The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-12-23
STAR TW|NKLES ON
TOP OF BIG TREE
Great Community Christmas Gel
ebration Takes Place To-
Morrow Night.
READY TO HANDLE CROWD
Public Reminded That Stockings
Will Be Distributed in
the Afternoon.

Strung with electric lights from the
topmost Dough to the mound OF earth
in which II stands, the Community
Christmas Tree is ready FOR the great
celebration TO bc held around its base
tomorrow evening. Captain w. II.
Thompson. city electrician. who has
had tho work OF lighting the tree.
turned on the current yesterday after
noon. and every bulb responded to the
electric touch II made beautiful
sight, and a crowd OF people stopped
to watch the glow.
Standing In tic centrc/of the Vacant
lot once occupied by Ford's Hotel tho
tree Will be in :ull view of thousands
who may gather on the east side OF
the City Hall. on Broad Street and in
the Capitol Square. Ample arrange
mcnts have been made by Major Werner
and Fire Chief Joyncs 10 handle the
vast crowd which is expected. and to
prevent injury and accident The lot
VIII be roped off on the three open
sides with stout hemp strung TO heavy
posts. and a Gordon OF police Will he
placed inside the Enclosure TO prevent
any jam or stampede. Major Werner
has arranged to have eighty police
men detailed on the scene. and Fire
Chief Joyncs will detail thirty-eirht
nrcncn TO aid the police. Ia addition
there Will bc nifty boy scouts In at
tendance. one OF the city ambulanccs
VIII De kept within reach in case OF
emergency.
To block on Traffic.
No vehicle traffic viii be permitted
within prescribed distances OF the tree
Broad Street will be barricadcd on ehe
east side OF Eighth Street and on the
west side Of Twelfth. Ninth and
Tenth Streets viii be ropcd off at Grace
street, and at the alley between Broad
and Marshall Peranbulators or baby
carriages Will not be allowed within
this area. and Major Werner advises
that mothers leave their babies in arms
at home.
In the event OF Il stampede or crush
1t would be difficult enough for the
police and firemen to aid grownup peo-
pie. and small children and babies
would fare badly in the press.
Boy Scouts Will be stationed a in
tcrvals along the lines OF barricade To
warn approaching vehicles. and others
viii be stationed at different points
within the area TO render immediate
assistance in case Of accident.
The tree Will be lighted a dusk on
Christmas Eve. Above il viii hang n
star Of the East fashioned by Captain
Thompson, in memory Of that star
which guided the three wise men of
the East to the cradle of the Christ
1t VIII be hung at first some distance
from the tree. and will he gradually
moved until ii stops just above its top.
where il will remain as long rs the
tree stands. Songs and Christmas
carols Will be sung by 5000 school
children gathered at the foot OF the
tree, and the chorus will be swclled by
the thousands who come TO look Al the
spectacle. IT is planned TO have every
body join in the choruses. so that all
may feel that it liz in truth Com
munity Christmas Tree.
No Gifts from Tree.
TEer0 VIII tie no gifts from the
The stockings and baskets Will be dis
tributcd by the co-ordinating commit
tee tomorrow afternoon, and it is
probable that 5000 children will be
reached and have stockings. BY the
addition of S501.75 donated by Captain
u. III. Smith. owner OF the old British
ship Success. the co-ordinating com
mittee hopes to have enough to MI all
the stockings and baskets for which
requests have been made. The names
of All the applicants have been indeXcd
In card system, so that there will be
no duplication. and so that the COM
mittee Will feel sure that none has been
neglected.
Too Late for CoIored People.
At Il meeting of the Colored Baptist Min
listers Conference. held yesterday. il was de-
cided that the colored churches could not
take part in the Community Christmas Tree
owing 10 the late day which the invita-
tion to cooperate in the movement was re-
cei"cd. The invitation sent out by the Rev
James buchanan, chairman OF the ortii-
mating committee. was received on December
q, so late day, II was said. that the col
ored ministers would not be able TO do JUS
conference pledged itself. however. to CO.
operate at any and all times with charity
work provided that 1t was notified in proper
time.
GOLD FIRST" MEETS