The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-12-21
COMMUNITY TREE
PLANNING RAPIDLY
NEARS COMPLETION
Greatest Celebration of Christ.
mas Ever Seen in Richmond
Promised by Those Having
Matter in Charge.
Work of Distribution Begins
Tomorrow. City Divided
into Districts. Community
Idea viii be Stressed in
Pulpits Today.

Cooperation on the part of the va
rfous city associations lis rapidly lead
ing to the perfection OF plans for the
greatest celebration OF Christmas
Richmond has seen In many years, a
celebration In which the spirit of Civ
ing is to kupersede that OF receiving,
which has predominated in former
years.
1t lis to the efforts of the COM
munity celebration that the highest
realization OF the Christmas idea Is to
be attained. and many will be the
youngsters OF the city to be made
glad by the visit of Santa, and many
of the fam lies OF the poor which will
be aided TO real dinner as the re-
suit of the work.
At the Associated Charities last
night IL was learned that the definite
plans for the systematic collection and
distribution of the gifts had been
perfected. and that everything was
in readiness for work to begin tomor-
row.
Fine Working System.
The city has been divided into dis
tricts. with headquarters ard subata-
tons in each, and with designated
points fo- tho basket and stocking
distribution. In the great majority Of
cases grammar and high schools are
to be thess centers, and the scholars,
teachers and principals will be the
agents OF the work. while in others
the churches have thrown open their
doors. and are to become the mis-
sions from which the relief and
Santa Claus visits will start
asf-osretts for generous sfes4atiesss
have come to those In charge or the
communitv idea, and 1t is expected
that most o, the known necessities for
the celebration of the day will be ac-
quired. However, TO make certain
that none CT the little cnes may be
neglected liz old Saint n s@x. ard that
there may net be any bare tables In
Richmond. pastors Of the various city
churches vii today emphasize the
Idea of tbs Christmas giving rather
than Chr's rras receiving from their
pulpits, ami will take what donations
their congye cations may be inclined to
make for .he cause
These amounts and any special do
nations mace by individuals Will be
sent 10 ID W. nurrett, treasurer OF
the Community Christmas, who has
offices In the American National Bank
building.
school People Help.
A great part of the information as
to the requirements necessary for the
making OF a perfect Christmas in
Richmond Is due TO the cooperation
which has been given the movement
by DIR. ]. A. c. Chandler, superintend-
emit of the public schools. and that of
the teachers and principals OF the
various schools as well as that given
by the nurses settlement and the boy
scouts 1t Is because of the fact that
those connected with the schools have
shown so great an interest in the
work and because the schools them
selves are so located as to be natural
points for the collection and distribu-
tion Of the gifts that they have been
selected for this purpose.
The districts which have been
DESIGNATED have a school for their
center. Every school Is for the coll
lection of the donations, The northwest
district, which consists Of the portion
of the city west of First and north
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