The Washington herald., 1914-12-24
CHILDREN'S Tree
READY AT POLPS
Actors and Actresses Put
on Finishing Tinsel
Touches.
FIVE THOUSAND GIFTS
Theater Doors to Open Tomorrow
Morning at 9 o'Cloek-curtain
to Rise at 10.
FIVE THOUSAND GIFTS

SuperbIy dressed for Its one day oi
splendor, a gigantic Christmas tree, rich
with tinsel electric lights and other tx
ings, is waiting on the stage of Poh'I
Theatsr for the dawn Of tomorrow morn
ing. when Santa Claus VIII distribute
candy and presents to 5000 children oi
needy parents.
Until early yesterday morning ths
actors and actorines at Polls, under the
direction Of Manager Louis ]. Fosse-
all volunteers In a good cause, worked
In work is included cutting fingers, fall
ing from ladders, and collecting q stort
of pine needles In tender spots-to trim
the tree, ready for its few hours Of glory
Manager Fosse was doubled up with
Stage Director Harry Andrews in the
leading role. Next came Lillian Kemble
and Charles Mackay, stars OF the Poll
company. Katherine Stanton, Helen
Tracey, Helene Maruua, Bertha Mat
thews, Bob Lowe. Dan Hanlon, Joe Gu
sack, Corbett Norris, and Jerry Kennedy
were assistants. and trimmed with the
rest. Henry Smith accompanied the
workers with selected hummlngs.
Five Thousand Presents.
There were several minor upsets, when
artists of the company through lack OF
rehearsal fell from shaky positions near
the top of the tree, and when a photo
grapher touched on a fashlight for the
cut which accompanies this story. Other
wise all was well.
The entertainment provided by Mr..
Poll for the children has been in pre-
paration Tor days. Fifty young girls and
matrons OF Washington have been en-
gagged for days in wrapping packages
containing presents and filling bags with
candy.
There are 5000 presents, those OF the
girls in one color and those Of the boys
In another. Pink and blue are the pre-
vailing colors. The task OF wrapp;rg the
piles of presents and candy was finished
yesterday. and now the hardest part is to
come-that Of waiting.
Four thousand tickets have been dis
tributed among members OF fraternal,
charitable and religious societies. to be
given to children. Standing room in plenty
has been provided for such children as
are unable to obtain tickets, and none
will be refused.
The theater doors will be opened at
o'clock tomorrow morning, and at 10
o'clock the curtain will be raised on the
celebration. H o. French's educated
poodle will give an exhibition Of its edu-
cational advantages over other poodles
Pupils of Prof Leslie Holt will give a
dance, Mother Goose.
Gifts from Santa's Hands.
For the third number, Harry Smith.
leader of the orchestra at Polls, has
written special music. 1t will be a play
let which will be enacted by members Of
the Poll company. The vaudeville enter
tainment will have as its closing number
an electric. dance, which viii be rendered
by a pupil of Miss Cora Shreve.
The climax VIII be reached when Santa
Claus will come forth with the disclosure
of mammoth tree, glowing with electric
lights and reaching up into the flies
The children then are to be invited by
Santa Claus to go to the stage and re-
ceive their presents. Two runways. from
the left and right aisles OF the theater,
have been erected and children will ap-
proach the stage from the right and
leave by the left.
S. z. Poll and officials OF the theater
have provided the entertainment Mr..
Poll furnished the toys, and in addition,
Kann, Sons & Co; Manager Fosse, who
directed the preparations; George ]. Muel-
Ter and the Dutch Candy Kitchen, who
furnished the candy. and o. A. c. Oehm-
Ter, who contributed the tree.