Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-12-26
The ARGUS FUND
TAKES CHEER TO
$50 POOR TOTS
Santa Clans Committee Delivers
Packages Under Enormous
Difncaities.
EACH CHILD GETS A GIFT
Generous Public Makes Possible
Much Happiness for Little
Folks On Christmas.
EACH CHILD GETS A GIFT

The last Of the Christmas pack
ages for the poor kiddies of the
city. given out through The Argus
Santa Claus with the help of the
generous people Of Rock Island,
were delivered yesterday afternoon.
The storm Of Tuesday greatly han
dicapped the process of delivery
but with willing and faithful work
eTs the task was accomplished
overcoming almost unsurmountable
difficulties occasioned by bad roads
and snow drifts. But in spite of
this the majority of the packages
found their destination Tuesday,
the remainder going out yesterday.
The Argus Santa Claus commit
tee hopes that not one child went
ChristmasIess and that not one was
overlooked. Every child on the
committees list was remembered
and if there was any poor tot in
the city who was forgotten it was
because that child was so securely
hidden away that it could not be
found.
The Argus Santa Claus committee
took care Of approximately $50 chill
dren. To each i gave stockings,
mittens. handkerchief, combs and
each likewise received one or more
TOYS. books. hair ribbons, etc, and
also TO each tot was given a sack
containing a generous supply OF
nuts, candy. apples and cookies.
1t was a matter of great salts
faction TO the committee that con-
ditions have so changed that it was
possible for many families to be
taken from the list this year. Faith
ers have been able to find work at
increased wages and families in
many instances have been enabled
to regain their feet and start an
upward climb There are, however,
NAV destitute families that are
worthy of every effort that can be
made in their behalf The part!c-
uIarly sad feature of the work this
wear was the presence of sickness
in many families and in the fact
that death had visited not a few
homes leaving sadness and want.
In families of five, six and even
more children the question of pro-
vidiag stockings alone is consid-
!. cradle Of an item, not taking into
4 consideration the matter of shoes
that have a way of wearing out,
mittens and other articles of cloth
ing to say nothing Of providing
fuel. light. food, etc and with the
high price of everyday necessities
It has been no small task to keep
families together and clothed and
fed.
Public Generous.
The general public has been
very generous in subscribing to the
fund with which gifts for the poor
kiddies have been bought, and the
fact that this is the case this year
in the face of the great demands
that have been made on the pocket
books, is conclusive evidence that
the public has confidence in the
work of the committee and that it
acGomplishes the end that it has in
view. making il an established in
sti-utiOn-
The merchants have showed
every courtesy and consideration to
the committee in making its pur-
chases. the State bank gave the use
OF rooms in its building for Santa
Claus Headquarters and not one
request was made of anyone that
was not gladly and willingly
granted
Hiss Jennie Robinson graciously
donated the use OF her machine and
her services In delivering pack
AGES. the remainder Of the work
being taken care OF by The Argus
machines. Assisting as rapid de-
livery messengers were D. ". Car
Ter. L. c. Johnson. Donald and
Troy Carter and Frank Bartholo-
new and they did valiant service
in vyadjng through deep snowdrifts
and mud and slGsh. their courage
urtauuted until every article found
its owner
Members Of The Argus Santa
Claus committee on whom has
fallen the responsibility of listing
and investigating the children,
purchasing and preparing the
racEase etc. are MesGames c. T
ruGard. s. p. Switzer, Ben Koch,
IS. T.. Parker. J. G.. Stanton and
Misses Cecilia Frey and Gotta Bar
tholomew.
and so The Argus Santa has
ended his work for another year.
E- will be ready next year again,
bright and early TO carry happiness
into many homes Of poor little folk.
BERGER WITNESS