Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-12-26
joyful CHRISTMAS
OBSERVED IN CITY
Second YuIetide After War Finds
Most of Soldier Veterans
With Home Folk
WEATHER PROVES IDEAL

pdHld 1idUS IN Ill MS glory Cdlne
to Philadelphia yesterday. 1t was a
day of real festival with peace, plenty
and prosperity; Of unusual giving
good will and cheer. The weather was
ideal. just brisk enough to bring the
blood to the cheek, and the warm rays
of bright sun tempered the ground
still covered in places with the snow
and ice of the recent blizzard.
Everywhere rejoicing was apparent.
The usual Christmas activities through :
out the city were carried on with fresh
zeal and the day was unmarried by any
serious accidents. .
1t was the second Christmas since the
war, and virtually all the men who had
gone abroad were back among their
friends and relatives--all save those
who made the supreme sacrifice.
Children Chief Beneficiaries
The children were the particular
benefciaries of the day. TO most OF
them it was continuation of the cele
bration of the day before and was the
elimination of days Of anticipation and
preparation.
While many of the children's par
ties and present giyings had taken place
on Christmas Eve or before, the early
morning hours yesterday furnished the
climax, in the finding of the Christmas
stockings. Santa Claus figured in an
unusually general distribution.
Then there was the Christmas din
ner. There had been n great prelim
mary giving of supplies for Christmas
meals. Yesterday that was completed
the baskets of Christmas dinners given
by some organizations running into
the thousands. Many organizations
also offered assortments of practical
gifts to make the day generally happy
one. 1t was noticeable that such or
CARNATIONS as the Society for the Pre-
vention of Useless Giving, which is moi
now in evidence, has accomplished its
purpose to large extent Another
feature of the day was the large mum
Der of Christmas entertainments. APP
proximately 5000 Christmas basket din
ners were distributed from the five of.
fees of the American Rescue Mission
Most of those were given out yesterday
In addition, a large supply of warn
clothing came into the possession of new
owners through the mission. Childrer
were supplied with one half pound boxes
of candy, toys and apples. Special en-.
tertainments took place yesterday af
| ternoon and evening.
Attention to Hospitals
In the hospitals, friends of the in
mates made the day as pleasan. as pos
| giI,ln with nd nrfi int,ln. af lo.,
paid to the children, who somehow seen
able to enjoy themselves more than theii
more fortunate brothers and sisters.
Christmas trees were in evidence il
the Babies Hospital. the children
ward of the Jefferson Hospital and othel
institutions. In the University Hos
pital the Christmas celebration brough
memories vs the late Prof. Oscar Abra
hanson, who started the general observ
ance of Christmas in the hospital.
There was more than the ordinar,
note of sadness from within the Eastern
state penitentiary, where plans of tn
inmates Honor and Friendship Club t.
send presents to the children of the in
mates was not carried out. due to tn
unsettled condition within the peniten
! tiary. The usual big Christmas Dime
was served to the prisoners.
Orphansge Has Celebration
The 120 children of the Methods
Episcopal Orphanage found stocking
containing apples. oranges, candy an,
toys when they awoke. Then at
o'clock they took gifts from friend
which had been placed on a Christina
tree. At noon there was the roast ducl
Christmas dinner, and in the Afternoon
additional gifts from the board of man
ayers. At 3 o'clock this afternoon sixt
| children will participate in a cantata
'The Old Fashioned Santa Claus
More than 200 West Philadelphia
children were made happy with a dinnc
given at the Philomusian Club, at 304
Walnut street. Most Of the children
were those who lost parents during tn
influenza epidemic last year. After tn
dinner, given under the direction o
the club home relief committee, vaude
vile entertainment was furnished. Th
children carried apples and candy hom
with them. 1t was the second annua
Christmas dinner given by the Philomu
sian Club.
Children Made Joyous
The Knights of Columbus made visit
to the Catholic orphanages. adding t
the joy of the children. There was
tree, dinner and entertainment at tn
Home of the Merciful Saviour for Grip
pied Children.
Going on the theory that the da
Ilwould mean more with the children par
ticipating in the entertainment pro
grams. many institutions made such ar
rangements. That was done even b
the little inmates of the Philadelphi
Home for Incurables, at Forty eight
street and Woodland avenue.
Contributions received by the nurser
of the Municipal Court, 233 Mort
Twenty first street, were distributed
dependent children placed by the Mu
nicipal Court, numbering 1900.
Sixty five hungry horses were brougf
to the dispensary of the Women's Penn
sylvania Society for the Prevention (
Cruelty to Animals at 319 ChadwiC
street, for Christmas treat consistin
of corn on the cob. carrots, apples, oa
and bran. Fifty horse blankets wei
given. The free dinners, portioned
sacks, will be supplied for a week.
Pork for County Prisoners
Pork, gravy, potatoes and mince p
were the principal ingredients of Il
dinners given to the Moyamensing ar
Holmesburg county prisoners. The
, were no special entertainments.
. | IL ..,oa UaIa dow af fba HonSa