Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-24
$4,000 VOICES SING
CHRISTMAS CAROLS
Community Chorus Entertains
on Steps Of the Treas
ury Building.

'This is a corker," enthusiastically
commented Secretary McAdoo to Secre-
tary Daniels yesterday afternoon as the
two cabinet members Joined with thou
sands of Washingtonians and soldiers
in singing Christmas carols at the
south steps of the Treasury building.
No; it's an uncorker," replied Mr..
Daniels. And 1t was
Washington's community voice lit
orally uncorked itself in the largest
chorus that ever sang in this or prob
ably any city. The singers outnum-
bered three or four times the chorus
that assembled. at the Treasury year
ago. and by many the throng was eS-'
tirnated at fully 10000.
Enjoyed by Presidents Family.
President and Mrs. Wilson looked on
from a window in the White House.
while a White House party assembled
on the roof of the first building of the
land and participated in the song fes-
tival. The Presidents grandchildren
stopped their romping on the big sun
ny east terrace, attracted by the vol
ume of music that could be heard
blocks away. Diplomats, Army officers
and high government officials rubbed
elbows in democratic fashion with rich
and poor, high and low. Secretaries
McAdoo and Daniels, with members OF
their families, Joined the group of Mrs
Susie Root Rhodes. superintendent OF
the Fairgrounds department at the
base of the steps, and sang as fervently
as any.
The full Marine Band of sixty pieces
played the Accomplishments for the
carols and national anthems. while DR..
Hamlin Z. Cogswell. director of music
of the Districts public schools, and
Kenneth Clark, official song leader Of
Camp Meade, led the singers. If the
spirit of peace was present in the fer
vor with which the carols were rem
dered the soul of patriotism was more
than manifest In the impressiveness
with which the immense throng sang
America, The Star Spangled Banner
and the Battle Hymn of the Republic
Kenneth Clark was the director for
these numbers.
The carols included Hark. the Herald
Angels Sing, 1t Came Upon a Mid
night Clear, o Little Town of Bethle-
hem, Silent Night, Holy Night and Joy
the program was a solo by cornetist
of the Marine Band, the selection being
Chantique de Noel. a sacred melody
specially BETTING the occasion.
Soldiers in the Chorus.
Hundreds of soldiers stationed in and
near Washington formed one of the
large units of the chorus, while other
units were made up of school children
Fairgrounds children, Boy Scouts, Girl
Scouts and singing clubs from commu-
nifty centers and neighborhoods. When
the program had been finished the par
tic1pants broke up into groups and Wis
tied large number of hospitals and
District institutions, where they rem
dered carols for soldiers and sailors
who were prevented by illness, infirmi-
ties and other reasons from attending
the services at the Treasury steps
The District Commissioners, who also
were part of the chorus, extended
congratulations today to the play
grounds department, and particularly
to Miss Ella Gardner, in charge of
girls activities of the department, who
made the arrangements for the festi-
val. for the successful manner in which
II was conducted. It was the capitals
second annual singing of Christmas
carols. and it Is assured of being a
qletide MIXTURE in Washington's COM
munfty activities