The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-12-29
HOSPITALS BRIGHT IN
CHRISTMAS SPIRIT.
Red Cross Angels Make Hours Happy
for Wounded Soldiers.
by non,Kr WELLS RTTCIIE.

Paris Dec. sS.--priyate Bucky
MaeNeil. one tire cow puncher on
q turkey track ranch near Buffalo,
WNo.. Einof.ed Christmas cigarettes In
a supremacy happy frame OF mind,
lying on his cot in the Neuilly hos
pitai, though both arms were har-
messed IN "a sling above hts head.
Euc',y's inventive genius came 10
The rescue. He had directed his com
panions to Whittle a twp-foot stick,
insert pin in the tip, cigarette
stuck through IL and thus he could
move tho smoke 10 his mouth,
ITS the first honest Ito God smoke
since tho Germans smashed my arms
six weeks ago" said he. This is
sure some Christmas.
Bncky Is but one Of the 1,400
happy patients at Neuiliy and an
equal mum her is at the other big hos
pitfalls At Autcuil. Both were sup
piled with Christmas trees, turk ey
dinners, cigarettes. real mince and
apple pies and homemade dough
nuts.
Moro than zoo Red Cross girls acted
as Santa Claus at both hospitals.
coming with heir arms fun OF Dewey
roses holly and rnistletoe TO brighten
tho long corridors of pain.
In Ward nj Neuiily on the nth
rot from the door lies a kentucky
lad helpless, His eyes are bandaged.
He does not Yet know that he will
never see again, one OF the pretty
York paused and gazed upon the
hoytsh features set in holiday
smile helorr the cruel bandage I'm =
pulsiyeiy she kissed the smiling lips
and tiXed a spray of mistletoe over
hts cot
The blind lad does not know why,
after that. so many lips brushed his.
Not thc command of the mistletoe
was responsible. but the appeal of
mat hoyish smile and OF that hearty
Merry Christmas he called when
ever he heard footsteps pause.
In another ward somebody started
a phonorraDh--a Christmas song. The
boys, many az whom hadn't been TO
church IN years. irprovised accom-
paniment after barber shop fashion
and the chords filled the wards with
humfning melody.
Say called one. turn loose that
Rocky Ages piece. used TO wet
every handkerchief at funerals when
did the tenor tremuloe on that"
So from ward TO ward the Christ
mas spirit sped unit the Neuilly hos
pitai instead OF n house OF suffering
became one OF the brightest spots in
Paris. Another place where Aneri-
cars instituted "A regular Christina
was CRYSTAL Palace, on the Cham rs
Ttveees
Thorn Y NJ, G. A. workers under
the direction of r. w Graham, en-.
terfained 45o French war orphans
There was a huge Christmas tree.
Monday night there was a hoxire
carnival. Tho dtughboys passed the
hat and collected $500 francs 70,
! Christmas cheer for the parentiess
children. AS n result each o-nhar
received from the hands oT rea'
Santa Clans speaking French n new
/ pair ot stocklnF4--one filled with
Ftoys, candies and nuts. and each
/ stocking had a shiny two-franc piece
! in the toe.
/ Several hundred dourhhoys Assem-
! nlcd to sec the fun. hut many a face
WIS drawn in a painful state of homo
sickness when the orphans. rang1ns
I I'm age from four to twelve joinet
( hands and the long procession flet
! past the glowing trees, receivin,
| marvellous gifts from the French
| Santa Claus
One little boy holding n Christina!
, bag with precious candy, unknown
! in France for four years. approached
husky military policeman. saIutcd
| ana offered the biz fellow some candy
| IF Monsieur viii honor me by &C
! cep'ing, plned the youngster
That ST footer dug into his pocke
! and produced huge slab of choco
Flatna'anh said httsk'ly
Take Ehis hafeey$ tee ,xayr>. ma
TslEs $s8AaAs m /. ~ y - Y