The Washington times., 1915-12-25
CITY USHERS IN
DAY: Of PEACE
AND GOODWILL
Happy Children Reign Supreme
in Every Home in Wash
ington.

Little Eddie did not shiver. 1t was
not cold enough for that; neither did
Sister Nellie cling tightly to his hand.
for the janitor is paid to keep tie
Ghosts out; neither slipped down
barnister rail, for they lived in an
apartment house. but:
Eddie and Nellie did creep stealth
i,v out Of bed before dawn this mora
ing, while father and mother slept.
went into the living room, and there
found. piled high. around genuine
old-fashioned Christmas tree. brought
by good old-fashioned Santa Claus.
a pile of presents as dear to the child
heart as those any child of any gen.
GRAFTON ever received.
This is the picture you can get in
nearly every home in Washington this
morning where there are children.
Busy Christmas Eve.
streets in all the residential sections
streets in al 1.-The residential sections
were busy with hurried. smiling p.r-
sons with great armfuls of bundles.
Doorbells were rung. and the donors
fled. before the portals were opened.
and Christmas presents were deposit
ed on door steps. and in apartment
receptacles. all over the city,
Religious observance of the day be-
gan at midnight in many churches.
especially in Catholic churches. where
crowds poured in to attend the mid
night masses, which were marked by
beautiful and impressive music.
Thousands attended these masses.
some of the larger churches including
st. Patrick's. St. Aloysius' and Holy
Trinity in Georgetown; heing. packed
full services was that at Mt. ST. Sepul
chre Monastery. Brookland. by the
Franciscan friars.
Scarcely were the crowds from the
midnight masses home in bed when
others wended their way, before the
break Of day. to. early services In both
Catholic and Protestant Churches. On
Capitol Hill many attended a sunrise
service at the Church of the Reforma-
ton at $50 o'clock. and neorly I'll of
the Episcopal churches 90 the cit" as
we'll as many others OF Protestant de-
nominations, had early services.
No One Forgotten.
Never before have such efforts been
made by societies. fraternal bodies,
missions. settlement houses. charity or
ganizations, and churches to insure
every one in Washington Merry
Christmas.
Last evening hundreds of volunteer
workers carried to the homes OF the
poor baskets of provisions and more
substantial articles that will be needed
for the coming winter months.
The Salvation Army served a break
fast, as we'll as Christmas dinner,
and at both the Central Union and the
Gospel Mission workers were busy last
night and this morning putting the
rnal touches to the preparations for
Christmas dinners, Christmas baskets.
and Christmas trees to which children
OF the poor will be invited, and from
which they will receive presents.
Not even the wards OF the District
were neglected. At the Jail an excep-
rule against bringing presents for the
inmates. and friends of those who are
detained there took them Christmas
foods and presents of various sorts.
Though there was no turkey. there was
special Christmas dinner, with pork
as the meat for the occa sion, and this
afternoon there are special services con-
Quoted by choirs from various churches
at both the jail and the Washington
Asylum Hospital.
Down at the District workhouse. at
Occoquan, the inmates received holi-
day. dressed up in their Sunday best"
and gathered around a Christmas din
ner table. Later they assembled for de-
votional exercises.
The Associated Charities was fore
handed with its Christmas giving. In
stead Of carrying baskets around on
Christmas Day. 1t made hundreds Of
happy III ten assurance lndt
a merry Christmas was to be theirs by
sending forth Christmas pCovisons a
day ahead of time, and presenting these
to the mothers. so that the Christmas
might be as normal and homelike as
possible.
With each of these baskets went
some substantial gifts. such as a TN
OF COAL or warm clothing.
Nearly 900 children werc the bcne-
fciaries of the Christ Child Society.
This Organization. under the direction
Of Miss Laura V. Merrick. distributed
more presents this year than ever he
fore: All the presents thnt make the
child heart harry were piled high tho
last week at 929 G street. and young
women worked against I've incoming
,delnGe of gifts. in wrapping them in
bundles to be taken out last evening.
At the Y. NJ. c. A. members Of the
staff made the annual Christmas vista
non TO rooms of those who live thcro
wishing them a Merry Christmas. and
every effort was made to provide The
essentials of a cheerv Christmas for
'hose who are away from home.