The Washington herald., 1913-12-25
THRONG ATTENDS
Big XMAS FETE

DlU Nliil1U I'LL
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.
To her is due the praise for the beaut,
of conception Of the Giving pictures anC
their faultless presentation. The Biblica
story Of the birth in Bethlehem years anG
years ago was the basis of the play en-
acted on the abutments OF the Capito
steps, and their salient points were choser
with fine Judgment to properly convey q
the attendant throng the meaning of tn,
holiday that 1t had come to celebrate
Many RehearsaIs Necessary.
In order that the musical program
should 20 off without hitch and that tn,
separate numbers should be sung with
the proper Interpretation, many rehearsal,
were necessary, and these were given tn,
personal attention OF Prof. Simon. H,
first organized his vocal army, and theI
worked early and late to make ii eff
cient. In order that the tableaux shoulC
be the faultless productions they were, 4
was necessary that Mrs. Neigh shoulC
first conceive and arrange for presenta
ton of the silent playlets that illustrated
the songs OF the chorus, and then tha
she should spend long hours on the prepa
ration of the costumes and properties
that made their beauty.
Both Prof. Simon and Mrs. Neigh dis
claimed credit for the success last night
They hold that the praise Is due thos,
who cast their efforts with them into tn,
undertaking.
Our friends made the Community
Christmas" they both said
One of these outside the two already
xf-ha haInad r1afaTfaliV in
gigantic undertaking was Nine. Mount
ford. To her help is due the fact thai
the tableaux were representations a:
nearly as is possible in this age OF thu
actual scenes they were meant to portray
for all the actors were costumed in the
robes that had been imported from Pales.
tine, the scene of the living pictures. Cos
tunes that had been made here, even the
most painstaking replicas Of the costumes
of that land, could not have been as con.
vincing as were those used yesterday.
The man who stood at the front of this
Community Christmas, as chairman OF
the executive committee, the supreme ex.
ecutive body. was Cuno II. Rudolph. and
around him were gathered many of the
city's foremost business men as chairmen
of the subcommittees that took charge OF
the different phases of the entertainment.
Much of the work of the musical program
was done by +. r. S. Embrey, who. as
vice chairman of the musical committee.
was responsible for a great part OF the
success.
Crowds Pour Onto Plaza.
Long before the hour set for the start
of the program yesterday afternoon.
street cars and automobiles began pour
ing out their throngs into the Capitol
plaza, and the streets were filled with
long lines of pedestrians making their
way to the grounds.
Promptly at ) o'clock the hundreds Of
brilliant red and white lights Of the tree
were switched on. BY this time the
plaza was filled to overfiowing, but Capt
Frawley, Of the Capitol police. and his
large force guided the automobiles to the
places about the plaza that had been set
aside for parking purposes and held the
crowds about the tree in check.
The space about the tree filled and the
plaza became packed and the crowds
that continued TO pour in washed up onto
the Senate and House steps at either
end OF the imposing building and sought
other vantage points near at hand.
Lieut., William II. Santelmann. of the
Marine Band. opened the program by a
wave of the baton that started the play
ing of Beethoyen's Creation Hymn. After
the inspiring chorus had ceased to re-
echo the chorus sang the first phase Of
the Christmas story in the words of the
hymn. ''oh, Come; oh, Come, En-
Sing Hymn of Bethlehem.
The hymn 20 Little Town of Bethle-
hem" followed.
1t was at this point that the first Of
the tableaux was seen. Out Of the mass
Of the singers and actors on the steps
that stood in the dusk of the approach
ing night, the rays OF two powerful spot
lights picked out the living pictures that
we're posed on the abutments at either
side OF the steps. On the left Mary and
Joseph were seen making their way to
and on the right abutment
were the seven shepherds tending their
focks.
The dawning OF the Star Of the East
was heralded by white robed angel fig
Ires and then the great star of white
lights suspended over the tree flashed
put its allegorical message, and the
was seen above the mass of the
chorus.
Mary and Joseph, the shepherds and
the wise men of the East were called
to the manger by the words of the hymn
On Come All Ye Faithful"
They wended their way to the manger
and stood in alteration
At this point in the program the Marine
Band played the "Cantique de Noel" by
dams, with cornet solo by Arthur S.
Whitcomb and the Christmas story was
ta1en up again with the singing of
Hark, the Herald Angels Sing"
At the conclusion the spot lights were
again thrown onto the great steps and
,iIIar. Of the CapitoI Building and on the
.op tier between. the pillars were seen
i've angel figures proclalming the worlds
great event. their long golden tuba horns
pointed skyward.
The voices of the chorus announced
the coming of the Savior in the soft
strains of the hymn "An Hail the Power
II Jesus Name"
At the conclusion OF this wonderful
piece OF composition, many handkerchiefs
IN the crowd were brought out to wipe
away tears as all the figures round the
nanger, from the interior of which a
soft radience came, kneIt In silent
alteration of the newborn King.
AssembIase Sings National Anthem.
Here it was that love Of country was
brought into the Christmas celebration,
and at the conclusion OF the tableau,
Trueman Gensler, a member of Troop
No. 81, Boy Scouts, stepped to the middle
If the top tier OF steps and while he
waved the Stars and Stripes over the
reads of the throngs in the plaza, the
whole assemblage, lead by the Marine
Band, sang the words OF the national
lnthem, THE Star SpangIed Banner"
Credit for the beauty of the tableaux
las been accorded to Mrs. Neigh, but a
eHa~ H., l..