was that OF Mr.. and Mrs.
Edward Godfrey, the husband past II
years Of age, whose wife has oata-
ract on each eye and can see only a
shadow. When Mrs Boss was about
to carry the basket TO their garnet
room she learned that the husband
/ died during the night before.
Needy children 20 the number OF lei
were treated 10 boxes OF candy, ap.
/ pies, oranges. a toy and practical pres
ents. All these children were know
TO Captain and Mrs. Boss 70 be pool
and deserving OF this charity.
Two hundred poor children were Ia,
guests Of the Salvation Army las
night at The army barracks. The stag
was decorated with a large Christmas
tree. surrounding which a pile o
candy in boxes. fruits and nuts hal
been arranged. Many Of the children
were accompanied by their parents
They witnessed the presentation o
two cantatas The Rose OF Bethle
hem" and THE UNLIMITED Guest"
At the close OF the literary exercise
the distribution OF the boxes OF cand
and fruits was made and useful gift
OF toys. books and a companion
were made each child present. Thos
who saw the glad smile OF the poo
children thus generously remembers
cannot but help feel kindly toward tn
organization that so generously re
membered the unfortunate ones las
night.
The day was similarly observed a
other institutions. Religious ser
vices were held in the Homeopathi
Hospital in the morning and gifts dis
; tributed. Candy. fruit, etc. were give
throughout the wards and the nurse
home. Christmas trees were place
IN the children's ward and the nurse
U home. AT the Physicians and SURE
cons Hospital an enjoyable day wa
! spent
y The prisoners at the county work
= house received presents Of tobacco an
e were given a roast pork dinner.
At the county hospital services wer
conducted by the priests OF the Sales
anum N the morning Seven pretti
% decorated Christmas trees we're II
Quired for the inmates a. the Stat
HoenifaI Yesterday Many ~ ~