New-York tribune., 1919-12-25
Pa knickerbocker, With
Snowy Whiskcrs, Assists
Santa Claus Down Every
Chimney With His Gifts
Christmas Trees Galore
Welfare Clubs to Make Day
Merry for Service Men;
Police Hosts to Children

Drought the spirit of Christmas cheer,
which spreads over the city to-day.
Hurrying. jostling, can't-stop-a-min-
ute New York to-day will come to a
full stop. Over all Manhattan. from
the squat Barge Office at the Battery to
the Harlem River, the Yuletde spirit
prevails. Hurrying New Workers will
be hurrying only for the purpose of
spreading the JOY OF the occasion. For
to-day the knock -down-and drag out
crap who smashes you as he makes a
last minute dive into the subway at
the Brooklyn Bridge Is mild-mannered
ana doclle; and the hard-lipped citizen
wno beats you to the last seat and then
pokes ms paper in your face is smil-
ing and happy.
There will be celebrations everv
"neIe, and by everybody. From the first
crack OF dawn until midnght-and
on, particularly for the children and
soldiers and sailors. Enough Christmas
lfees to MI a forest glowed in New
iorK last night and tonight there will
De more Christmas tree celebrations
and banquets and parties Even father
VINO doesn't usually get anything out
OF 1t except batch of bills, is Show
1hS Sl1HS or beng interested
Record Celebration To-day
To-day the police precinct stations
ana various civic and welfare ORGAN
lZauons will work hand in hand in an
eHort TO make the days celebration the
pCisgesi IN years. The Knights of
ToiumDus' T the Salvation Army the
WWa, lamp CcmMunity Service the
I. VI. G. A., the Red Cross and other
organizations have planned a busy dav
ihese organizations VIII administer
particularly to the soldiers and sail
ors, Whl'e the Police Department will
lend hand in distributing gifts to the
poor OF the city
thlldren Of New York who failed to
set presents at the fist Regiment Ar
mory Tuesday night because the cola
bration developed into a voune u, 'rie riot
VIII receive their gifts to-day. All
Youngsters who hold tickets for pres
chts can get them by calling at the
precinct station IN the district in which
1hey i've There were presents at the
armory Tor $4,000 children Tuesday
night but because of the rumpus which
ehsued only 600 received them.
AT noon there viii be man-sized
.eec Tor sailors at Victory Hut, in Bat
\. NJ. c. A. Wounded soldiers viii
draw gifts and good things to eat and
dollar bills at Pershing House, in Gram
Grey Square. There also will be an
entertainment and little side surprises
ior soldiers at the Riverside Com
munity House, Ninety seventh Street
and Riverside Park. The knights of
,oiumbus Will be active in the dis
ulDutlon or candy in the orphan
newsboys Of New York will gorge
themselves at a celebration at the Brace
Memorial Newsboys' Home. Ia New
Chambers Street. tonight.
Rivals Old Christmas Ewes
Yesterday soldiers, sailors, children
and everybody made q great day of it,
and with its diversified events it com
pared with New York's Christmas Eve
celebrations of other years.
Baskets brimful of Christmas deli
lies, including plump chickens, were
distributed by the Salvation Army yes
5erday to the needy. Women with
tions and received the well-fillcd mar
ket baskets More than 1000 baskets
were distributed. the task being COM
rleted by noon. There was no con-
fusion.
The Social Service Bureau of Belle
vue Hospital yesterday gave presents
to all children in the hospital and to
other chlldren who have been PATIENTS
The Police Department PLAYED the
Santa Claus role and played it we'll.
rive hundred children were entertained
yesterday afternoon at Morrisana Po-
lice Station, The Bronx. The assembly
room was converted into a theater and
twcnty-foo tree lifted its sparkling
| head to the ceiling of the stage.
over IN Brooklyn Captain Jerry But
TER was host to l,500 youngsters in the
East l26th Street station Manhattan.
exercises were held for 1900 kiddies
under the direction of Captain John
Noble. Patrolman Thomas Byrnes was
rotund and jolly Santa Claus. Needy
iamllies living in the vicinity of the
station called during the day and re-
ceived gitts. There also was az big
celebration at the 104th Street station
with Captain Charles Ruth in charge
Big Bill Edwards Gives Party
A different" sort of party was that
gwen on the sixth floor of the Custom
House Yesterday Several notables
were present The celebration was
given by William II. CBig BillO Ed
wards, Collector of Internal Revenue.
Speeches were made by former Sccre-
tary Of the Treasury William G. Nc
Adoo, Daniel l.. Porter, Supervising
internal Revenue Agent, and MIR. Ed
wards.
Hundreds of children had the time of
their lives at Il cele bration staged ves
terday afternoon by the New York
Community Service IN the Grand Cen
trail Palace. Two movie actresses
Louise HuN and June Caprice, were on
hand and contributed to the merri-
ment.
One of Yesterdays biggest parties
was that given at the 69th Regiment
Armory under the direction of "Ihe
New York American" and THE New
York Evening Journal" Approximately
$4,000 women, with youngsters tuggng
at their sleeves. swarmed into the ar
mory and received gifts The baskets
distributed contained everything needed
to make up a Christmas dinner
Last night five hundred sailors en-
joyed a feast at the Sailors Home and
institute of the American Seamen's
Friend Society, located on North River.
There also were big doings last night
at the Rowery Y, NJ. c. A Christmas
tree. music gifts. an everything. En- I
ecutives, officers, clerks and others con- /
nected with the Presbyterian Church /
boards and agencies of the Presby-
terian New Era Movement joined in a
Christmas celebration last night at
Presbyterian Headquarters. 1856 Fifth
Avenue. A special Christmas luncheon
was served ye .erday at the clubhouse
oF fbo Club of Mo-. V>.l~