Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-25
Brings GOOD CHEER
TO BOYS AND GIRLS
Santa Claus Visits the Various
Correctional Institutions
and Hospitals.
YOUNG WARDS MADE HAPPY

If war time Christmas has any draw
backs Santa Claus entirely dispelled them
In the Districts training schools for
boys and girls today. True, there was
an absence OF turkey. but. II war prices
necessitated this elimination from the
menu, the institutional heads compen-
stated for the disappointment by provid-
ing extra features that generated good
cheer throughout the day. There were
brilliantly lighted Christmas trees, enter
tainments Of many kinds. a gift for each
boy and girl. and no end Of good things
did not grace the bill Of fare. 1t was one
continuous round Of merriment from
daybreak. when carols hera1ded the dawn
of another Christmas. until evening when
the presentation Of a cantata at the Ma
tiohal Training School for Girls was
scheduled to close what the youthful
wards Of the institution early had pro-
nounced one Of the happiest days of
their lives.
In Other Institutions.
In the Districts penal and charitable
institutions Christmas was observed in
the customary manner. dinner OF extra
proportions being served. Roast pork and
chicken took the place Of turkey. as was
the case Thanksgiving, the municipality
being unable at either time to meet the
high prices asked for this holiday deli
cacay.
1t is doubtful If the occupants of any
OF the juvenile training schools were up
earlier than the ninety-six boys who live
at the Industrial Home School for Colored
Children. at Blue Plains. Certainly they
were awake far earlier than the folks who
reside in the Home for the Aged and
Infirm on an adjoining tract. Led by
Supt. Perry, the boys saluted the dawn
with Christmas carols. then hastily dis
posed of their usual early morning work
program. After this there was nothing to
do but wait for dinner, and 1t was an ap-
petizing assortment OF roast pork, sweet
potatoes and many home grown edibles
that greeted the hungry young colony at
noon.
Christmas. however. will not reach its
zenith in.-this school until tomorrow aft
ernoon at O'Clock. At that hour rela-
tives and friends of the boys will as
semble for the annual holiday exercises.
tree will be lighted and gifts presented.
Fever Outbreak Mars Program.
A recent outbreak of scarlet fever in
the Industrial Home School prevented
the usual Christmas assembly of the boys
and girls quartered there, but there were
separate celebrations today by the three
groups of children that have been under
quarantine. These groups include the
girls, older boys and nursery children, and
each was provided with Its own tree and
special entertainment. Old Santa re-
men1bered the wards of this institution
with particularly elaborate gifts this year
and provided them with good chicken
and vegetable dinner. Protestant boys
and girls in the school were remembered
by ST. Adams Church and the National
Cathedral School for Girls, while ST Isa-
bella's Guild answered the Christmas let
ters Of the Catholic children. Each boy
and girl also received surprise box from
the National School of Arts and Domes-
tic Sciences. which is located opposite the
school
Exercises to Continue a Week.
BY, far the most pretentious Yuletide
program arranged for any OF the Juvenile
institutions Is that which began today
at the National Training School for Girls.
on the Conduit road, where thirty-three
white and sixty colored girls are cared
for. This program win extend over the
entire week. To start with, each Of the
three cottages occupied by the girls have
been specially decorated and provided
with trees, and these were the scenes Of
visits from Santa Claus this morning
"A chicken dinner was the attraction at
moon, while assembly hall exercises made
the. big event Of the day is the cantata,
composed by Mrs. j. A. Griffith. superin-
tendent+ Of the school, which will be pre-
sented tonight. Every girl in the school
has been assigned part IN the production.
In which elaborate scenic effects will be
introduced. During the remainder OF
the week each cottage will stage a play
will have fun sway in song and verse