The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-12-25
CHRISTMAS HERE.
CAPITAL IS GLAD
coptlnued from Page One.

Continued from Page One.
the amusement of Mrs. Laughlin's young
sons, Billy and Tommy, the members OF
Miss Taft's Sunday school class at ST.
Johns Church, will also be invited to see
it.
On account of the absence OF the Presi-
dent and Mrs. Taft. who are in Panama,
the annual Christmas dinner at the White
House tonight will be quiet family af-
fair. Miss Helen and Robert Taft are
the only members of the Presidents i'm
mediate family who are in Washington.
Mrs. Laughlin and her two boys. and
Mr.. and Mrs. William c. Heron, Mrs.
Tafts brother and sister-in-law, will also
be present.
ThesholIday Season this year is quieter
than usual because of the absence of the
most important government officials.
Secretary Of state and Mrs. Knox have
gone to Valley Forge. Pa, to spend the
holiday with their children and grand
children.
Secretary OF the Navy and Mrs. Meyer
have recalled invitations for a dance OH
New Years Eve because OF the sudden
death Of her cousin in Boston.
Notwithstanding the Presidents alb
sence from Washington. the employees Of
the White Hous, received their usual
presents yesterday. The married mem
hers of the stan were given large, fat
turkeys, while the bachelors received
cigars or other similar gifts. The Presi-
dent left orders when he started on his
Panama trip that the customary distrf-
button Of gifts to the White House en-
ployes be carried out just as carefully in
his absence as il he were at home to
supervise the distribution. Accompanying
thF. wtf
ing from the President and Mrs. Taft
Departments Close.
The government departments closed at
noon and the thousands of efnploycs
thronged the stores to. purchase their
gifts. The Forest Service of the ID part
ment OF Agriculture vas the onI,' Fed
eral bureau that had a formal Christmas
celebration. J. Z. WoOIley took the part
of Santa Claus in an entertainment for
the children Of the employees of the bU-
reau. A large room on the eighth floor
was completely filled with the little ones
and their parents. On stage arranged
IN one end large logs and tree
stumps were scattered about 10 repre-
sent a forest Several boys and girls
became involved in a discussion as 10
whether Santa Claus was i myth. One
OF the group appealed to the audience
TO settle the question. Suddenly a real
Santa Claus appeared in the audience
and proceeded to the stage. He raped
on one of the stumps and beautiful
tree was disclosed bearing boxes Of
candy which were distributed among the
children. he play was written by +.
G. Plumrrc-. geogTapher of the service,
and occurs every year as memorial
to the late Harry Towers, who began the
celebration several years ago.
Turkey Supply Large.
n large part Of the success of Christ
mas Day, Of course, lies in the supply Of
turkeys. and this year Washington was
fortunate in being able to select its birds
from an ample market II was csti-
mated last night that close to 800 of
the strutting gobblers had laid their lives
on the altar of Christmas.
The market was a busy place yester-
day. with its stands piled high with tur-
keys. geese, ducks. guinea hens. and
other sorts Of fowl, for Christmas is
more catholic in the matter of its meat
than Thanksgiving, the demands of the
latter day being almost entirely for tur-
key.
The department stores were also
crowded yesterday until late in the night
The early shopping campaign is said
to have helped. but it did not deter
thousands OF people from forgetting
many things until the last minute.
For weeks churches and charitable or
CARNATIONS have been laying plans that
are to come to fruition to-day. In all of
the churches there will be special ser
mons and music aprOpos to the day,
and at the missions and charity societies
many OF the city's poor will be made the
recipients Of that charity for which the
day stands.
In accordance with this spirit of char
ty, the Church of the Covenant held its
Christmas celebration last night. II dit
fered from the usual tree party in that
Santa Claus did not give out presents to
the children Of the church, but received
gifts from them, which will be given
10 children who otherwise would have
gotten nothing. Rudolph Kaufman act
I'd as Santa Claus, and the presents re-
,elved will be given to the children of
Peck Chapel.