Evening star., 1923-12-25
SANTA PAYS VISIT
TO HOSPITALS HERE
Christmas Cheer Especially
Prevalent at ChiIdren'S
and at Garfield.

There are chimneys on the nos
nitals in Washington and SANTA
Claus, in his annual VISIT 10 the ei.'
last night, did not fail to Iemehhoe'
the children unfortunate enough 10
he dreaming of Christmas delights on
a bospital cot instead of in their owl
downy beds at home. Nor did olu
Santa forget to leave trlnketS anu
TOYS and sweetmeuts for them. ii ne
had forgotten them, many little
broken hearts would have been added
to broken bones and broken bodies.
But Santa Claus, assisted by MS aole
corps of aides. the hundreds or good
folk of Washington who remember
each Yuletide the joy of bringing
laughter to the little sufferers ana
happiness TO the homeless, never for
gets,
Stockings by Beds.
Ar C'hiIdren's Hospital Santa must
have fingered longer than elsewhere,
for his bounty vas overiloWlnS anu
a note of huiStcrouS Slee echoe.'
through the wards this morning such
aSNhaS not been heard there III many
a long month. Stockings were huhg
nm last night on each small bed and
the good Santa stopped at each ana
every one. and even his much battered
old heart would have been Stlrrt
again To see the many eNuperaht
smiles on the many pale faces that
sometimes find smiling difficult. And
il the stockings brought smiles, the
christmas trees, gayly decorated ana
lighted. brought fascinated stares ana
.,uueals of delight; but the great treat
Of the day came later.
1 "A - 81
that could leave their beds assembled
around the big tree and Tor those
too i'll to get up there was a tree IN
each of the eight wards, and the
presents We're distributed A silence
"f wonderment and awe spread over
the little gathering as dolls ana
animals, and games and mechanlcal
toys. and fruit and candy We're
passed around to all. Too thrilled to
speak. each youngster graSped his
gifts tightly and clung to them and
Eazed at them admiringly until
finally the spell was broken and the
fun began. and the rest OF the day
Was one grand long romp until bed-
time came FOR the tired little souls.
At the Founding Hospital there
was much the same sort of Il Christ
mas. with all the children gasping
with delight over the grand deco
rated tree ana the many presents. At
Blue Plains Santa Claus was not so
y
ia the Industrial Home School were
as fortunate as to receive any pres
ents at all, but still the day was a
rcd letter one for them. very differ
ent from the usual routine of affairs.
The day was devoted TO games OF all
sorts and basket ball and other con-
tests between the different cottages.
aad there was Il Christmas tree and
special Christmas dinner to bring
some joy to the hearts of the inmates.
Hospital Celebrations.
Not only at the hospitals for children,
but at all the other hospitals in the
city, Christmas day was made as merry
a~ possible for the sick and injured.
Everywhere there was celebrating with
Special delicacies for dinner, practically
every hospital had its big tree luXuri-
ously trimmed and at nearly every one
singing Christmas carols was part of
I'll" program. Garfield Hospital had
the biggest Christmas tree in Washing
Ton. its branches nearly reaching to the
tops OF the big entrance hall and small
cr trees III each of the wards Last
night the quartet from the Church of
the Covenant entertained the patients
with Christmas music The nurses at
Gallinger Hospital held an elaborate
Christmas entertainment with a Santa
Claus and a tree and the patients We're
visited by the sisters from Providence
Hospital. members Of the Gospel Mis-
sion and the Sunshine Club, who
brought gifts of fruit and sang carols
to cheer them up. Casualty Hospital
and Emergency Hospital also had their
trees and carol singing, the latter by
d clec club composed of nurses.
Even the District Jail and the work
house at Occoquan, Va, had their
Christmas trees and the day was made
as much of as possible. The tree at
the Jail stands majestically in the ro-
tunda where last night the prisoners
made merry at an entertainment, sup
piled chiefly by two comedians and
other home talent found in their midst,
and today they are. luxuriating in what
70 them is a feast their special Christ
mas dinner At Occoquan, candy and
fruit was given out to all the inmates
and they made the best possible in the
way OF Christmas cheer around the fes-
tive board.