Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1918-12-26
COUNTRY CENTERS
CELEBRATION ON
MEN IN SERVICE
Thanks for Peace and Graft
tude to Soldiers and Sailors
Feature Christmas 0bSerVa-
tons Everywhere,
10y MORNING 20 snAl ssselA. .sAssn w,asl

10y MORNING 10 RIAL SPECIAL LEASED wi9el =
New York, Dec. 25,-New York to-
day celebrated its greatest Christmas
since war clouds enveloped the world.
In every church was poured forth
thanks that peace had come again TO
mankind, while in homes without
number We're offered prayers Of
thanksgiving for loved ones spared in
the fiercest conflict of all time.
The spirit of unselfishness was
abroad as never before. The trials
which the nation had endured in the
anxious months before Germany was
beaten to her knees apparently had
purged the citys millions of petty de-
sires and had taught them the true joy
of giving. From the Bowery to Fifth
avenue, New Workers joined in COM
mon celebration,
Soldiers and sailors were feted at
every hand, and while the celebration
conferred on the military, the civilian
poor were not neglected Welfare or
carnations entertained thousands
from dawn until far into the night and
countless men and women, without
formal alliance, took boys in khaki
and blue into their homes to share
their own Yuletide cheer. The spirit
of giving reached even TO the water
front. where on the giant Leviathan
and other ships, thousands of orphan
ed children were made to feel that
Santa Claus was indeed very real
person.
Bueiackcts Celebrate.
In the Hudson, where the home
fleet lay at anchor ready to welcome
tomorrow the American warships re-
turning from overseas, approximately
10000 sailors ate their Christmas dim
ner at noon in mess rooms gaily dec
grated with holly and wreaths. The
meal ended, the bluejackets Joined IN
singing carols and later cleared the
han for stag" dances made possible
by "jaZz" bands organized among the
crews
The men were given shore liberty
and by dusk only skeleton crews re-
manned aboard.
Tonight great Christmas trees,
ablaze with electric bulbs, We're scat
tered through the city's squares from
the Battery to the Bronx and grouped
around each tree were thousands who,
in giving or receiving, found there the
real spirit of Christmas
The Red Cross distributed presents
to and provided entertainment for A.
900 soldiers and sailors in hospital and
camps. Ten thousand families opened
their homes to one or more service
men, who were provided holiday din
ners. At war camp community huts
throughout the city $4,000 soldiers
were benefieiaries of gifts, amuse-
ment and food. At many Broadway
thcaters the men found admittance
free The Y NJ. c. A., Y. w. G. A.,
Salvation Army and other war work
organizations contributed similarly to
make this day a joyous one for
doughboy and tar, In every hospital
where these men lie sick or wound
cd, bundles of presents were placed at
the besides.
individual Red Cross gifts to sol
diers included swagger sticks each
bearing silver band with the inscrip'
ton American Red Cross 1915
Men of the allied merchant marine
found their welcome at the Seamen's
church institute, where 66S Christmas
dinners Were served and presents dis
tributed.
The Salvation Army abandoned its
customary program of dinners for
down and outs" and instead provided
10000 meals for needy families, and
presented safety razors to army and
navy men who visited the organiza-
tons headquarters.