Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1922-12-28
CR|PPLES HAVE
JOYOUS EVENT
Large Crowd at Christmas
Party at EIkS CIub-AIl
Made Happy
SANTA CLAUS WAS THERE
Pleasing Program is Given
Gifts For All and Lots to
Eat Provided
SANTA CLAUS WAS THERE

."Tiny Tim the famous little
cripple character in Dickens Christ
mas Carol that has time and again
brought tears to the eyes of every
one-and later in the carol, joy to
replace the tears, came to life last
night at the cripple children.s
Christmas party given in the Elks
home under the auspices OF the
charity committee of the Elks lodge.
Not only was there one Tiny Tim a.
the party, but sixty of them. Some
were a little older than Tiny Tim
of the story, and some were girls,
but all experienced the JOY tnat
came to "Tiny Tim" when "Old
Scrooge' opened his heart and gave
"Tiny Tim the merriest Christmas
he ever had.
Without doubt the Elks Lodge
last night gave many of the crippled
children the merriest Christmas
they ever had. More than once
Jumps would raise in the throat and
one would have to wink to keep
back the tears as some little Grip
led child, scantily clad, would en-
ter the building. Three of those
who came could not stand up at all,
and many others were so crippled
that it seemed as if there was no
joy for them in life at all.
Those who came to the party, were
not all the cripples in the city, now
ever, for although the automobiles
were kept busy in collecting the chill
dren who were too crippled to walk
long distances to the party. some
which were called for were so badly
crippled that they refused to leave
their home even to mingle with other
l,.J1 h n
come on down town and enjoy the
Christmas treat in store for them.
Many pitiful cases were discover
ed during the evening and many a
child was made happy by the Elks,
although the particular part played
was not on the program. One little
fellow, bright eyed and smiling came
into the building, gave his name and
address to Harold f. Pickersgill, and
was sent to the cloak room to remove
his oyercoat. The little fellow start
ed to take off his coat and then look
ing around at the other little folks
slipped it back on. again.
An examination disclosed that be-
meath the coat he had on little else
and even that was dirty. The boy
was washed up, and then taken to
nearby store and new suit pur-
chased for him. His shoes were all
worn out, but as the stores were
closed he was informed that a pair
of shoes would be purchased for him
today. The little fellow, clean and
we'll dressed, became quite favor
ite before the evening was over and
enjoyed himself immensely.
Another case of more than usual
interest was that of a mother who
L Lk Oh % he WI fr~nrp
their home in KeaSbey. During the
were brought out little by little were:
The woman was not the mother of
the child, but had taken it in when
it's own parents had died of the fiji.
Besides the crippled child the woman
said she had seven children of her
own. The child called the woman
mother, and the affection between
the two was very pronounced.
Dinner was served to 125 guests,
this number included the parents of
some of the children, brothers. sis
ters and friends. The meal consum-
ed an hour and half. About twelve
of the crippled children did not
know how to use a knife and fork
and had to be assisted at various
times during the meal. 1t was de-
lightful occasion, however. and
brought the roses to the cheeks Of
many of the little folks who seemed
anything but a happy lot upon enter
ing the building.
A record of all those who attend
the party was kept as part of the
B. P. o. E., vocational training con-
tract record of the crippled children
in the state of New Jersey. The
record showed that five of those who
attended had been crippled by acci-
dents; eight or nine had been born
cripples while the rest were cripples
by the result of disease. Six of those
present were from Fords; two from
Woodbridge, two from Sewaren. two
from South Amboy and the balance
from this city.
The entertainment of the evening
consisted of a dance revue by Dar-
ling's Cute Riddles. given by sixteen
children. A monkey dance given by
a little boy proved to be the feature
of this number which gave the chill
dren great delight.
Val Afflerbach and "Bub' Jensen
considerable fun with their
los accompanied by George Vause,
ter of ceremonies and welcomed the
little guests as they arrived.
The principal speaker of the eve
ming was Rev. Wilbur Westcott who |
said, in part:
''The subject upon which I desire |
to speak is called, Naming the
Christmas Baby Now everyone has |
! name. and every name has mean |
tro RahiaS are papaed bePanSa fba 4