The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-22
MONTGOMERY PLANS BRILLIANT AFFAIRS
 FOR THE MERRY CHRISTMAS SEASON

0 MIUN
 By RosALIE HAMPSTEAD HIGGINS
 Montgomery, December 2-(SpeciaI) Christmas will be joyous one in AIaba- mas capital city and many social func- tions have been planned particularly among the college set, who are overflow ing with spirits on their return home.
 and are eager to make every minute
 count
 The festivities began on Friday evening when the enlisted men of the 2Osth field signal battalion entertain at a dance at the city auditorium.
 The auditorium bespoke the spirit of the Yuletide in it's decora tions of south ern snilax, holly and mistletoe, while red Christmas bells were hung among the green.
 The 18th infantry band rendered music and dancing was enjoyed until a late hour The soldiers from Camp Sheridan and the other two camps, Taylor field and the aviation repair depot, who will not have the chance to go home for Chrlstmas are determined to have as merry time as possible in Montgomery and the hospitable citizens are doing all in their power to make it a joyful one so between the desire of both, there Will not be a single lonely soldier in Mont gomery this Christmas of 1918. on Friday evening the officers of the So9th engineers, entertained at a brilliant dance at the Country club, which was bow CT of evergreens and gleaming berries for the happy occasion. With the splen- did band of the 209th engineers, and Montgomery's prettiest girls, the affair was grand success, in fact, such a sVc- cess that they are planning to give an other dance at an early date.
 On Monday, December B, the war camp community service will act as Santa Claus to every khaki clad lad in Mont gomery at a wonderful dance at the city auditorium. And I say wonderful, for neither money or time is being spared to make it dance long to be remem- bered and with such an organization as the war camp community service assisted by the war mothers, it could not be otherwise. For the past week, the War Mothers club has been planning and shopping, buying the things dear to boys hearts, for, after all, as some noted writ CT said: "boys are only men grown tall,' and these mothers know what boys like, for have they not each a soldier lad of their own, perhaps in far away France for whose sake they will make some other soldier happy at Christmas time?
 And here is the plan of the dance at the auditorium, which, by the way, will represent miniature wood, in Its decor ations of southern smilax, fragrant pine trees, festoons of Spanish moss and hol- ly and mistletoe everywhere. AS each soldier enters the hall he will be given a card bearing a number and on the beautiful Christmas tree on the stage Of the auditorium will be hung a gift with the same number The opening of these | packages will be great fun, and mid the 1 blowing of horns and whistles, they will | all be like children again. Pretty girls by the score will be present to help the | soldiers enjoy themselves and throughout | the evening nuts fruits and candies vii. | be served. As one soldier said Gee, | wish Monday would come, for it's going | to be some dance" and he told the truth, l for it really is.
 Many of the soldiers have been invited as Christmas guests in private homes for | Christmas Day, and in many home, where the loved son of the household is thousands of miles away at camp in this country, or even in France. another khaki clad figure will sit in his place at the table. For these Mothers of Sol diers! How wonderful they are, and they have tender spot in their hearts for every lad wearing uniform today. The Alabama soldiers, a dozen or more who arrived in Montgomery the past week, crippled and disabled, after their Service in France. continue to be shown many courtesies and they will every one be special guests in the homes of hospi- liable Montgomerans.
 The past week, the Red Cross drive was of great interest, and despite inclc- ment weather, there were many faithful workers. In the little Red Cross booths on the street, pretty girls asked the pass erby to join the Red Gross with smile that was irresistible, while in the local theatres, some of Montgomery's best sing CTS. gave selections during the intermis- eions. Singing at the Strand, Empire and Grand theatres were Mrs. p. E. Cobb, Miss Isabel Levystein, Miss Eloise Crom- well, Miss Rosalie Armistead Higgins. Miss Dorothy Kennedy, Mrs. F. B. Nicely, Miss Pauline Garrett and Mrs. Lawrence <Weil. The idea, which was that Of Mrs E. E. Cobb, proved great success and varied the monotony of the usual pro- gramme of every day All day Saturday, the Society of the Fatherless Children of France gave a , novel benefit on Court square for the lit tle French orphans whom the war has left so desolate. At one side of the foun- .tain was a beautiful Christmas tree,