Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-25
COMMUNITY TREE
BLAzES WITH CHEER
Christmas Season Is Officially
Welcomed With Sing
ing of Carols.
CHILDREN SING AT HOSPITAL S
Thousands Stand Uncovered
While Great Chorus and
Band Render America"

y multitude OF youthful voices lifted
In gladstone song, swelling and throb-
bing TO the hcart-Scats OF thousands
gathered about the glitterinE Com
munity Christmas Tree. whose incan-
descent bows OF rcd and green rose
into neckless sky. last night indicted
the Christmas season into Richmond
in fitting commemrnoration OF the
Babe Of Bethlehem.
II VAS an impressive thinE-this
ceremony OF gathering about the tree
OF light" which has become a fixed
event in tho lfc of Richmond Thous-
ands OF folks-just plain everyday sort.
Of men and women. boys and girls.
who toll and play. were gathered there
Early in the evening they began TO
come. leaving behind All thought Of
war and it's menace. For the moment
Mars gave place to the little bearded
god OF childhood. aad joyousness filled
The hearts OF all
Al o'clock the crowd was gathered.
Carol singers from the school choruscs
BOY Scouts. cadets. bands. directors
all. were gathered AZ the cast end OF
City Hall Broad stree, and CAPITOL
Square were thronscd with spectators
AS tho hour struck. little Minerva Sorg.
known Liberty" through her good
work in selling fighting bonds. turned
on the current which flooded the tree
with light and started the star of
Bethlehem'' on is journey from the
eastern end OF the square. The band
played. Children sang The star hov-
cred over the tree and stopped at it's
apex. Christmas had arrived in Rich
rlond
THOUSANDS STAND UNCONERED
WHILE SINGING "AMERICt"
Because OF war economy and Red
Cross demands. the usual prescnt-s!v
ing was omitted. For half an hour
the choruscs sang Christmas carols
concluding with America" while the
gathered thousands stood uncovered.
AS the last strain OF the nationa!
hymn died away in the distance cadets
from John Marshall High School
snapped into line and swung off into
Broad street, TO be followed by Scouts
and singers.
At Miller & Rhoads the procession
stopped TO sing with the stores cm-
p!oyecs. There $500 voices joined
in the ssnsinn. the volume ris-
ing and swelling through tho shop
ping district and lending fitting ac-
compartment TO the approaching JIM
sle OF sleigh bells disccrnble TO child
ish ears. With tho close OF the con-
cert the chorus separated into small
groups, dispensing about town 10 carry
cheer TO those homes whose members
had contributed to the Red Cross.
Wherever tho singers saw the emblem
OF this organization they sang. Near
midnight the children had complcte ed
their rounds and were ready for bed
and the coming OF Santa Claus.
HIGH SCHOOL CHORUS
SINGS AT HOSPITALS
The high school choruscs were under
the direction Of Walter {. Mercer, d!-
rector or music for tho Richmond
schools Six hundred voices were
raincd for tho occasion. and all took
part in last nights exercises. Mr..
Mercer gathered his singers together
At o'clock. "A John Marshall High
school. whence. escorted by the ca
Gcts. the cadet fife and drum corps and
4 professional band they started for
City Hall. En- route they stopped at
the Retreat for the Sick and the Nc
III orial Hospital, singing At each place
for the sick.
The Christmas season. for which the
exercises by tho school children was
SO joyous a climax, is attended with
the usual good cheer and spirit for
Richmond. All over the city Industries
and institutions have rewarded en-
ployccs. charities have been libcrally
supported, the poor have been rcmcm-
bercd. soldiers have been given sub
stantIat assuranc of public regard, and
the Rcd Cross. in its work for Amer
ca's lighters. has been helped to round
out a most successful membership cam
paiGn.
The Rcd Cross drive was especially
successful. 10000 members having been
signed during the campaign which
closed last night Boys who. in former
years. devoted their time to building
Christmas bonfrcs aided in the cam
paign during it's closing hours by sing
irg carols about the streets. supple
mcntinG the songs. church chimes were
runE at intervals between $50 and !?
o'clock. and tho fire GonEs were tapped
every quarter of an hour. The gonGS
were tapped twelve times at each in
tcrval, and were supposed to spell the
admonition, Join Red Cross
Al DCpMkN Ic PENEEIHIARY