Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-12-21

selves? 1 was talking rec ,atly to Mrs
Oliver Curtss, who, with her sister, Ruth
Plumly Thompson. takes care of so many
little poor kiddies through the Santa Claus
Club o: the Ledger. She told me she had
received so many really pathetic letters
and, too, such generous ones. One little
boy wrote that he Is ten years old and
he has four brothers and four sisters
and laboriously gives each ones name and
age, and then asks for what each one of
the little dear never once says what he
himself would like to have from Santa.
She showed me the letter and it was just
one sample of the appeals these two girls.
, who love the little ones so much. receive
every day for a month at least before
Christmas And there's SO much giving
this year for SO many things, It may be
that they will not have as much sent in to
the club. hope this will not be the case
for an appeal like this little boys would
he hard to have to refuse, would it not?
lie says: Elizabeth wants a doll and q
coach and a pair of shoes: and Evelyn
wants a pair of shoes and a coat; and
Mario wants a pair of rubbers: and May
wants a doll and dishes: and John wants
an overcoat and pair of shoes. and Ed
ward bycile and pair Of shoes; and
Francis wants cowboys suit and a pair
Of shoes: and Jospeh wants a rocky
horse" Then he adds: please send my
t., vsn o,,1 po,,rt
buy us anything this Christmas. So if
you don't come it will be sad Christmas
to us. Good.by, dear old Santa"
don't wonder the mother is sick with
a family like that, and so many needing
shoes and coats and other necessaries.
a pathetic little postcard says: Dear
Santa-I wish you would come TO my
house. We are poor and I'm afraid you
won't. l would like to have a doll for
sister, {; horse for brother and toys for
me. And some clothes. too, please My
sister and brother are three and FIVE years
old. MIKOLA."
And so it goes, until it would wiring
your he;rt to hear and see and know of
the poverty there is in the world.
Another one writes that she is a little
ElIl SlA pIolllelS dilu ohc
says: MY mother is dead and I would
like to have some toys. as my father is
out of work. We are Minnie. Sadie Anna,
Catherine. William. Mary and Samuel.
And I would be thankful for anything for
them"
IT'S odd that two engagements should
l. be announced the same day of girls who
have been living in New York for n year
or so but who are Philadelphia born and
bred, though Ethel Lewis cannot well be
called q girl, since she has been married
before. Hen first husband, from whom
she was divorced, was q Mr.. Gaylord. and
they had one little daughter. After di.
vorcing him she came back to this city
and lived with her parents. Mr.. and Mrs.
Henry Lewis. at their home at Twenty
first and SAMSON streets md later at
Twenty first and Locust streets, but
about two years ago they all moved to
New York and have been living in West
Thirty ninth street since then. Ethel re.
sumed her maiden name after her divorce.
Her fiance is lieutenant in the army. He
is Richard L. Dole, of Concord. N II. No
date has been set for the wedding, but 1t
is likely it will be before Lieutenant Dole
leaves for the other side.
FTNEE other engagement is that Of Eliza
L beth Thompson and John Il. DreXel, Jr.
She you remember, is the daughter of the
late James Beaton Thompson. and made
her debut in this city the same year as
Cordelia Duke. Pauline Wanamaker. Hope
Cromwell, Margot Biddle, Jean Thompson
Thayer. Elsa Appleton. Virginia Roberts,
Charlotte Brown. Jean Bullitt. Margaret
Burton and several others. She was intro
duced at series of receptions given by
her parents. who then lived at 2212 Walnut
street. Mr.. Thompson died in January or
February of that year and last year Mrs.
Thompson married Mr.. DE Forrest Grant,
Of New York, and Elizabeth and her
brother Brinton went on there to live.
Elizabeth went to st. Mary's School. at
Peekskill- on theHudson. from which
school she graduated in the spring of the
year of her debut.
She is a granddaughter of the late DR..
D. G.. Brinton, distinguished litterateur
and prominent in social circles of this
city.
Young John Drexel Is the son of Mr.. and
Mrs. John r. Drexel. of New York. but
formerly also of Philadelphia. John
Drexei is a brother of George w. Childs
Drexel. you know, and related to all the
numerous branches of that family in this
city.
Young John offered his services to his
country at the outbreak of the war, but
did not pass the physical examination. He
has been interested In Y. M. c. A. work for
several years. and when he found he was
not eligible to fight for his country he
turned his attention to the war work of
the Y. M. c. A. and has done splendid
work. He is a member Of the Union,
Knickerbocker Tennis and Racquet Clubs,
of New York.