The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1917-12-24
SANTA CLAUS
DRIVES AWAY
WAR SHADOWS
Approach Of Holiday Finds
City Ready for Brief,
Jolly Celebration.

washington's first Christmas
since Amerioa's entrance into the
great war Is about to dawn,
But the black shadow of the war
god cannot eclipse holiday gaiety.
There is, of course, the steady,
thinking under-current of serious
ness. The nation is facing great
things; has a great task to accom-
plish.
Washington is a very different
city from the quietly moving capi-
tai of a year ago. when war was
mere shadow on the horizon of the
future and not seriously considered
by one person in fifty.
Santa Claus Dispels Gloom.
At present. with uAiforms as COM
mon on the streets as civilian clothes,
and thousands of new clerks crowd
ing the hugely expanded government
departments, the city has become as
cosmopolitan a place as there Is In
the world.
But now Christmas, the holiday of
the Christian world, Is here. This Is
y the time for cheer and optimism. the
T time to snatch a brief relaxation
from labor and indulge In holiday
saieties.
Moreover, Santa Claus, the chill
dren's patron saint. Is expected short
ly. With so jovial a presence in sight
there can be no lack of honest-to-
goodness Christmas cheer. The aver
age parent will not permit his chill
dren's Christmas tollities to be damp
ened by any circumstances.
Good Cheer for Soldiers.
Then comes consideration for the
thousands of soldiers in Washington
and adjacent training camps. Special
efforts are being made to provide for
their enjoyment before they embark
upon the great adventure overseas.
Many private citizens will invite one
or more soldiers to Christmas dinner
in their homes. Churches and frater-
nal organizations are holding enter
tainments. socials and dances espe-
cially for the benefit Of 'Sammies"
And there are always plenty of re-
freshments at these affairs. Folks re-
member that Sammy likes to eat And
what he wants he can have
The Y. NJ. C. A. will be a sort of
mecca for fighting men on Christ
mas Day. Every man in uniform is
welcome to the big entertainment,
consisting of first class vaudeville
attractions. Ann Suter, the clever
Washington girl who has been play
ing on the Keith circuit, will pre-
sent some of her care-free songs
and impersonationG A number of
I the Radcliffe attractions are also
slated. To completes the evening.
hundreds of gifts will be distrib-
ated to the Sammies and jackies
present. Five hundred pairs of
socks, furnished by the Red Cross,
will be among the presents.
Stamps q. Gifts.
War savings stamps are the most
up-to-the-minute and patriotic gift
that il being made Many people who
are in the habit of giving money. this
year are sending out either war saw
ings stamps or thrift stamps of
smaller denomination. Every gift like
this Is a help to the government In
its hour of need as well as a present
that will help to form the saving
habit
Government employees will have a
half holiday today as well as Christ
mas day, and theaters. restaurants
and places of amusement will be
thronged.
Special matinees are being provided
by most of the theaters in an effort
TO satisfy the demand for amusement.
But 1t Is expected that hundreds will
he turned away.
= People who would usually spend the
big dag with out-of-town relatives
will stay in town on account of the
eongested railway service.
= The big railroad companies recently
issued a plea that all unnecessary
passenger traffic be suspended Many
government clerks who have in pre-
Nlous years been I'm the habit of tax
ing several weeks annual leave at
Huletide find 1t impossible TO leave
their desks with the present rush OF
work
Fair Weather Promised.
Warm, generally fair weather is
promised for today and tomorrow, so
the folks will not have to bundle up
around their ears as they did a few
days ago. Pedestrians may also fore
20 the rubbers and goloshes which
have burdsned their existence for the
past week.
An churches In the city will hold
special Christmas services. Most of
them will also have entertainments
and plays appropriate to the season in
which the children and young people
will participate. Santa will be sure
to show his jolly. welcome countcn-
CONTINUED on PAGE TWO.