The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-12-25
NO REST FOR POLICE,
FIREhEN KEPT BUSY
Holiday Festivities Add
Much to Their Work.
STATION HOUSES GLOOMY
Family Parties Permitted at Engine
Houses for Wives and
Sweethearts.

Today. which means so much of cheer
and fun-making and freedom from the
cares of ordinary life, to some people
means increased responsibilities and
harder work. This is notably true CT
policemen and firemen.
A certain proportion OF Christina
trees and their fimsy decorations are
as certain TO catch afire as the sun is
to rise, which means work for the fiIe
laddies. A large percentage OF the popu-
lation considers getting drunk the acme
of a good time. and this means an extra
police force, with a double reserve, and
consequently fewer members viii have
an opportunity to eat Christmas din
ners with their families.
The upper floors Of police headquar-
tiers are officially closed today. but Major
Sylvester has been IN his office most OF
the day. Not more than one or two OF
the detectives had an opportunity TO
eat a genuine Christmas dinner in their
homes. 1t has been the same way at
the station houses. Take the First pre-
cinct for example. On ordinary days
there are eight patrolnen and pro-
portionate number of bicycle and detail
men on duty. with a reserve OF -four
men. Today the number OF patrolmen
has been increased 20 twelve on duty
all the time. and tonight this number
will be increased to eighteen. The BIZ
cycle detail and reserves have beer
doubled in number.
II YOU will walk into any station house
this afternoon. you viii find IL difficult
to realize that IL is a day out of the OF
binary You will find a few men sit
ting gloomily around. playing cards
More you will find in the dormitOries
trying 70 make uD their lost rest o.
the past week. and TO forget in the OBJ
livion of sleep the memory Of what tn
day would mean If spent with their cam
lies. One bluecoat sat modify cram
ming the tobacco in his pipe in tn
gloomy station house at noon today
when one of the men on the street. VIII
had come in with a drunk" asked hin
what made him so glum.
Il was just wondering was the reply
as he struck a light, how Mary AM
the kids would manage to carve tina
turkey"
Things are not quite so bad with the
firemen. in one way. They are permitted
to have their families with them. and
their sweethearts. too. IL they so de
sire. and this has been done in mos
of the engine houses. Then. too. mos
of the stations are near residences, and
scarcely a company which has not beer
remembered by the neighbors with som'
OF the good things provided for theii
own tables. and sent TO the fire house.
by willing messengers
No. / Engine COMPANY had an a,bup
dance Of cake and cigafs. No IL wa
well provided with cigars, sent by tn
downtown merchants whoSdepend 81
largely on this modern engine for pro
lection Of their interests. No. 10 had
genuine barbecue. provided for them b,
William Myers. who furnished TIL
sheep and saw TO the roasting. Every
body was remembered in some way
which in some degree made up for thei
Inability TO go home and have Christ
mas right"
Chief Engineer Belt and Clerk Don
nelly managed to spend the create
part Of the day at home. and did ful
justice TO the typical turkey. = Assistan
Chief Wagner had the care OF the de
partment 10 keep him company instea,
Of his family. There was not mucl
JOY in the day for Assistant Chic
Kelliher. who did not care whether n
worked or not as the illness Of one o
his children forbade anything like
celebration. Assistant Chief Sulliva
played in luck, for he is on leave. an
was able to get the full benefit Of tn
day. Assistant Chief Sherman has bee
on duty. but he managed TO get HON
long enough for dinner.