The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-26
KIDDIES OF UPTON
TROOPS HAVE TREE
Several Thousand Of Them
Make Merry in list Regi-
ment ArmOry.
DADDIES ON THE RHINE
Womenfolk of 18th Division
Give the Youngsters a
Memorable Day.

The Seventy-seventh Division, nine
regiments of alumni OF Camp Upton,
is not the one oftenest named as New
York's Own. But 1t is New York's
own, none more so, and It likes to have
the fact kept in mind.
1t was right into every big action
we fought through the last -FOUR
months Of the war. 1t may not hold
our divisional record for number OF
days and nights without
Its clothes of; IL it doesn't, though, 1t
would admire to see whatever division
does At home here, through its
womenfolk and their home auxiliaries
of the American Army Association, the
division looks after its own
There was a Christmas tree yester-
day in the Seventy first Regiment Ar
mory, noble, towering tree, with
breastworks Of red ribboned presents
erected around it. Other attractions
we're there. Santa, Of course, came
first But he had thriving compet-
ton. The southwest corner of the
spacious hall was where the magician
had his rostrum. The troupe OF
trained dogs and its master had the
southeast corner.
Punch and Judy There Too.
In the. northeast there was-by the
shades Of Charles Dickens, there was,
or were, Punch and Judy and the
Hangman and the rest Of 'em; the
genuine dear old show In the regula-
ton red lined booth. They were easily
the most popular side attraction.
The northwest corner is the en-
trance corner. All afternoon in the
streets outside a winding double line
OF grannies and aunts and big sisters
or brothers, not to mention almost in
Vulnerable mothers, shepherded the
Seventy-s Divisions very own
ranging in age between l and, say
l4-into the armory to enjoy the Vic
tory festival. And how they enjoyed
it, How they did eat it up! A pres
ent and a box of candy for each and
all, distributed under Santa's eye by
his badged and uniformed staff OF
bright, young assistants.
OF these assistants Ginger was the
chief. \ knowing chap is Ginger,
He stands maybe nine hands high, and
he likes kids fine. because some few be-
'ong to him-the grandchildren OF
Robert Bacon, former Ambassador to
France. Mrs. Bacon was chairman
and mistress of ceremonies yesterday,
by the way) Well, and Ginger was
wearing Jingle bells and his shaggy
roam and white calico winter coat, and
he drew Sanity around the hall in his
cart, while Sanity personally passed out
gifts as far as he was able, and any
where UP to 5000 small younkits
Rugged and kissed what parts Of Gin
ger they could reach.
Yes; II you must know, he is a pony.
Casualties on Some Faces.
oh. it was Christmas. true simon
pure Christmas. but for just one thing
An important thing. too--one of the
two most important Riddles know
That was missing. 1t wasn't there
The omission could not he helped
it, didn't do any good
Daddy was kept away by important
business near the Rhine--and YOU did
not need a ciCeronc TO tell you. as YOU
wandered around through the crowd
which Riddles it was whose daddies
would not return ever. ever. Merci-
fully some OF them were still too little
to realize. And none of them could
resist the tree and the other assuage-
ments OF sorrow. 1t was the older
faces whereon the casualty list was
printed.
But don't you believe for one in.
slant that this was any lugubrious
affair,
The Kids were tagged They had 70
be, How would a special Grand Jury
panel Of Philadelphia lawyers de.
mobilize 5000 Juveniles and restore
EN- TO the proper grown ups If no
I body had thought of using tags? And
then every one, big folks and little
folks, was rendezvoused by regiments
each of which had its base and It's
escutcheon beneath the balcony. When
the Fort Hamilton band played a
march, you shouldered your brood and
moved on from the show YOU had
Just seen to the next. When bugIes
blew or commands were otherwiS.
sounded, you returned In good order
to your base. There you sat watch.
ing fondly while young America
formed in column and paraded.
These were the nine regiments,
Soith, S05th and 306 Field Artillery
SO5th, 3O6th, 3O7th and 3OSth Infantry,
3O2d Engineers, and the Ammunition
/ and Supply trains of like numerals
| When History comes to write thei,
! chapter in the annals of the war, goo,
| old History will take the entire da,
! tor It, order up a Jug of sometime
stimulating and do a regular job
Thousands of Guests There.
Between 1000 and 5000 postcards O
! invitation had been sent out, each in,
/ wiling a child of the division to come
and, il they liked. bring two adults
/ The cards were shown at the dool
and the guests ushered to their RICH
escutcheons. Members and alumni o
the Seventy-frst Regiment helped on
/ the young women OF the floor com
| ui;teo, which committee did most
, certainly have its hands full The ac
i've part of the regiment, meaninl
the men who went oversee, no longe
has special army number, since /
WAS divided I'm and SC9tferpd np,op,