Evening star., 1915-12-23
Fifty Thousand Boys and Girls
Celebrate Closing of Build
ings Until January 3. !.
ENTERTA TAINMENTS FEATURE
SOME OF THE EXERCISES
Trees at Kindergartens Bear Pres.
ents for Parents of Children.
Letters Bear Greetings. f,

With juveniles in the roles of minia-
ture Kris Kringles and other beings
symbolical of the Christmas season.
more than $4,000 boys and girls in the
schools of Washington today celebrat-
ed the closing of the buildings for the
Christmas holidays. Today was one
of the most important in the calendar
of the schools-at least from the pupils
viewpoint. Classes will not resume
studies until January 3, 1916.
All kindergartens throughout the city
had Christmas trees, money for the
same having recently been voted by
the board of education. In addition
to the regular" decorations many
made by the little ones themselves.
there were presents for mothers and
fathers, the gifts also being the work
of the youngsters.
Entertainments. many in the form of
plays. We're given in the schools. At
some buildings, particularly some of
the high schools, exercises were held
jointly by all the pupils. Nearly every
classroom in the city had some deco
rations significant of the time of year.
One of the prettiest rooms, probably,
and one which attracted wide attention,
was that of Miss Ethel Hefiebower. at
the Bradley School, Linworth place
southwest. Many members of the South
west Citizens Association visited this
room and compimented pupils and
teacher upon its attractiveness.
Reunion at Eastern High.
This afternoon the reunion of the
Eastern High School Alumni Associa-
tion was held at the school Many
graduates now at college, but returned
home for the holidays. were in attend
ance, as well as many who are study
ing or are employed in Washington.
The affair is to last until o'clock.
officers are to be elected.
Prior to the alumni reunion pupils of
the school presented a scene from
Twelfth Night" with stage setting
typical of Shakespeare's time. Those
.aking part were Lester Dessez, Fran
els w: Hatfield, Farris English, Will
william B. Douglass, Dorothy R.
Shaner and Charles Lyons.
Christmas carols were sung at West
ern High today. This evening Mid
'ummer Nights Dream" is to be pre-
sented at that school.
Students o. Mckinley Manual Train
irg School gave "A Scrap of Paper"
he youthful actors and actresses being
Dorothy Heron, Frances Allen. Jo-
lephine Mitchell. Julia Costello.
Florence Burton. Margaret Smith.
Ridgeway Taylor, Howard Fellows,
Cleon Throckmorton, Francis Cole and
were
Joseph Frank and Cleon Throckmorton
Iusic was furnished by the Tech
orchestra.
Present "Just Before Christmas"
Members of the Business High School
Dramatic Society presented the
school entertainment a play entitled
Just Before Christmas" Those par
ticipating were Carl E. Gill. Helen r.
Moore. Leah Reichard. Edith Hall,
Hilda Reagle. William Johnston. Leon
Minnie German, c. Elbert Anadale, c.
Morton Fry, Frank Marks, Karl Wass-
mann, Louis Biron, Alvin Cross, Diller
Croft George Henlock, Arthur Bailey.
d. Hammond Wetzei, William Griffin.
Ida L. Lewis, Mary L. Meany and Edna
Perry
Beca use of crowded conditions Gen.
trail High School was unable to have
play this year, section entertain
ments being held instead.
Pupils in the grade classes at the
Wilson Normal School, where tea hers
for the public schools are trained, gave
entertainments today under the dlrec-
tion OF the students of the Normal
School proper Three productions were
given, one by the kindergarten chl-
dren, one by those in the hrst and zec-
ond grades. and still another by- the
pupils in the thir5 and fDurth -r'ies.
Christmas Greeting Extended.
Circulag letters were received today
by all school employees from Henry u.
Blair. presiaeul OF the sosrd OF ea1.l-
lion, ana Ernest l.. ThGrstou. saperiu-
ten6ent of gabil- schools. eXtrsJ-ls
Christmas greetings and wishes for q
happy ueN year.
MI Blair Iu h.s letter suIa. iu ta-t.-
TIE grateful community of the Dis
trict OF Columbia through It's uoarg Qt
EDUCATION extends TO each OF you
heartiest wishes for O merry Caristu.4s
and many bright and happy Sc.
Years.
The conScl BUSINESS of = sta oI duty
faithfully followed will in ltse.f bring
20 you happiness at this blessed time
when the Prince of Peace ruleth our
hearts yet am expression of sood will
from those whom you serve and lead in
the most important obligation in free
nation, the education OF the child,
which means the welfare of the state
may be an added recognition which
will bring something of added satisfac-
ton to the contemplation of a task ef-
fectively performed
Mr.. Thurston's Letter.
An extract from Mr. Thurston's let