Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-20

arteries of Washington. a smile and
not unon tine head would take the place
of the frown which any other day Wouio
be the cfild's portion.
From the woman in furs and feathers
who cheerful1y separates herself from any
amount no matter how extravagant. tha'
hsr poodle may have new and gorgeous
blanket for Christmas. to the wizeneo
wa,f-child who importunes the passer-oy
10 buy Of his stock of shoestrings. that ne
may hasten and spend the few pennies
for a gaudy ribbon. that his poverty
stricken mother may find the Yuietide
less cherries. every one in the great
Christmas eve throng is either Intent on
making some one else happy or upon
being happy himself
And the whole gamut of humanity. from
pillar Of wealth to atom of penury. JOINS
in the host and finds enjoyment in It's own
way by donning the motley of Christmas
eve.
In a small way Christmas night has
become a gay festival in the Nation S
capital. and the crowd bedecks itself with
the peculiar little novelties which the
peddlers cry from the curbstones. But
tonhole lamps. artificial flowers and the
like and the outer garments of this great
throng are besprinkled with the insel
snownakes which the small boy takes
delight in scattering with lavish hand
Horns blow. COW bells ring Though what
COW bells have to do with Christmas. I'M
less they are symbolic of the stable In
which the Christ child was born. nobody
knows, and the horns of automobiles
boot In the ears of those who are forced
to the street cars to be carried to their
homes. and it is night when. in enc
vast concourse of laughing jollity. WASH
ington is upon the streets and the homes
are deserted during the early part of
the evening. 1t is night or giving,
night of unselfsh thought.
Back and forth up Pennsylvania avenue.
from 18th street to 14th street. on F street
and on 7th street from Pennsylvania ave-
nue. to New York avenue. the great
throns surges. packed SO thickly that It
would be with difficulty that one could
make his way against the tide of human
ity bent upon one thing-Christmas
cheer. And in the vast stream of people
there are many eddies. and some back
waters. but all are integral parts. yet
tributaries to the greater river of the
cefebrators of Christmas eve.
There are some. however. to whom
Christmas eve is a trial. Not because
they dislike the coming Of the day in it
self, but because unpropitious fortune has
frowned upon them. and they know that
when the children of the household awake
Christmas morning they will not find
the toys for which. in cramped chirosra-
ply. their childish hands have penned
requests to the great Santa Claus. And
so the mother. father. sister. brother
hasten to join the throng which flows
around the downtown department stores.
ready and willing to spend the scant
earnings of the week. but sad with the
knowledge that the Csc train of cars
will not be the ears that run by them
selves on real tracks, for which the
baby imagination longs.
These are the ones to which Christmas
eve is reality. time TO be met and
encountered and vanquished by the out
lay of slender resources. Then there is
another set in the great throng to which
the night is mystical simmer of
Christmas tree floss, of gOed-feiowship
and the joy Of giving expensive and ex-
elusive gifts. purchased before the rush
and turmoil of the night to those they
love.
And they are the ones who make the
night a night of nights. who circulate
through the city streets because they are
too full of joy (and sometimes of other
fhfngs) to remain at home.
And in setting no less vivid than the
crowd itself the throng moves. Penn
sylvana avenue, which is fast becoming