Evening star., 1914-12-25
Second Celebration Held on
East Porch of Capitol and
Is Largely Attended.
DEEP REVERENCE SHOWN
BY ASSEMBLED CROWD
Carols Sung by Great Chorus, While
Story of the Manger Is
Unfolded.

Upon the east porch of the Capitol
Washington's second community Christ
mas celebration was held yesterday
afternoon. 1t was a Christmas eve
service of impressive character, and
the crowd which gathered about the
foot of the wide steps viewed the
tableaux of the attendant angels. the
shepherds and the visit of the storied
wise men with deep reverence. So
greatly taken with the beautiful
character of the picture and with the
impressiveness of the Christmas music
were the men, women and children
who stood in the snow to watch the
ceremony that there was no applause
This was the feature of the community
Christmas tree-it had so sacred a
touch to it that the quiet of Christmas
eve was not disturbed. except by the
carols of the great chorus and the
music of the Marine Band.
There was but single exception to
this. When the lights were flashed
upon the sixty-foot tree which stood
in the midst of the crowd on the plaza,
a long-drawn "ah!' testified to the
fact that the three thousand Christmas
watchers thought well Of its beauty.
The singers were grouped upon the
steps. and at the foot of the stone pill
lars of the Capitol porch was the
manger. with sevenfold candlestick
burning brightly at its head. A band
of Boy Scouts kept the proper spaces
cleared upon the steps. and a great
quantity of greens were draped about
the bare spots so as to give the proper
touch of the season to the background.
Above it all the Christmas message of
Peace on Earth, Good Will to Men"
burned in flaming colors.
Opens With Hymn.
The snow stopped falling on the Capt.
tol almost at the moment of the cele-
bration's beginning. Beethoven's ''Crea-
ton Hymn" played by the band, was
the first note of the service. and after
that the scenes of the little town of
Bethlehem were enacted. while a pow
erful light played upon the tableaux.
The colors of the oriental costumes
were made extremely bright by the ar
rangement of groups and lights.
White-robed angels appeared from
the darkened portico and pointed the
way eastward to the shepherds, while
the voices of the chorus sang a carol.
Then, as the music changed into
"Adeste Fideles," the wise men and the
shepherds approached the nanger, be-
hind which were Mary and Joseph. and
bcwing low to the little Lord, offered
their gifts and their obeisance.
And then the clear solo from Can
tiaue de Noel" was played by Arthur
Whitcomb, cornetist Of the Marine
Band, following that. "Hark, the Her.
aid Angels Sing" while the Bible story
of the heavens filed with angels was
portrayed upon the portico as winged
figures with golden trumpets appeared
from the dark recesses behind the COL
umns.
'star spangled Banner" Sung.
The climax of the picture was
reached as all the characters grouped
about the manger In alteration. the
music accompanying this final tableau
being "Stille Nacht." The service was
closed in patriotic manner by the sing
ing of THE Star Spangled Banner" by
the thousands standing on the plaza, to
the music of the band. while Boy
Scout standing in the middle of the
stairway waved great flag. The tab
leaux moved off and the crowds dis
persed, leaving the tall pine tree with
its hundreds Of lights surmounted by a
faring star. The tree remained lighted
until far into the night.
A touch of realism was given to the
service by the costumes worn in the