Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-12-04

is a lot of fun coming to people who have the
money and the ingenuity to get the most out of 1t.
The usual expenditure buys everything from silk
knitting bags to pin trays, from sofa cushions to
picture frames, from tie-holders to cufbuttons but
1t does not go far along this line On the other
hand, it would buy splendid toys Suppose you took
twenty-five dollars and put it into toys for children
who you knew did not expect to get much this
year? Don't you think you would feel trihe less
weary and bored?
The other day visited orphan
asylum to see if she could make arrangements to
adopt an orphan over Christmas. She was ad-
mitted by slatternly maid who ushered her into
the reception room and went to fetch the matron.
Inc carpet on the floor of the reception room was
one of the thin hard fabrics of Intricate and
hldeous design that cast an eternal shadow of
gloom over room. A number of stiff horse-hair
chairs were placed stihy about the wall which
was appropriately decorated with old-fashioned
etchings of the founder and his family; marble
topped table in the center of the room supported
a lamp that doubtless once described as "eIe-
CANT" and ancient square piano. closed and
covered with blue figured fringed cloth added to
the atmosphere of decaying responsibility That
the place was never adequately aired EVIL
denced by the lingering odors of many hardy cab
bages and onions.
Yet this was home for children. It was hard to
imagine the happy turbulent disposition of child
there. Finally the matron appeared She looked
if she, at least, belonged. Her dark hair was
plastered back and gathered into small knot on
the crown of her head; she had sharp uncom-
promising nose, dark eyes that blinked aggres-
She explained that the policy of the asylum
did not permit children to be taken out Christ
mas day-they had to participate in the asylum
entertainment. Neither could they go on Thanks
giving, because they had to go to church. but
during the holidays they allowed to spend
one or two days with people who wanted them.
This year, she said, local dramatist had inter-
ested himself In the children and was directing
them in Christmas play; and some of his friends
were going to provide a Christmas tree, with at
least three toys for every child.
Can you imagine this dramatist and his friends
complaining that Christmas is bore?
Christmas this year, indeed is going to be
bore for very few people Almost everybody is
curtailing the buying of useless exravagances and
putting money into practical things that are going
to do lot of good. Women spending all their
spare time knitting wooden things tor the soldiers:
Christmas packets are being sent to the front, and
baskets being planned for the families Of SOL
diers Even the children this year are getting
more than their usual share of the fun, for they
are sending packets of toys and necessaries to the
orphaned children of the devastated regions Of
France
Most of these European children have lost all
earthly goods, including such things kitchen
utensils bed-covering and other practical necessi
ties of life. Toys unknown. "In all the months
that we have worked here I have never heard
child laugh" the head of the relief work of the
American fund for French wounded told an Amer
lean army officer in France.
During the Christmas holidays American wom-
en- working in these provinces going to attempt
to give these children good time-to try and
make them laugh again. They going to gather
them together in army trucks and take them to an
old chateau, where presents, Christmas dinner
and games will be part of the program Said this
same relief worker: "It will be the first thing
outside of furnishing bare necessities that have
been able to do for them. We are going to make
happiness and, above ALL Of hope Perhaps We
even teach them to play again."