Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-12-26
C|TY'S HOSPITALITY
PLAINLY MANIFEST
ON CHRISTMAS DAY
Peace on Earth and Good Will
Toward All Was Evident
on Every Hand.
A JOYOUS CELEBRATION

Clouds we're still hanging over the city
yesterday morning as reminder OF the
rain that had fallen on Christmas Eve,
but festivities began despite them, and
soon cheerful spirits were rewarded by
the lifting of the clouds until Christmas
morning shone with soft sunshine like a
spring day. and the afternoon held the
tang that forecast to-days tardy snow.
Six members of the Harlan Band were
the first to celebrate Riding through the
city in an automobile, they stopped now
and then. ahghted and made musical the
night with Christmas hymns, then on 10
the police station, later in the morning,
10 give a concert for the prisoners. At
3o'clock in the morning the young members
Of the mon NJ T. Chnich brought To
mind old English Christmases by going
about and singing carols.
Early, too, when dawn had not yet
como. eager Youngsters had stolen down
to see what Santa had brought Then
followed after older sisters and brothers,
with dad and mother The good spirit
engendercd there at the tree, laden with
gifts, lasted throughout the day and Was
reflected IN the bright faces ot those that
thronged the thoroughfareS. during morn
ing and afternoon. Smiles came easily, and
Merry Christmas was tossed back and
forth like a bright gift The restaurants
made festive with the tine-honored
turkey tliterally timc-honored, IN some
cases and fxins. and holly wreaths,
offering substitute for those unfortunates
that couldn't get a home-cookcd meal
on a Christmas Day. The theatres did
IN overflow business long lines stood
IN front Of the moving picture places.
4 l.. IL.
street. and lurcd many from hearth and
spare thance.
END OF PERFECT DAY.
1t night. if You cared 70 peep through
the hit ni window. from which the blind
had generously been withdrawn. YOU
could see cosy family groups gathered
about Christmas trees lIt UP with colored
candle, or colorcd e.etrlc bulbs May Nc
declare ior candles? There Is something
too finished and boldly bright about
IN clectTic-lIghtcd Christmas tree. II
destroys illusion Ia the candles fitful
.lop the spirit characters OF the First
Christmas might steal III unawares, but
electricity ,E,ls.l- dreams ~ the same
tiine vc admit the adyI~ibutv of electric
lighting tre, for publir cNh ition, where
candies flicker out aud require too much
attention to keep lighted, or where the
tree i out-ri-tioors, III he path Of the wind.
\ successful eicCtric-hgh;cd tree was shown
at police headquarters. where the big fir
decorated with >hImn- glaSShalis and
yari-colorcd electric clusters was en-
Ioyed by hundreds Of children and their
parents Hundreds OF GftS, gwen by the
moro fortunate were gwen to the poor
at the police station by the two matrons,
Mrs. Mary DAVIS and Mrs. Annie Opdycke
The Salvation Army, the Volunteers Of
America, and several other organizations
gave away Christmas dinners Each
church had its own tree, that Sunday
school members hsd trimmed, ard 'hese
were viewed BY the members, from
babies 10 their elders. The churches
held SPECIAL meeting, and several held
meetings IN the very early hours The
Y NJ. G. \ exhibited big. lighted tree.
laden with gifts, net a lighted miniature
y Hut. such a, the men sought refuge
IN, m France Zach soldier eXiied from
his home by distance or duty got package
Of toilet accessories from th, tree Practl-
caliv all al the soldiers her were invited
out ior homemade Christmas dinner,
Nv private citIzcns Of Wilmington. while
the ladies OF the Red Gross gave them i
dance at the New Century lub
1lll-fAA - - - II ttA'fN~
distributions in and near Wilmington
are dong their best 70 simulate the home
spir:, 'ha; IS the ps-st p,rt Of celebrating
hc,idav Ike Christmas EVERYBODY
knows > man Will wsik miles 70 SIT down
Al home-rnade Thanksgiving or Chris
mas rrcal. if he hns no festive board ii
ms own when hc would be bored To death
With a formal or restaurant meal The
IaH -r,.,s.ial
: tajnment in their chapel YESTERDAY and
diners steaming roast pork with trImmIn's
In thn morning and II the afternoon there
We're games GIFTS were distributed
tobacco gwen hy relatlveS formed III,
largest part ot them. frr Their fr.cnc
Lnow there j. nothing the men Ike -
well - a good che@ Two barrels Of gifts
from relative and friends were dis
tribufed b. " arden Cross
Tho State hospital had every hall
liked up with decorated tree Every
natierlt able to have il sat down To .
turkey dinner. and all the g;rnishings
without which = turkey would be ~ in
complete As II he had lOsf leg Everv
patient got a pound box ~ candy and the
men werc given cigars The hospital pre-
Sented small gift to each patient and
gifts sent bv relatives were distributed
N every ward IN the County hospital
2 decoraicd tree frightened Christmas
DaN Gifts were distributed that rel
a,iv,e had sent and on the menu for
he DAY VIA chicken dinner rounded of
with candy and iriIt~
Some Of the pupils at the Ferris In
dus,rial School for Boys had been allowed
home over Christmas for the first time m
the history Of the School Some went home
on Sunday and some went 10 their homes
Yesterday 10 stay until next Sunday
Those al the school yesterday had a
chicken dinner, and an entertainment
that drew its talent from the pupils of
the school In the afternoon the school
received visitor.
At the Delaware Industrial School for
girls there was an assembly in the morning
with singing Of Christmas songs, and