The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-12-24
Xmas At Home And
 In Service
Bridgeporters at Camp
 Devens and "Over There" Are We'll Talk
 en Care of; First War Christmas in America,

After an eventful and pros- porous year, tinged with the colors of war, Bridgeport today settled down to experience it's first war Christmas since the Spanish-American war in 1898. More than :, 1000 homes are sad, dened by the absence of the Bridgeporters who have heed ed the duty call, many of whom are in actual conflict with the enemy abroad. Pray CTS for these patriots were said in the churches yesterday and
 will be repeated in some to- morrow.
 Few Bridgeport soldiers and sailors were fortunate enough to enjoy an- other Christmas with their folks. but the government aided by the Red OAOSos AAANHoSAASs 1A115 OI OOE1mOuS. Benevolent and Protective order of Elks and other organizations, will make the day as homelike as possible for the boys in camp and on the high seas Bridgeport fathers, mothers. sisters. brothers and sweethearts need not worry about their loved ones at Camp Devens, because they will have a little celebration all their own and the government has assured that all gifts sent to the camp will be dis trfbuted as speedily as possible. Every hut in the huge cantonment at Aver, Mass, is trimmed with dec orations appropriate for the season and a menu better than many would get in their own homes has been pre- pared. Entertainment and exercises of various sorts will be provided and everything within the government's s power Is being done to make the camp as Christmas-like as possible. Spirit of the season will be injected by army officers and workers of the
 Y. M. c. A. and Red Cross and the choicest smokes from scores of donors will help the boys while away the
 day The spirit of war prevails and
 the boys are set on getting lover there" and finishing things up," so that they might enjoy the next Christ mas at their homes.
 The municipal celebration will be held as usual at 6 o'clock this even ing, weather permitting, and Mayor
 Clifford B. Wilson will speak few words in remembrance of Bridge aoldinY-z nd sailors
 Five hundred poor children were
 made happy today when the Arab pa trol. Mobiles of the Mystic Shrine played Santa Claus to them at the
 Masonic temple on Broad street. Each
 child was presented with a box filled with useful gifts, including wearing apparel, candy and a toy.
 Fred Atwater, president of the Pyramid patrol, acted as Santa Claus
 and distributed the gifts from a huge Christmas tree, which stood in the center of the hall. The children were notified to be on hand at
 o'clock, but there were several hun l dred in line before noon.
 :! Postmaster Charles F. Greene vii
 take care that every Christmas par. 1 eel, letIer anu calu' VIII De oeANeleo
 and deliveries will continue tomor.
 row until every piece has reached its l proper destination. The hours to- morrow will be from a. m. to 10 a l m.
 1 Inmates of the Hillside Home vii
 be made happy by the usual Christ Christmas celebration tonight and to- | morrow. A large Christmas tree hal l been provided and each of the 1Ss 1 inmates will be remembered witt
 some gift, which will be distributed by real imitation Santa Claus"