Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-25
CHRISTMAS IS HERE
Day of Joy for Boys and Girls
Has Arrived.
GROWN-UPS ALSO MERRY
Santa Claus on Way North, With
His Sleigh Empty.
RICH AND POOR REMEMBERED
Plenty of Food for Everybody in the
National Capital on This
Holiday.
RICH AND POOR REMEMBERED

All things come to a waiting world
and this is Christmas day
Homeward bound for the frozen north.
for the land of sugar plums and toys. for
the candied castle Of Santa Claus, the fly
ing reindeer speed. Merrily jingle the
sweet-toned BELLS lightly swings the empty
sleigh at their nimble heels. On his fur
draped perch sits Santa. as happy and
as tired as a myth can be.
And So Merry Christmas, everybody"
Wouldn't it make a mighty chorus.
though. if all the happy wishes Of the
world, all the greetings of this Christmas
day, were voiced on the moment, and
not, as now. scattered through the walk
ing day of young and old, from early
dawn to dusk and on into the coy,
tinseled, candle-lighted night?
Set on Vast Stage.
Wouldn't it be music, too, worthy of
this annual play in which almost every
one has a little part to speak. and that
upon stage SO vast that ice and snow
and orange blossoms, storm-worn crag
and sheltered valley, frozen lake and
limpid stream are found among the
jumbled scenic drops.
The city was awake early this Christ
mas Sabbath morning. The gray-clad
Christmas dawn had stolen. but a little
way across the land when youthful eyes
popped open and bare feet twinkled
across the floors to the stuffed and swing
ing stockings, to the dressed and tinseleG
trees. Even the elders Of the population
were soon astir. restless with the spirit
or the day, as eager as the younger gen.
Grafton for the surprise of unexpected
present, for every indication of friendship,
anectfon and good will.
in he h,,c3,
city was deserted this morning, save for
the laden wagons outward bound on be-
lated deliveries. Eiswhere about town
the streets were thronged and the church.
the midnight service hours. And after
tribute had been paid in part to the
religious meaning Of Christmas day, the
happy throngs, present-laden and pleas
iting neighbors, relatives and friends, en-
Joying the many delights, big and little,
that help to make the day the holiday
it is.
Not Bad Christmas Weather.
This little corner Of the stage Jared
Well. Save for the absence OF snow
which all the young folks consider a
personal slight, inasmuch as it was So
plentiful a short time ago-the weather
was pleasant and much on the holiday
order Bad enough underfoot, goodness
knows, but not too cold for those whose
blood runs overslow. But, after all, the
weather is but an incident OF Christmas
day. Folks are just as generous, chari-
table and Chrdstmassy down in Florida,
where they exchange best wishes from
beneath straw hats, as up north. where
a merry Christmas" puffs out into the
air like a mouthful of tobacco smoke.
Charity has come to be more Of a fact
and less of a name at Christmas time
and WQShfncfnn n nal hnv e{o<a,.
cities in providing for that portion Of
the population to which, without such
aid. the spirit Of the day would be but a
mockery. Many of the local organiza-
tons furnish Christmas dinner today to
the homeless and the poor and many
wealthy residents of the National Capital
gave Of their bounty to feed the hungry
and the destitute. Philanthropists, both
for the last month making the necessary
arrangements for the dinners and dona-
tons that have gone today where they
Will do the most good. And 1T Is only
through the efforts of the charitably dis
posed, the wealthy and the kind at heart,
that Santa Claus was enabled to visit
thousands of humble homes. Clothing,
food and other necessities of life that
are luxurfes to the very poor, candy and
toys for the little ones, in fact the whole
Christmas outlay Is comprised within the
list of gifts thus distributed.
NO Excuse Tor hunger.
No one need go hungry. The Salvation
Army, the Associated Charities and
dozens Of other bodies have the latch
string out and the warmest kind Of in
vitations on the front door. No creden-
tials are necessary. An appetite is an
Introduction and repletion means fare
WELL The idea is that Christmas shall
mean something to every one in Wash
ington. even to those dependent entirely
for holiday cheer upon the generosity,
the charity and the thoughtfulness OF
others.
The distribution of baskets to those Of
the poor who have homes. but who
otherwise lack material evidence of
Christmas. has been completed. Again
the charitable organizations, aided by
donations OF money. provisions AID CLOTH
ing, managed to cover the whole city.
No home SO poor. no howell SO lowly. but
shows some evidences Of the visit Of
Santa Claus.
In the sentiment OF giving and receiv-
ing, all fare alike on Christmas day.
Probably as much money was spent for
gifts In Washington as in any city Of its
size in tho uror1d ale