Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-12-24
Community Celebration on
Capitol Plaza This Evening
Beginning of Weeks Series.
HOLIDAY CHEER PLANNED
FOR SOLDIERS IN CAMPS
Old English Customs to Be Repre-
sented by Groups Tomorrow
Evening-General Program.

Washington Is preparing to cele-
brate Christmas tomorrow with JOY
and vim that exceeds any Yuletide OF
recent years.
The community celebration note Is
dominant. and it will be struck at the
Capitol plaza, where a series of enter
tainments beginning with Christmas
tree festivities this evening will inau-
gurate a program extending through
cut the week.
Shopping, heavy all this week
wound up today in a veritable bonn
hardment of buying. The Christmas
turkey, having abdicated his threat
ened throne of a dollar a pound, will
be on the tables of most capital
homes.
Returning soldiers will be guests OF
honor. Those here whose homes are
elsewhere will be entertained by capt.
tai families and institutions. In every
camp there will be Christmas trees
entertainments, services ana distflpu-
tion of gifts, arranged 1oin!ly py tue
Fed Cross and the Y. NJ. c. A, and for
nll unattached men in uniform there
will be an entertainment ana recep-
tion at the Washington Y. NJ. Z. "A
this evening.
Federal Clerks Excused at Noon.
Most of the government depart
ments excused their employees at
noon, and the Christmas celebration
began at that time. Hotels and res
taurants prepared special dinners for
the hundreds Of newcomers to Wash
az hnf Christina
cheer in public dining places.
The war camp community service.
in conjunction with the District Red
Cross and other organizations and
church groups, is planning the ceie,
bration that begins this evening ana
lasts week.
one sixty foot tree. given and illu-
minated by The Star. has been set up
en- the Capitol plaza. A smaller one
will be mounted on truck and con
yeyed to various sections OF the CITY
for the benefit of children who can
not be brought to the principal per-
formance.
This will be playground night at
the Capitol plaza. Children from the
city's Fairgrounds will sing carols
and give tableaux, beginning at 4:5o
o'clock The tree viii Sance ee aSdrff asairf af af
Christmas" is given. The Marine
Band will provide music.
Old English Customs Revived.
Tomorrow evening on the plaza
there will be representations by
various groups of old English GUS
toms. including the bringing IN o, tne
hoar's head. Christmas waits. NOR
r,s dances and wassail bowl scenes.
There will be exercises by men IN
uniform to whom girls will give gifts.
Saturday will be government recrea,
ton night Sports, suen as s"u,' nd
obstacle races. and special music are
on the program. Sunday and Monday
ere left free. for purpose of posslole
rostponement, while on New ear eve
there will be dances. at T'oo anu
o'clock. by a professional.
Tho Marine Band. and, probably, q
SECOND band will play. and Tor the
1lrst time in the capital there Will De a
General invitation issued for street
dancing.
Exhibit on Union Station Plaza
Th,. evening the tree on tho truck
will be exhibited at Union station
rlaza, so that 1t may be seen by de-
,,artinx war workers. Choristers Will
sing carols around 1t.
At o'clock tomorrow there Will be
smaller tree III INC AosoiAH "
capitol, and soldiers from nearby
camps will play Santa Claus for chill
,Iren of men who are overseas. Secre-
1ary of War Baker will make a short
address. This feature Is being ar
ranged by the home service section OF
the Red Cross and the war camp COM
1nunity service.
Gift Turkeys at White House.
Despite the absence of President
Wilson White House employees have
received their turkeys. the customary
annual Christmas present from the
President and Mrs. Wilson. Before
leaving Washington Mrs. Wilson ar
Hanged for the buying and distribu-
,ion of the turkeys. Nearly $50 were
,.iven to clerks and other employees
OF the Executive Mansion.
Special provision is to be made fol-
christmas cheer Of the wounded sol
tliers in Walter Reed Hospital and
sailors who are at the Naval Hospital
'The Red Cross has arranged specia
..ift packages for them. Cigarettes
and candy will be among the gifts dis
,ributed.
Through tho generosity OF g
friend" the Y. NJ. c. A. today is dis
1ributing to all camps, as far as they
,-ill go, tickets for the late afternoon
performance at Keith's Theater to.
morrow. Every seat in the house has
j,cen bought, to be given to soldiers
sailors and marines.
Telephone Girls Give Bats.
Telephone operators at Washington
exchanges have arranged for the pres
,+o-jop of 1,0 ha se hall hats 70 <bs