The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-12-26

a. there are always those who exs
change gifts tiisy received which they
did not Ike for others which they do
Ike The stores are unusually nice
about this sort Of thing and deserve
credit for a monotonous day follow
ing Christmas
The EIks Play Santa Claus.
The finest Christmas : celebration
| Fairmont has setn for many a day
vas held yesterday afternoon when
about three hundred children met at
] the Miller School TO be entertained
/ by the Elks Lodge of this city. The
affair was in the panning for some
time but no news regarding 1t leaked
out so careful were those who had It
| in charge that nothing should de-
tact from The Times celebration.
The Elks Lodge decided ehls year 60
del ote their charity fund TO the pur-
pose of making boys and girls happy
(which The Pines could not atttnd to,
and while The Times fund covers
most OF the necessities and gifts for
the worthy poor Of this city, there al
| WAYS remains others who need
/ Christmas entertainment and harpl-
ness. This was furnished yesterday
by the Eks. A regular program was
carried out wieh the following per-
sens in charge: Simon D. Goodman,
iC. H. Neill, Ralph Regan, Harry
! Williamson. KICder Rock, Earle b.
Smith, and mesdames NJ. E. Ash
craft, Samutl Leeper, Edwin Watson,
| Paul Hamilton, Carroll Turner, Bert
S. Leopold, Brooks Fleming, Jr., Carl
Miller Bernard Mckinley, s. b.
81 noks, G. M. Wiltshire, H. Satter-
! field, c. ID. Barry, C. C. Robb, D.. NJ
Oggood, Marshal Fleming, Harry VIII
| li9mson, Ralph Regan, Misses Flor
ence Lavender, Louise Nichols and
Margaret McKinnty.
All these persons donated precious
/ Christmas time to the making OF the
party q success First was an enter
| tainment with wonderful tree and
presents following. Plenty of CANDY
was passed to the youngsters. The
main object of the party was to instillI
patriotism into the hearts of the little
folks and Simon D. Goodman, chair
ma nof the Elks committee, talked to-
the young people in a manner under
stood by them, emphasizing the coun-
try's need for good, loyal American
, citizens which the little folks were
expected to grow up to be some day.
John Reed demonstrated his gift IL
magical art and caught the little
hearts just in the right place. Lloyd
Bailey took the part of Santa Claus
and distributed the presents, one for
each child, of Appropriate nature. Miss
Florence Lavender led in the singing
which took place during the afternoon
I The tree was most gorgeous affair
all lit with red, white and blue cleo
trio lights. Most of the 800 children
who came he'd been invited by card
and came from outlying districts, most
of them attending schools in the cirg
and near.
The Times Fund,
Over $4,000 was spent from The
Times fund on poor children in the
city yesterday. 1t required hard work
and much planning by large force of
men and women, before the needs OF
500 children were learned but so
earnestly and well did these persons
work that as far as is known there
wasn't a Riddle who lacked a Christ
mas Yesterday. No one deserves moro
credit than former Mayor Bowen who
gave up his tine for week search
ing ut hidden corners of Fairmont, cs-
! pecally in the outlying districts, to-
find some forgotten child. Babies
three years old were discovered who
hadn't owned a shoe since birth.
These little tots were crawling around
in the cold or toddling on the cold
floors, and ones heart went out toI
them Many child and older per-
son was given warm clothing through
! the effects of those who labored low
ingly for them this Christmas season.
Besides this The Times fund paid for
toys ennd well filled baskets of food,
every article given with the best judg-
ment possible. Today the third floor
of The Times building looks deserted
indeed. Where shelves we're pac:ie'
with every known article made forI
little folks, today there remains noth-I
ing but a broken toy or two and per-
haps an ownerless hair ribbon or
trinkc+. Every penny donated went to
WORTHY cause The ladies in charge
of the fund say they will begin very
shortly working again on their plans
for next Christmas. This year cards
were added to the collection made out
last year. There is much more de-