Evening star., 1914-12-30
THOUSANDS Of K|DD|ES
AT CHRISTMAS FETE
Parents Also Join in Celebration
Given by Traction and Power
Companies.
Old Santa Participates and Amuse-
ment Features Galore Please
Vast Audience.

of about 1900 crowded the New Ma
tional Theater yesterday afternoon at
the fourteenth annual Christmas cele.
bration of the Washington Railway
and Electric Company and the Poto-
mac Electric Power Company, given
each year by the public service COM
panies for their employees and en-
ployes' children. The rain hadn't
the slightest effect on the attendance
or the spirits of the spectators-chil-.
dren jammed the seats, filled every
one. in fact, except those taken up by
their parents, and hung from the bal
cony and gallery in q most perilous
fashion, seemingly. 1t was royal
afternoon-such was the verdict of all
wsho attended. from those who had
come as early as IL o'clock and watt
ed out on the steps, to the last one
to obtain a seat.
The feature of the afternoon was a
dancing and singing act in which
thirty-fve children. ranging In age
from nine to fourteen years. danced
and sang in a way that brought credit
to Mr.. and Mrs. Howard Lesley Holt,
under whose direction the children
were trained. 1t was stated that none
of the "kiddies" knew anything about
dancing until they were taken in hand
for this performance. If this is SO,
their steps yesterday afternoon spoke
well. indeed, for their aptness.
Those who took part in this number
included Mary Contella, Cutrie Carter.
Nellie Clark. Abner Clark. jr.; Emily
Davis. Kenneth Fellows, Larue Hess,
Rembert Hess. Margaret Hoffer. Will
liam Hoffer. Raymond Kelley, Cecilie
King, William King, Wilbur Mastin,
Charles Marshall, Gilbert Rettew, jr.;
Dorothy Rettew. Lena Ruffner. Mil
dred Stansbury, Cora Timothy, Rebec-
kah Thomas. Eugene Thomas. Eugene
Wood, Clifton, Julian and Mildred Zier.
Susie and Eva Burke, Granville Hesse,
Myrtle Bardoff Weiner. James Bean,
Croft, Raymond Duffy and Virginia
Steele.
Santa Arrives on Scene.
After the children finished their act
several vaudeville numbers from local
theaters delighted the small auditors
likewise spectators-and then old
Santa Claus himself arrived upon the
scene. Santa lit with electricity the
two large trees. one either side the
stage, and the real business of the aft
ernoon was on. All the children and
parents were then invited upon the
stage-a real stage" honest truly
where a gift, fruit and candy were
given to each child, so that none went !
away empty handed-indeed. most went |
away with both hands full. Not only !
were the children thus provided for,
but car tickets were given them for
the trip home. The trip to the theater !
was made in special cars starting from |
certain centers.
Welcome for c. P. King.
President Clarence P. King received
a royal welcome at the start of the aft |
ernoon's program-indeed, SO enthu- |
siastic were his friends in the audience |
that it is declared several of them |
came pretty near falling out of the gal
lery in their enthusiasm. Mr.. King |
thanked all for their welcome, and ex-
pressed his appreciation.
Two incidents not on the program de-
serve chronicling. One was the down.
fall of small Somebody in the chill
dren's speciality at the end of a nicely |
executed dance. Somebody" went |
sprawling, but was up just as quick, |
smiling, so who cared? Huh? The other
incident was the advent of two police !
men. who declared that they had been |
sent as an escort" for some one in the |
across city. When assured that every
body in the house was happy and real |
ly demanded no escort whatever, all
that being provided for thank you, the
policeman went away asserting that |
there must have been "a mix-up"
Various Committees.
William L. Clarke was chairman of
the Christmas committee. E. S. Mar
low vice chairman and T. +. Sullivan |
secretary. The various committees
were as follows:
Entertainment-F. J. Mersheimer, |
chairman; w. N. De Neale. J. A. Kaiser,
j. c. Mclaughlin, J. G. Gray and L. B.
Schloss.
Decoration-S. I. Folsom, chairman
Louis Brown. Ed Staub, H. B. Hart and
A w. Hawkins.
Distribution. T. Mofrett, chairman;
w. F. Dement,. ]. E. r. Shaw, C. j. |
Pitt, George Derene, J. w. Wenner, L. |
w. Whitehead. DIR. Weaver, L. L. John |
ston, H S. Gormley, w. Z. Anderson, J
r. B. Saunders, S. ]. Deyine and W. H. |
Memler.
Printing!. B. Mangan, chairman; c. |
E. Brown, L. s. Helm and C. NJ Marsh |
Purchasing-M. NJ. Merrill, chairman;
J. B. Hoellman, r. W. Crowell and V. |
A. Sisler.
Trees-w. S. Ballenger. chairman; D.
T. Frazier and c. s. Reich.
Receptions. C. Kimba1l. chairman; |
w. F. Ham, l. f. Sinclair, F. j. White
head, G. G. Whitney, A. S. Parry, G. H. |
Rettew, J. H. Stephens, W. o. Gibson, |
J. Z. Tenley and II. NJ. Keyser.