The Washington herald., 1914-12-22
CITY PREPARING
TO GREET SANTA
Only Three Days Remain
Until He Is Due to
Call. >
SHOP EARLY PLAN WINS
Christmas Turkey TO Be Cheaper Than
Last Year-President TO Give
Away 100.

washingtonians yesterday started
upon final preparations for their in
dividuaI observances of Christmas.
with only three days intervening be-
tween the day of all days, the Yuletide
spirit has begun to manifest itself in
marked manner throughout the city.
Despite the fact that hundreds had
needed the shop early" slogan, stores
of the downtown section were crowded
yesterday, and indications are that
the rush will continue up until Christ
mas Eve.
''washington will celebrate Christ
mas on a large scale this year." said
Charles J. Columbus, secretary of the
Retail Merchants Association, last
might. THE stores are doing an i'm
mense trade. The week has opened
with a considerable rush in the shop
ping district. and this situation Will
continue until the last moment before
christmas. Many have shopped early.
it isftrue: but there always are some
who delay their purchases until n day
or SO before Christmas. Then the re-
cent rainy weather has prevented
mary from making early purchases"
"shoP EarIy' Plan Wins.
1t is the opinion generally that the
response to the "shop early" appeal has
been much more marked this year than
last. This is particularly true with re-
speCt to the mailing OF Christmas pack
ages. Officials of the pOstoffice say the
Christmas rush this year has come near
ly a week ahead of the usual time.
Thousands of parcels are being received
at and sent from the local postoffice, and
extra employees were put on the force
Yesterday to cope with the increasing
amount of work. Because of the fact
that so many presents were mailed
early" the handling OF the mail mat
ter will he spread over a longer period,
thus obviating any congestion. Local
merchants OF the downtown section are
sending from the city each day ap-
proximately loo sacks OF Christmas
goods
Christmas turkey will be two cents a
pound cheaper this year. The price now
prevailing is q cents. Dressed geese are
selling at 20 cents and guinea fowl are
81 a pair Apples and nuts also are
slightly lower in price this year Apples
are selling for 10 and Is cents a quarter
peck; soft-shelled pecans are bringing
50 cents a pound and fresh mixed nuts
are going at . cents a pound
Wilson to Give Turkeys.
President Wilson has ordered 100 tur-
keys for distribution among employees OF
the White House. These will be given
out tomorrow and Thursday. 1t is ex-
pected a number of fine birds will be
- f"r he Ch~istH'as div
ner. a forty-pound gobbler is said to be
on its way from oklahoma.
Seventy letters from children Of Wash
ington addressed to Santa Claus" have
been received by Postmaster. Praeger,
who is ready to turn them over to any
charitable organizations or workers who
are desirous of fulfilling the Christmas
wishes Of little children whose Yuletide
season otherwise probably will be barren.
Uncle Sam is to pay on his faithful
servants before Christmas Day so they
will have ample time and funds with
which TO make purchases. The Depart
ment OF Commerce paid of yesterday
and employees OF the city postOffice were
paid off in part. Today employees Of the
Postoffice and Labor departments will re-
ceiye their pay. Employees Of the Treas
ury, Navy, War; State. Agricultural. JUS
tice. and Interior departments will be
paid tomorrow.
Preparations for the season are being
made at the military posts in and around
Washington. Many army and navy Of
ficers and men have obtained furloughs
and are preparing TO spend the Christ
IldSllut at lutiI HOIleS. DrlllS ana rOu-
tine exercises to a certain extent will
be suspended during the Yule season.
celebration on Christmas eve will be
held at Washington Barracks under di-
rectiOn Of Chaplain Henry A. Browne,
L. S. A. Children OF the post will par
ticipate. No formal festivities will be
held at Fort Myer. Va.
The Supreme Court of the United
States yesterday commenced its Christ
mas recess. 1t will not meet again until
January T.
Big Day for MaiImen.
More than $4,000 parcels passed
through the city postoflce yesterday,
according to estimates made last night
by Postmaster Praeger. OF this num-
Der more than 1000 packages were re-
ceived at Station c, in New York ave-
nue. northwest between Thirteenth and
Fourteenth streets.
1t was the biggest days work the
postoffice has had so far this season,
and the volume OF mail and parcels is
expected to be increased materially to-
day. ALI of the branch Offices yester-
day were well loaded with packages,
but these were disposed of last night,
and all is clear this morning for a big
days work. The outgoing mail is un-
usually heavy, but the incoming mail
will mot reach its apex in volume until
Irfr MI