The Washington times., 1916-12-25
SOCIETY SPREADS
CHEER AMONG SICK
Junior League Girls Take Gifts
and Good Cheer to Hos
pitaIs of the City.
CHILDREN MADE HAPPY
Many Automobile Loads of
Presents Leave Headquar-
ters at Peary Home.

FFeSeHIS Leave FIcduQudI-
ters at Peary Home.
Leaving behind them tho ro.told
story of little children made happy
by tho unselfsh giving OF othcrS at
Christmas time. and creating before
them the cxuberant anticipation OF
children before they know what
santa Claus" has brought ten mem
bers OF the Junior League, an or.
ganization OF Washington society
girls, made the round of Washing.
TOMS hospitals today, and left with
each hungry-eyed child a bulky, Allied
stocking.
While tho majority OF Washing.
tonIans were sitting down TO break.
fast after n hasty examination OF
their Christmas presents, the girls,
flushed and bright eyed over the
prospects, gathered at the homs OF
Rear Admiral Robert II. Peary, 1871
Wyoming avenue northwest
Given Excited directing.
AZ each arrival entered the house,
she was greeted with excited MERRY
Christmasses" by those who preceded
her. They all gathered In one room.
In that room. piled against the
wall, leaning on chairs, and packed
on and under the tables, were more
than 200 niied stockings, boxes OF
candy. and heaps Of toys.
Many Mustered Into Service.
Each girl. taking as many as could
he carried. struggled out TO one OF
the waiting automobiles, Market bas-
kets were mustered into service and
niied with good things. Maids. but
lers, everybody who would. were en-
listed In the task OF loading the auto
mobiles. The girls scrambled Into
the machines I.aHt-minute orders
were given by Miss peary. chairman
OF the hospital committee Of the Ju-
nlor League. and away they went
The automobiles separated. As soon
as the load was exhausted the ma
chimes would he turned back TO head
quarters" the Peary home. and there
another load would be taken on board.
Each automobile took route
aNNA 'a'N "shNH
mobile brought To little child the
fuiniiment OF vague promise OF
something nice"
Met a. Estrsnre.
As the girls arrived at the hos.
pitfalls. struggling out Of their ma
chimes. with bulgIng market baskets
allied with the Joy bringing stockings.
49, IA. NNA nAE a.
smiling attendants and immaculate
nurses. who nodded CHEEKY MERRY
and took them to the chill
dren's wards.
Some OF the youngsters were lying.
pale and wan, In tiny cots. Some were
brighter. sitting up In their little
beds. Others were dressed and sadly
out az tn windows, In which
holly wreathS were hung.
Faces BriEhtened -.
sim others. victims OF the Tread
plague which terroriEed every mother
In Washington last summer. sat aad-
Iy In a little wheeled chair. their feet
and limbs wrapped Ia n b,a.!.st. use
less
Hut when the nurse came To the
door and said: Little folks, Santa
has come To visit you" there was a
Every face frightened with
a smile. Little arms. In the pure Joy
OF knowing that dreams had come
true. stretched wide toward the girls
who stood silent. burdened with the
bundles OF Christmas cheer
Tlacing their packages on tables.
the distribution was begun,
See that little girl over thereF
Take this doll" And one OF the
young women. taking a fiaxen- hair
ed. blue-eyed doll from the basket.
walked to the girl, speechless with
whose only word OF
thanks was a breathless "oh"
Wa. Worthy Reward.
But that breathless "Ohl" was a
reward In itself. To see the little
tots, some so weak as to make their
sitting up "A task In itself, and yet
their suffering In happi-
ness. brought "A stealthy tear here
and there from the eyes OF the Christ
mas givers, and even a nurse or two.
he rdened Ia "A way to suffering, turn
ed her face to the wall. unable TO
control emotions born by seeing the
or IA little child.
Then, there was the little boy,
whose face was just a little dirty in
spite of the nurses, and who gave
shouted "hully gee" when the tiny
train was given him, and who took
the horn and blew for all his might,
thereby bringing a look OF pain to
the face of the doctor who stood by,
thinking of what the chances for
quiet in that ward would be for a
day or two.
Few Were Disappointed.
But there were disappointments.
At the Garfield, where all the little
children were in the contagious ward.
and unable to welcome visitors, the
nurse firmly shook her head at the
request of Miss Peary to be allowed
to take something to them.
"They have a Christmas tree, and
I'll take your presents TO them," she
said kindly. and so the presents were
left for the nurse to take, half the
pleasure OF giving gone because not
being able to watch the children re-
ceive them.
Then, at the tuberculosis Hospital,
where a little boy, only one little boy,
lived, there was another disappoint-
ment. lie had written a letter to
Miss Peary.
Dear Miss Pesry," Il read, 81 see
in the paper that you are going to
Give Chriatmaa DFeRents To the little