Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-12-28
CHEERFUL CHRISTMAS
IN NEU|LLY HOSPITAL
Wounded Patient With Arms in
Sling, Has Device Rugged to
Hold Cigarette.
sIGHTLEss SOLDIER is KISSED
Women Yield to CHEEKY Smile ON
Boyisll Face Below Bundagcd
EycS-Prcscnts Given to French
Orphans.
ny nOBEI,r WELLS nITCnIE.

PARIS, December 27.-Privatc Bucky
MacNcil onc-timc cowpunchef on Il
Turkey track ranch near Buffalo. Wyo..
smoked Christmas cigarettes in Il SUI
premely happy frame of mind. lying on
his cot in the Neuilly Hospital. though
both arms were hnrnessed in Il sling
above his head.
Bucky's inventive genius came to his
rescue. lie had directed his compan-
ions to whittlc a two-foot stick. in
sert pin in the tip. cigarette, stuck
through IL and thus he could move the
smoke TO his mouths
ITS the first honcst-to- God smoke
since the Germans smashed my arms
six weeks ago" said he. This is sure
some Christmas"
Bucky is but one of 400 happy pa
ticnts at Neuilly. and an equal mum :
nGr rs at Roth o' Mere Big nnsG'a viii
Christmas trees. turkey dinners. cigar
cites. real mince and apple pies and
homemade doughnu;s.
RED CROSS GIRLS ACT
AS SANTA CLAUS
More than 200 Red Cross girls acted
as Santa Claus ut both hospitals. COM
ing with their arms full OF Dewey
roses. holly and mistlctoc to brighten
the long corridors of pain.
In ward at Neuilly. on the NTH cot
from the door, lies II Kentucky LAD,
does not yet know that he will never
See again gain: One, One of the pretty VIII, r,
lures set in a holiday smile below the
cruel bandage. 1mpulsively she kissed
the smiling lips and fixed a spray Of
The blind lad does not know why.
after that so many lips brushed his.
No, the command of the mlstietoe was
boyish smile and OF that hearty merry
Christmas" lie called whenever he
heard footsteps pause.
In another ward somebody start ed
II phonograph-a Christmas song. he
boys. many OF whom hadn't been 10
church in years. improvised an accom-
paniment after barber shop fashion and
the chords filled the wards with hum
ming melody.
Rocky Ages piece I used to wet every
handkerchief at funerals when | did
the tenor tremulos on that"
So. from ward to ward. the Christ
mas spirit sped. until the Neuilly hos
pital, instead Of house of suffering.
became one OF the brightest spots in
Paris. Another place where Americans
instituted a regular Christmas, was
There the y. NJ {. y. workers, under
the direction of Z. w. Graham. en-
tertained $50 French war orphans.
There was n huge Christmas tree.
Monday night there was boxing
carnival. The doughboys passed the
hat and collected $500 francs for
Christmas cheer for the parcntless
children. AS a result each orphan
received from the hands OF Il real
Santa Claus speaking French new
pair OF stockings. one filled with toys
candies and nuts. and each stocking
had shiny 2franc piece in the toe.
Several hundred douGhboyS assem-
bled 10 sec the fun. but many a face
was drawn in painful state of home
sickness when the orphans. ranging IL,
age from four 10 twelve. joined hands
and the long procession hlcd pas, the
glowing trees. receiving marvellous
gifts from the French Santa Claus.
one little boy holding q ChriStmas
bag with precious candy, unknown in
France for four years. approached a
husky military policeman. saluted and
offered the big fellows some candy
IF monsieur will honor me by ac-
centinS. piDcd the youngstcr
That siX-footer dug into his mock ct
ana produced huge slab of chocolate.
and said huSkily:
Take this home TO your ma. Y-yu're
spelling my Christmas"