Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1923-12-26
Christmas Carols Sung at
City Hall Park-Needy
Given Cheer

OSneTeu III ny lAO SAiioiii5
Christmas carols about lighted tree
on the lawn of the Presbyterian
church early Christmas Eve and
midnight services in several Of the
local churches, Christmas this yeai
was an enjoyable event to thousands
in Perth Amboy. A feature of the
holiday was the manner in which the
poor of the city were cared for by
the Salvation Army and other organ
izations and individuals who saw TO
it that food clothing and presents
were not denied those whose circum-
stances would not permit of thei1
having enjoyed the day had not they
received outside aid.
Donations made to the SalvaCoh
Army made it possible for that or
ganization to make up about 500 bas-
kets containing a Christmas dinner
consisting of chicken, bread, prunes,
rice, flour, potatoes, apples, biscuit,
cranberries, butter, onions, carrots,
peas and malt. Each basket was
valued at 1925.
Sing Christmas Carols
About 800 persons gathered
around the large pine tree on the
Presbyterian church lawn Christmas
eve and sang, the old time Christmas
carols under the leadership of John
J. Quinn, Nicholas Morrisey being
the accompanist on a cornet. The
words of the song were flashed on
screen and real Yuletide spirit was
shown. Mrs. Frank Dorsey, presi-
dent of the Woman's Club, spoke
briefly in which she expressed her
appreciation of the manner in which
the community sing had been re-
ceived, it having been arranged un-
der the auspices of that organiza-
tion.
Many attended the midnight SER
vices which were held in several of
the churches. Yesterday Christmas
services were held in the churches.
Although Christmas Day has
passed the observation of Christmas
will continue until the end of the
week. there being a large number of
holiday events still to be conducted
The crippled thildren's Christmas
party will be held by the Elks to-
morrow. Many of the organizations
and churches that have annual
Christmas parties will hold these
during the remainder of the week
and the holiday program of danced
is full.
Yesterday dawned cold and clear
giving the children who receivet
roller skates, roller coasters and
other dry weather" gifts a chance
to try out their presents. The re-
cipients of sleds were not so satisfied
with the weather. In the afternoon
the weather became cloudy and
warmer and last night there was
mixture of snow and rain although
it did not continue long.
Storekeepeds here repoted one OF
the most prosperous holiday sea-
sons in many years, their stock being
depleted at the closing hour Monday
night.
Surprises galore were given the
poor families of this city yesterday
when the Middlesex County Tuber-
culosis League, American Red Cross,
Salvation Army and school children
supplied them with clothes, gifts and
Christmas dinners.
The Middlesex County Tubercu-
losis League through their appeal
made last week by Miss Jane Pack
ard, secretary, received an abun-
dance of clothes for the poor chill
dren which came under their line OF
work, toys, food and a nice little
sum of money which was also used
to spread the cheer to the homes
where loneliness and little merriment
was expected to take place yester-
day.
Pitiable scenes faced the different
organizations when they visited the
dwellings. Homes where the chill
dren were dressed scantily, cup
boards empty, chilled and dreary
living rooms because of the lack OF
fuel and sickness prevailing in al
most half of the stricken families
visited. In every case that the tu-
berculosis office took care of tuber-
culosis was present with some one
of the parents, which accounted fol
their lack of provision.
Donations received by the league
for the poor were from Mrs. Franz
.Roessler, Order of Eastern Star, OF
New Brunswick, five dollars from q
friend and C. p. Hendrickson, oil
woodbridge.
The local Salvation Army chap
ter, through their street collection
during the last few weeks, delivered
over $50 baskets of food and house
hold necessities to other families or
Monday afternoon. This practice is
taken up by the local chapter every
year and every Christmas finds sew
eral new families in need.
The American Red Cross also took
care of a good number of the poor
by supplying them with their needs
| in clothing and food. The local chap
ter also had fourteen half tons oi
coal delivered to those families
where the fuel was needed.
A prominent part in helpinl
spread the Christmas cheer among