New-York tribune., 1919-12-24
Settlements and Hospitals
Find Famous Old Gift
Civer More Bountiful
This Year Than Ever
Police Stations Meccas
Beach Street Precinct Has
Huge Tree and Plenty
of Gifts for Children

Santa Claus started early on his
poor children who have to get their
presents at settlements and hospitals,
and leaving until the very last thing
tonight his trips down the chimneys
of welto do children who hang up
theIr stockings in their own nurseries
on Christmas Eve.
In many sections of the city there
is such general prosperity that the
annual Christmas tree celebrations in
the police stations have been eliminat-
ed. 1t was felt by the police that most
parents could buy gifts themselves this
year for their children. and inasmuch
as the police had asked for so many do
nations in the last year for Liberty loan
and other drives, they would give the
public Il rest.
Beach Street Party
The officers at the Beach Street sta
ton, however, had q private contract
with Santa Claus long before a gem
eral police order put ban on the
gift glver, SO they were allowed TO con
tinue with their plans for Christmas
"a la cop" Presents worth $4,000 were
distribut yesterday afternoon at the
Beach Street station to 1900 poor chill
drcn. Each needy child received $40
worth of shoes, stockings, sweaters
mufilers or mittens, with dolls and toys
for all.
There was large Christmas tree,
trimmed by the patrolmen of the pre-
cinct under the direction of Captain
Charles Mckinney. The program in
cluded singing of "The Star-Spangled
Banner and a little talk by Deputy
Commissioner Frederick A. Wallis.
He told the children that the gifts
rad been given them by the merchants
of the neighborhood, and that they
must show their gratitude by never
Giving the merchants any trouble. The
Youngsters promised with whoop.
Every station house in the city was
a branch office for Santa Claus yester
day, although there were Christmas
trees in very few. The police station
was the gathering place, however. for
the children, who were invited to the
great Christmas festival in the list
Regiment Armory. Little children less
of toys at the police stations, and the
older ones started off soon after
o'clock. 500 in line, chaperoned by the
patrolmen.
Weeks Celebration
It is going to take a whole week to
celebrate Christmas at the Greenwich
Village Settlement, but just for a
starter they had play and Christmas
tree yesterday afternoon for 250 chill
1rerl. The plays were 'Why the
Chimes Rang and "Tne Toy Shop"
acted by n-year-old members of the
dramatic clubs. Meantime. 100 chill
dren had marched up to st. Vncent's
Hospital to sing carols and distribute
toys and candy to the children in the
wards Tonight at dusk the Village
Carolers will start from the settle
ment, singing old-fashioned Christmas
carols under the windows of their
friends. There will be a party for
little tots at the settlement this after
noon, and on Christmas Day dinner
baskets will be distributed to a few
needy families of the district
Vincent Astor has followed his an
nual custom of giving Christmas din
ners to the poor who have come to the
attention of the Welfare Society of
Bellevue Hospital. One thousand bas-
kets will be distributed this morning
at Eighty-fourth Street and Third Ave
nue. Each basket will contain two
four-pound chickens, potatoes, onions,
one pound of white sugar, butter, cof
fee, tea, tomatoes and cake. Miss Mary
f. Wadley. of the Welfare Bureau, will
supe wise the istribution.
The children in the wards at Belle
vue and other city hospitals will have
toys and candy on Christmas morn
ing. Mrs. Stokes Phelps will entertain
fifty crippled children at her home on
Friday evening.
For Service Men
The children who must spend Christ
mas at the Society for the Prevention
OF Cruelty to Children will probably
have much gayer Christmas than they
would in their poor homes. for gifts
and candy and a large Christmas tree
and prestidigitator will fill the day
The Christmas tree Will be lighted at 4
o'clock this afternoon.
Soldiers and sailors who cannot get