The Washington herald., 1912-12-21
Shops Are Packed, Streets Crowded,
Lights Are Aglow, and Chill
dren Expectant.
SCHOOLS HAVE CLOSED
FOR LONG RECESS
Arrangement Made for Day in Pub
lie Institution in the
District.

land.
1t is being enjoyed most by those fore
sighted individuals who did their Christ
mas shopping early.
Its getting along toward the time when
they will take out their bundles, and
wrap thin, square boxes in white tissue
paper and tie 'em with red ribbon. Then
they will tie dinky little tags on 'em, and
underneath the sprig of holly and Merry
Christmas" on the tag. will write:
From Mary to John"
Then they will sally forth into the crisp
December air, ito see the crowds and
will go down to the shopping district and
enter the hot humanity packed stores
and will crowd and tussle with the rest
OF them.
The streets are filled with evergreens
and huge punches of holly and boxes
Of mistletoe, which grows in the woods
down South somewhere, and which costs
huge sums of money when taken from
its native haunts.
All Getting Ready.
And up in the dusty attic father takes
out pasteboard boxes full OF tInsel and
shining ornaments and brushes the dust
of the top. and puts them where he can
get at them Christmas Eve night, when
he starts to decorate the tree. And
mother makes a remarkable Concoction,
which she calls eggnOg. and stores away
in bottles, and huge cakes find their way
into the pantry and bottles Of California
wine into the sideboard.
Everybody gets out Dickens Christmas
Carol and reads 1t through and con-
graduates himself that he is not like
Scrooge. Then they regret that Christ
mas is not like II used to be. and that
they are not in the ''old country" where
the Christmas spirit still exists" and
where everybody gathered at the family
board eats turkey and duck and plum
pudding.
But the streets are filled with a living.
throbbing, hurrying mass OF humanity.
II is no disgrace nowadays to carry a
package under ones arm. Instead, II is
a badge Of honor.
The mailmen haven't time to do anyI
| Christmas shopping, early or late. They
are too busy making other peoples
Christmases to have one of their own.
| The Christmas rush began at the Wash
| ington post-office yesterday Every
| Christmas package received up 10 noon
on the oath will be delivered in |
| time for Christmas. The scheme adopted |
| by the postal authorities last year for
delivery TO apartment houses and hotels
| will again be employed this year. Under |
| this system mail received for any of |
! the large apartment houses is packed |
at the main office. each apartment house |
| having sack.
| Down in Center Market is where the |
| true festal spirit is to be found. Ever |
green's. Christmas plants of all kinds. are
/ packed in profusion.
Here are some OF the prices quoted at |
| the market yesterday:
| Creamery butter. IS cents a pound:
! eggs. of the variety known as fresh
country laid 20 cents; fancy eggs. IS
cents; turkeys. . to Is cents a pound;
| hoiiing Suncas. Sl25; ham. IS cents;
chickens. IS to 70 cents: duck
! lings. . cents a pound: portcrhouse,
80 cents; round steak. 20 to % cents: and
other things in proportion.
In Public schools.
The Christmas spirit permeates the
public schools. The eyes Of the chill
dren shine in anticipation Of the long
holiday. the Christmas dinner. the visit
or Santa Claus. who has lost standing
with Washington school children as a
Jolly fat man OF mythical propensities
who climbs down Chimneys. An intensely
practical dad, who, under the mellow in
nuence OF Christmas. may dress himself
up in funny whiskers and cavort about
the house. is the only Santa Claus recog-
nized by the youthful idea in Washington
Public schools, outside, of course, the
classes of the very young
But the spirit Of the schools was OF the
best Presents for teacher" were
brought by the children Christmas
trees. cleaning with vari-colored orna-
ments frightened kindergarten rooms
The singing of carols. playing of sketches
and similar exercises marked the last
day before the holidays.
Christmas in other lands'' was tho
theme used in a number of schools
AT the Franklin School a real German
christmas tree ornamented in a way 10
Hake hrls krinkle approve. 1t had strings
or popcorn and little "Kuehen'' on II
fTw1e
PRESIDENT Oyster, of the Board of Fdu-
cation, appeared as a visitor. over his
protest that his presence might en-
barrass the children
Girls Of Normal No. ] had appropriatal
csleorations to-day. In the high schools
sketches were given. Central having a
sort or comedy with music and RusI
ness and Eastern each giving a sketcb
by Lady Gregory,
continuing an institution begun last
year. the senior class of the Armstrong
Manual Training School gave a dinner
ana entertainment on the last afternoon
before the vacation
The kindergarten at the Tbousor
School was the scene of another ''big
time" Each of the boys and girls had
ma nptactured presents for father and
rnother. Ihis was true, indeed, in practi-
cslly every class. The gifts at the Thorn
son consisted of balls OF cord mounted in
n SOAA'SiISNl AldnueT, clipping cases. blot l
tiers. calendars and bells, which were in
reality pincushions
Miss Juliet Mccall Searle was in charVal 1
OF the exercises at the Arthur School
kindergarten.
TWO Christmas trees decorated the
stage at the Jefferson School
In Public Institutions.
The wards of the District are mot IN
De forgotten In the season of cheer and
good Will toward all men, Christmas will
be celebrated at the Districts Charitable
and correctional institutions. A holiday
has been declared at the workhouse bv
Supt W. II. Whitaker An unusuaIIy
good dinner, religious exercises. and
song service will mark the day. The
menu at the Jail also will be made In
Keeping with the day. religious services
will be conducted by the St. Vincent de
Paul Society and the prisoners will re-
ceiVe gifts from relatives and friends
A Christmas cantata will be presented
at the Industrial Home School on
Christmas Eve, in which the children
will take part, followed by a Christmas
tree. on which will be a gift for each
child. Religious services will be con-
Quoted Christmas Day by Superintendent
c. w. Skinner, preceded by a turkey
dinner