Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-12-25
CHRISTMAS LOOMS
TODAY AS HISTORIC
FOR FREED WORLD
Tributes Paid to Living and
Dead, Whose Courage in
War Brought Peace.
SANTA'S THRONE SHINES
ABOVE FALLEN DESP0TS
Children's Joy Supreme in Nations
Capital-President's Greetings
Sent From Abroad.

S>~>~~> S>e - ~ S~>>S 49,
Capital-President's Greetings
Sent From Abroad.
Washington today celebrated his
toric Christmas day, another Christ
mas like that of nearly 2.e00 years
ago. which marked an epoch OF
peace on earth good will toward
men,
Once more the wise men of great
nations are assembled to honor. not
the person, but the principles. of the
Nazarene. whose spirit reigns after
king and kaiser and czar have top
pied from their thrones
Families paid tribute to the home
coming of young men who fought that
militarism might be crushed and
peace loving peoples. Some paid
tribute to latter-day martyrs who
died that ideals might live. !,
Reverence and Dsep Feeling.
1t was a unique commemoration OF
the day, celebrated in reverence and
with deep feeling. Church services
community gatherings. y gift giving
and public exercises marked the re-
lease of this Yulttide from the clouds
of war which made Christmas OF a
year ago empty and hollow.
The homie of the national legislators
was given over to little children. Last
night the dome and the gray wnlte
walls of the Capitol were outlined in
stark white illumination amid hazy
mist and fog, and on the plaza glowed
a brightly lighted Christmas tree. To-
/ day little children will invade the ro-
/ tunda$ of the Capitol to gather about
a Christmas tree, where the Secretary
of War will talk to them and soldiers
will distribute gifts. There was no
report from Berlin indicating that
Hindenburg and Ludendorff were play
ing Santa Claus to German chill
drenS party.
Tonight children will cavort on the
Capitol plaza and revive old Anglo
Saxon YNletide customs. such as
bringing in the Yule log and the boar's
head, dancing about the wassail bowl
and taking part in Christmas waits.
| Greetings From Leaders.
Christmas greetings to the Ameri-
can people were sent by President
| Wilson; greetings to soldiers were
sent by Gen. Pershing: the wireless
| flashed to every naval vessel a mes
/ sage from Secretary Daniels; to every
! marine went an expression OF good
! wishes from Maj. Gen. George bar
nett.
/ Men in uniform at camps Joined in
| spirit with their comrades across the
/ seas at a special service. prepared
/ by the Y NJ. c. A, and were enter
! tanned by trees. performances and
/ gifts offered jointly by the Red Cross
dlers in hospitals were flooded with
/ expressions of love from the citizens
for whom they fought.
| Midnight masses in the Cathoiic
churches, and either early morning
or IL o'clock services in the Prot
estant churches were heavily attend.
ed. Sermons struck the keynote OF
peace and expressed the hope that
! out of the peace conferences might
| come Il lasting peace to make the
! epochal one. Everywhere were echoed
the sentiments of President wilson.
( who cabled: Nothing could consti-
t1te a more acceptable Christmas re
assurance than the sentiments which
[ find everywhere prevalent.
| Santa Claus laughed at the kaiser
He must have been more generous
than ever before, to judge from the
amount of Christmas shopping done
by his agents. He showered gl1ts
upon those in institutions. and ne put
a Christmas tree on truck that
| spoke a silent farewell at Union sta
| tion last evening to war WORKERS AZ
they departed to spend the holidays
at home. and today traversed the
streets of Washington to the delight
OF little children. Santa seemed to en-
| joy the fact that he alone, among
monarchs, had strengthened his hold
upon his throne.
Celebration Tonight.
As to details. the Christmas night
to1 uyfl1 hn n
7:3o. Various groups Will perform
Morriss dances and engage in repre-
| sentations of other old English forms
of Christmas celebration. The eXer-
cises will take place about the sixty,
foot Christmas tree given and Hshted
by The Star.
A second Christmas tree will be the
center of the festivities in the rotunda
this afternoon at o'clock. Soldiers
from camps about Washington nave
beaa invited to report to 14OS Penn
sylvania avenue if they desire to take
part in these exercises ,
It was a great day for many a child,
because Daddy" or Brother had
come back. Thousands of men in uni
form who do not live here were en-
tertained in capital homes
If any went without invitations 4
free dinner was to be had at the
victory Lunch, 1924 Pennsylvania ave-
nue., not to mention many institutions
which had an open house for men in
uniform Both soldiers and sailors
were entertained at many Christmas
eve festivities, including special en-
tertainment for all men unattached
at the washington Y. NJ. c. A. last
evening, where a special program was
given. Every Y. NJ. c. A hut in the
Washington district also was the
scene Of entertainments, Christmas
trees. and gift distribution last even
ing. with the Red Cross cooperating:
The knights of Columbus also held
omen house in all their huts. perN
formance at Keith's late this after
noon will be given entirely to men IN
uniform to whom free tickets were
distributed by Y. NJ. c. A. secretaries.
Men from the Walter Reed and Naval
hospitals were given places OF honor.
Parcels Mailed Early.
washinstonians helped the post Office
, EMPLOYEES by mailing their parcels early.
and last night the post Office was nearly
deserted As result the outgoing mail
was cleared as fast as ii came in and
by noon today all Christmas parcels ad-
dressed to Washingtonians were dis
tributed.
Formal opening of new 7. NJ. c. A.
hut at Walter Reed Hospital last even
ing was the occasion for special celebra-
| ton there. Gayly dressed misses
helped entertain the men. gather
ed around a large spruce tree. and ladies'
of the Red Cross distributd gift pack
ages.
peaned for the children OF the post and
i....-.-... The 11th Cavalry Band played.