Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1916-12-23
Christmas Spirit
NEAR ITS Climax:
EVERYBODY HAPPY
lContinued from Flrst Pagel

Continued from First Page)
Children and Minquadalo Home we're
entertained by the Elks at the Gar
rick Theatre through the generosity
of W. l.. Dockstader.
At the headquarters OF the Saliva
ton Army yesterday 100 poor famil-
les were each given a wel-flied bas-
ket of tood. In each basket were a
chicken, celery, white potatoes. can
of soup, pound OF sugar. pound OF cor.
fee, can of condensed cream. glass OF
Jelly package Of macaron!, pound OF
rice, package OF oats. two ioayes OF
bread and q Christmas magazine.
The distribution was IN charge of
rms gn Marion Tweedle and Captain
Harriet Hatch.
on Christmas night the Salvation
| Army viii give a treat to 200 moor
children. A large tree will be deco-
rated and surrounded by the gifts TO be
distributed upon that occasion. Ad-
mission will be by ticket only. VIII CHI
have been diatr .buted TO the most
worthy poor that came under the no.
tice of the officers of the army.
Each man ia the employ OF the Hill
les Jones Company was presented
with a Christmas gilt Of So. Many ex-
pressions OF pleasure and qualification
were heard from the men as they left
the shops for their homes.
Christmas presents for the boys I'M
der the care Of the Juvenile Court are
being sent out by officials of that in
stitut.on, many OF them from fond
fathers or mothers or from other boy
and girl friends. Most of these things
have to be sent to the chief probation
officer for examination. but all arc
forwarded TO the boys and girls con-
cerned, and ~ brighten the children
on Christmas morning.
There is no suggestion Of Santa
Claus " this, il is explained, simply
an attempt to bring the Young people
who have been taken care of by the
probation officer and his assistants l.
a better feeling at this holnday time
and to recall that after all there may
be few biud friends who remember
them and are Wishing them a Merry
Christmas and a Happy New Year.
With only today lett for christmas
shoppers to make their purchases and
win the counters and shelves of the
stores fast becoming depleted, the shop
ping districts were thronged today and
late last night with anxious buyers
seeking to complete their lists OF pres
ents and 20 make ample provision foI
Christmas Day.
A mass of humanity suged in and out
the stores carrying loads Of bundle
packages and whatnots, and despite the
Jam. both on the street and in the
stores, the crowd was a good-natured
one and apparently imbued with tho
real holiday spirit. It was learned In
several of the large stores that not foi
years has the advance buying been 81
large as this year, many Of the storei
being compelled to put in rush orders
, early in the week for additional Christ
. mas supplies to accommodate their Gus
toners Money appeared to be plenti
full and the people were spending J
freely.
The high, penetrating wind whicl
sprang up late in the Afternoon, coll
! as IL was, failed to make any nOticeabl
: impression on the crowds. for they sue
10 their shopping until driven home b.
reason of the lateness of the hour. IN
street merchants" did a rushing bust
ness all day, disposing Of great quaint
! ties Of post cards, toys, novelties ant
:. Christmas tree decorations.
Il
vicinity Of the markets. where multi
I tudes were making ready for a generou
: supply for the inner man tomorrow AM
! Monday.
The demand for Christmas trees
U today was greater than that Of tho
4 day before and dealers were enabled
s to keep their prices up. The rain Of
d yesterday morning was blessing in
q disguise to these men. Many of the
s trees were in a much bedraggled con
s ditiOn, many Of them had been out In
p the snow and froze, but the rain Of
yesterday morning freshened them M
t and made them present fresher ap.
g pearance While the public hest.
e tated to pay an exorhitant price FOL
+ turkeys, when Il came to buying
+ Christmas trees there seemed to be
S no limit, the dealers asking fancy
p prices and the public continued tC
= buy. The stock Is abundant, how.
S ever, and as today is the last da.
S there is likely to be a drop before
night not only in trees but in al
Christmas decorations and tree orna'
ments.
Musical services IN all the churche.
in this city will be unusually elabor
1 ate tomorrow. The choirs have beer
J preparing for the festival for many
weeks, and a host OF music-lOver:
will be attracted to the services by
T. the beautiful programs The wOrl
= OF the worlds greatest composers vii
a be drawn upon to make the celebra
Q ton a notable one.
s Cantatas viii be sung In many
u churches at the evening services
- Choirs will be augmented, special so
loists will assist, and in some case,
n large choruses OF children viii par
+ ticipate in the program. Every cler
4 gyman will preach a Christmas ser
q mon.
s The 500 men and women at tn
n County workhouse will be treated L
a Christmas dinner consisting O
h roast pork. vegetables, etc. on Mon