THE BIGGEST CHRISTMAS TREE IN THE WORLD.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 2602, 16 March 1889, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE BIGGEST CHRISTMAS TREE IN THE WORLD.

Signor Soxzocxo, the enterprising and philanthropic editor of the Secolo daily newspaper in Milan, got up last year a Christmas tree for the poor children in that city. His success was so great that lie was enabled to give a treat to 14,000 of them. This year (writes the San Remo correspondent of the Scotchman) he undertook the same work, intimating that he wished 80,000 objects, in order to give 20,000 poor children under ten years of ag3 four articles each—namely an article of dress, a toy, a piece of sweetmeat, and a piece of fruit. From the first day that this intimation appeared in the pages of this journal uutil last Monday gifts for the " tree " in money and kind poured in upon him. These came not only from the wealthier families and shops in Milan, but from all parts of Italy, and Bven from Tripoli and far-off Massann. Tho Theatre Canobbiaua was granted for i,he distribution of the gifts on Christmas day. A tree, a veritable giant mountain pine, fitted "to ba the mast of some tall .vlmiral," was set up on the Htape, its top lost in the blue gauze sky. A family of smaller trees .stood round and round tho theatre, which, with flowers, statues, and fountains, was transported into a veritable "paradise." Twonty-two thousand tickets, the gift of a Milanese printer, had been distributed amongst the poorest children in the town. At nino o'clock on Christmas morning the doors of the theatre were thrown open, and from that hour till six o'clock in the evening a continuous stream of children poured into the building.