Evening star., 1929-12-20
SANTA CLAUS VISIT
TO ORPHANS HOME
Inmates of Founding InStitu-
ton Eagerly Awaiting YuIe-
tide Gift Distribution.
BY GRETCHEN SMITH.

ooh, look, there's a real chimney for
Sanity Claus!"
A little boy had just arrived at the
Washington Home for Foundlings 10
be given temporary care during the alb
sence of his mother, sick in the hos
pital. Three brothers, trifie older,
were being cared for to the best Of his
ability, by the father, who worked dur
ing the day.
The first thing noticed in the home
by the little newcomer was the big
stone chimney at one end of the play
room. Much comfort was derived from
the knowledge that even If mamma"
were not there, Santa would not forget
little boys and girls. He just couldn't,
with q real chimney inviting him into
the play room.
But after talking to Miss Elizabeth
Thomas, the kindly superintendent Of
the Founding Home, one is forced to
wonder II perhaps the sack which Santa
carries down that stone chimney isn't
going to be rather slim to provide
enough playthings for all the children
waiting for him so expectantly.
Home Needs Furnishings.
The new home at Forty-Second and
Brandywine streets has needed many
furnishings. Clothes and shoes must
also be provided for more than 40 little
ones. The board of directors has gen.
erously taken care that its charges Will
have plenty Of turkey, oranges and
fruits, ana a big tree will glisten
in the dining room. But in TAX
ing care of the necessities little has
been left to fill that sack of Santa
Claus.
IT want a doll with straight, curly
hair and Santy's goin' to bring it."
One hopes that Santa will bring au-
burn haired Virginia some sort Of a
dolly, even though 1t lacks the straight.
curly hair.
"And I want a boat-a great big
boat"
A future sailor spoke this pronounce
ment with q confidence OF fult1llment
which Santa could never betray.
Lad Asks for Book.
Within the group of children clus-
tered about the visitor, to whom they
eagerly conf1ded hopes and expecta-
tions, one little 4-year-old stood silently
listening to the others. The serious ex-
preston of the little boys face prompted
the question from the visitor, What
do YOU want, Edward? Don't you want
me to carry a message to Santa CLAUSE"
Shortly and solemnly, the answer
came, "a book"
Books! that is what they all want"
Miss Thomas explained later.
So far few books have been included
In the meager contribution of playthings
sent to the children of the Washington
Home for Foundlings. A few toys, bear
ing evidences of days Of past grandeur;
some little scrap books. cleverly made
and kindly sent by children of Wash
ington school, and a small box of new
playthings, contributed by one or two
friends. constitute about all that there is
to fill the long line of little stockings
which will be hung before the great
stone fireplace on Christmas eve.
Few Toys in Gift List.
Whether it is the fine new home
which makes the friends of little chill
dren pass them by, or whether 1t be
that there are so many stockings to be
filled this Christmas that the toys have
given out" before the Home on Forty
second street is reached, the fact re-
mains that there are fewer toys for the
children this year than there were when
the children lived in the old home in the
center of the city.
Heretofore, we have had enough
TOYS to send some to brothers and
sisters of little ones we are caring for
in the home" Miss Thomas said. But
this year there Will not be enough for
the children outside"
The eternal feminine makes itself
apparent even among the fatherless
and motherlesS little girls of the
Founding Home, as was evidenced in
| the requests of several small ladies for
real pocketbooks to carry pennies to
| Sunday school"
Four Waits Given Homes.
Since the formal opening Of the new
building last month four little girls
have been offered homes by women
whose hearts have craved the love of
little children denied them. 1t Is
hoped that before the return OF an
other Christmas a mother and daddy
will also have been found for Harris,
sturdy little boy of three years, who
since babyhood has been denied the love
and care of his own parents and a
| fireplace over which he can hang his
little stocking in a home truly his own