The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-01-02
BY Mrs. Maude X. Tanner,
Editor of Weekly Ardmoreite.

Editor of Weekly Ardmoreite
Some thirty years ago the Salvation
Army originated the idea of giving
Christmas dinners to the poor. Be
fore this novel idea originated in the
minds OF the leaders OF this worthy
band Of workers in the Lords vine.
yard, TO thousands of poor children
Christmas day passed away as any
other day Of the year. There was
no special dinner to make thci'
hungry mouths to water, no Santa
Claus to cause their young hearts to
flutter no anything but just the same
old one day out Of the 365 days of
the year. For more than thirty
years now, many thousands Of Christ
mas dinners have been distributed by
the Salvation Army among the poor
of all lands
In the beginning these dinners
were given i'll the form Of great biz
sit-down dinners, TO which every
| hungry person who had no Christ
mas dinner provided for him at
home or somebody else's home, was
invited to come. This form Of pro-
viding dinner for the poor was found
not to be the satisfactory affair 1t
should be, however, as IL was OBJ
served that the women and small
children did not come and share in
the feast as the Army workers in
tended that they should do, so the
| Salvation Army officers were given
tickets to distribute in their daily
round Of visitation to poor and de-
serving families emitting them to a
basket the day before Chistmas, con-
tanning chicken and ample provision
for two meals for family of five
persons. This proved a vast i'm
provement over the big spread" and
made possible happy Christmas for
thousands Of poor mothers and child
rem for whom. otherwise Christmas
would have brought no JOY and cheer.
More than 100000 OF these Christ
mas dinners still find their way into
the homes OF the worthy poor
through this method Of the Saliva
,ion Army, but this year somethns
different happened in Ardrnore, not
only different but extraordinary.
Members of the Elks Club found
that the Salvation Army of Ardmorc,
after a weeks strenuous work OF
endeayoring to raise sufficient funds
to finance Christmas tree and make
glad the hearts Of their numerous
charges, both small and adult, had
| fallen far short in the contents OF
the Army kettles for the Arrny's need
to make success OF tho affair, and
took hand in the Christmas party
that Captain Nobbs and her worthy
assistants we're endeavoring to put
over. \ Christmas tree was pro-
vided, set up at their hall and decorat'
ed all ready for Santa Claus on
Christmas eve.
1t was pretty party, beaui-
| full Christmas tree, abaze with tiny
vari-colored electric lights and laden
with glistening, tinsclly decorations;
| IL spread its branches beneath cam
opy OF green arches. while every
inch OF remaining floor space was
filled with girls and more girls, boys
and more boys, Elk members and
Salvation Army officers. all crowded
around and as near as possible tc
catch glimpse of the bright, pretty
spectacle. And truly IL was sight
we'll worth seeing. Bright eyes and
sparkling faces Of happy-hearted
children We'd with the colorful spark
le OF the Christmas tree in radlatins
an almost tangible spirit throughout
the big hall and the Christmas songs
carried n joy-fillcd message to every
listening ear and heart.
The tree was announced for
o'clock but long before that hour the
hail was filled with eager boys and
girls and equally eager mothers and
u great big sprinkling of interested
prominent men and women Of Ard
more. The festivities were opened
by prayer by Captain Maggie Nobbs
after which City Superintendent Rich'
ards addressed beautiful talk on The
birth of Christ.
An interesting program previously
arranged by Captain Nobhs, was car
ried out In which number OF the
Captains small charges took part
and as the little tots sang Santa Is
Coming" the real parsonage hlnxclI
came lifting in,
In speaking of the occasion Cap
tain Nobba states that tho affair was
the biggest of It's kind ever attempt
cd In the southwest district Of the
Salvation Army and surpassed like
occasion Ia both Oklahoma city and
Dallas.
More than i5o baskets with provis'
ions sufficient for n family of seven
persons were prepared and labeled
and distributed. IN addition small
sacks of flour and meal were given
at tho door.
Captain Nohbs announces the fol-
lowing articles boughl and placed on
the Christmas tree all properly label
ed and reaching those who were both
worthy and appreciative of this great
effort Of tho salvation Army.
new suits of underwear; IL sweat.
ers: s dresses, layettes for cSpec
tant babies, IL yards of outing ilan-
mel. i2 bed quilts: 10 blankcts; II
pair VI shoes; 10 dolls. cost from 90
cents to 81. 10 drums, cost from 81
TO $3.50. table cloths, 900 sacks
containing candies, nuts and fruits;
barrels of apples; 4 crates oi
oranges. $50 dressed chickens. hose
tooth brushes. shoe brushes. and toys
of an descriptions sufficient fer an
the liltlo chnrrrs that teptain Nnhhl