Evening star., 1938-12-25
Bv John Clagen Proctor.

The Christmas party for 1888,
sponsored by The Star, Warner
Bros. and the National Broadcasting
Co. actively assisted by the Metro
politan Police Department, the Par
ent-Teacher Association and others,
will undoubtedly prove as great a
success this year as the party has
in years gone by, and thousands of
children will have their little hearts
gladdened, and in many instances
their parents will be taken care Of,
too, by way of food and clothing,
through the good work done in their
behalf by those who have under
taken this wonderfully charitable
work, in order to spread the spirit
and glad tidings of Christmas over
the entire District of Columbia,
even into the humblest of homes.
The Warner Bros. and the Ma
tional Broadcasting Co. are COM
paratively newcomers in this laud-
able work, but their assistance has
certainly been of an indispensable
character. The Star and the Police
Department are old-timers in pro-
viding help and assistance for the
worthy residents of Washington, not
only during this particular season,
but upon other occasions as WELL
when there has been dire need for
aid and support.
1t might be of interest to know,
IN this connection, that the first
Christmas club of any Importance
ever organized in this city resulted
from an editorial and an article
appearing in The Star of December
!, 1893 First, let us read the edi-
torial that appeared that date. 1t
stated:
"A cool-headed, warm-hearted
business citizen asks The Star to
call the special attention of its
readers to the article on another
page, entitled The Children's Christ
mas Club Nothing that we can say
would add force to its appeal. There
are many little ones in our midst
who have no share in the dear
Christmas cheer. To them Christ
mas is only name when their own
misery is forced more bitterly upon
them by contrast with happiness of
others.
Can anything be sadder than the
wistful look on the faces of these
children as they gaze into the shop
windows, or listen on the pavement
outside to the Christmas music and
rejoicings in happy homes? Surely
nf wit n
wanting to do something to change
Ito give these little ones at least
one happy day in the long, cruel
year.
mo doubt the Washington children
will come forward as promptly and
generously as did those of Portland;
their elders will not be found back
ward to supplement and support their
efforts; but above all, let the chill
dren learn the pleasure and the
good that comes not so much from
giving as sharing. Let us all go
back and read again about Scrooge
and Marley and Tiny Tim, and
then, although the eloquent lips
nre mute which used to plead every
Christmas for the poor, his voice
rill reach us yet
And now for the practical part:
1t may not be feasible, in so large
a city as Washington, to accom-
plish the desired result with one
club; it may be best to form one
for each of certain districts, or to
have the various Sunday schools
act in the matter. We will be glad
during the coming week to receive
written suggestions upon the sub
tect, and these, or the plan most
generally approved, will be pub
lished in next Saturdays Star. And
So, as Tiny Tim observed, God
bless us every one!"
The article that the "cool-headed,
warm-hearted business citizen"
asked be published, was on another
page of The Star. 1t took up two
columns, and the writer can only
say that it was written by Ella S.
Sargent. and was entitled, Chill
dren's Christmas Club being sug-
gested by club organized in Port
land, Me, December 10, 1882, sub
stantially along the same lines fol-
lowed in the formation of the WASH
ington Christmas Clubs of 1888.
The Saturday following the print
Ing Of The Stars editorial several
clubs had already been formed. In
deed, 50 eagerly was the suggestion
received that on the following day
after the editorial appeared, on
Sunday, December 2, the first of
the several clubs formed was started
at a meeting of the officers and
teachers of the Swedenborgian Sun
day School, which then met at
North Capitol and B streets, now
a part of the Capitol Grounds. The
children of st. Andrews Episcopal
Church soon followed, agreeing to
give up their usual Christmas fes-
tivities for the benefit of the poor
children in the Northwest section
Of the city. r. Ross Perry, one
Of Washingtons distinguished law
yers. was made president of the
church club. Miss West, daughter
of District Commissioner Joseph
Rodman West. and Miss Waite,
daughter of Chief Justice Waite,
also formed club, which had among
its members Miss Nellie Arthur,
daughter Of President Chester A.
Arthur.