Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-12-25
MUSIC, GOODCHEER,
GIFTS AND WORSHIP
CLIMAX OF SEASON
Celebrations in Homes and at
Institutions Produce
( Christmas Smiles.
WORLDWIDE HOLIDAY
OFFERS MANY PROGRAMS
Prosperity of Nations Own City Is
Reflected in Merchants Report
of Busiest Period.

Reflected IN Merchants Report
of Busiest Period.
In grand final burst OF good cheer
good llowship, good will, giving and
receiving and exchange of the sea-
sons feiicitations, Christmas of 1919
culrninated today. If anybody in this
the nations capital failed to share in
the spirit of the holiday, the fault
must have been his or her own.
Christmas services in the form Of
special masses for the day marked
the beginning of Christmas at the
Catholic churches of the city. Most
cf the Protestant churches held their
st number of them programs of
Christmas music accompanied serv-
Sees held last night or today.
Programs Mt Hospitals.
Tz all OF the Districts charitable in
situations, public as we'll as private,
the day was observed as usual. but
with q fuller measure of the old
Christmas spirit than has been OBJ
servable the last few years. The sick
and suffering at all of the hospitals.
5ncluding Walter Reed, st. Elizabeth s
and Naval Hospital, were objects of
special consideration. elaborate pro-
grams of entertainments being pre-
scented for the benefit of all who were
able to attend. while carols and other
Christmas music were sung in the
wards for the bed patients.
Boys and girls at the various or
phan asylums also were made happy
with real Christmas entertainments.
beautifully trimmed trees and dis
tributions of little gifts featuring the
day at most of these institutions.
Christmas trees, big Christmas din
nerS and entertainments were given
at the Gospel Mission, the Central
Union Mission and the Salvation
Army. the entertainments at these
places continuing during the day. to
reach their climax tonight Baskets
containing the raw materials for
Christmas dinner also were distribut-
ed during the day at each of these
places.
For Those Away From Home.
Open house was he'd at all of the
Fed Cross Y NJ. c. ~, Y. W. c. ~.
Knights of Columbus and Community
Service houses IN the District and in
other aruusenients being offered to
help pass the time for those away
from, home.
Prisoners at the District jail. the
vorkhouse and the reformatory en-
ioyed Christmas they should long
remember, the celebration Including
special dinners gifts for all Of the
prisoners ard entertainments of vari-
GUS kinds. while at the jail tree
was trinrmni FOR the prisoners.
Washington merchants stated last
night that, in spite of hardships en-
tailed by the coal shortage, hIch
compelled late opening and cary
closing for sho~t tine the volume
of Christmas business iris year eN-
ceeded that of airy previous wear in
the history OF merchant sing in this
city. This. it vas stated. did not
apply to any single line hut extended
70 every branch OF mercantile bust
ness. in Washington.
Provision for Dyne;ackrtS.
Every man. i'm the uniform of
American hIuejacket is eating 4 hrs.-
class dinner today. whether he is
ashore at some home station or board
ship in remote foreign waters Tur-
key. chicken. nnince Die. canty ana
on the approved holiday menu will
be set before him in abundance
The war had been over lass than
TWO morths' last Christmas ard some
of the Christmas dinners at sea were
very meager, but this year, according
70 naval officials. tire ships supply Of
fcers have been able to prepare Tor
a real Christmas dinner, even IN the
distant posts Where only one OF t"o
ships are on duty.
Ships in home waters nave been
decorated with Christmas greens a,
the masthead and on the EaroarIhS'
.nd every vessel has Christmas tree
with CAV decorations. In many places
me men have arranged entertainment
t.roeranls and athletic events as part
of the holiday Celebration
Dinner at Reed Hospital.
Uncle Sam, personified by scores of
members Of the Medical corps IN ORE
-Irab. and Red Cross nurses IN the gray
Uniform of mercy. provided The boys
AT Walter Reed with a real Christmas
dinner at noon today.
THE generous old gentleman set out
for the boys who swept the Germans
hon Sa11 a n
oer typical Of the joyous season OF
christmas. and served to bring cheer
20 the hearts of some 1000 enlisted
men,
This morning every patient woke up
q, find on his bed a stocking filed with
candies, nuts. cigarettes and tobacco,
presented through the Fed Cross.
The task of preparing and serving
:: Christmas dinner. with all the INK
.c's" to 2,00U men was real job, ard
scteristic vim of the Army and the
Eed Cross. More than 500 pounds of
roast turkey. 1900 pounds of roast
loose, 500 pounds of roast ham, ten
barrels of potatoes, hundreds of loaves
AZ bread. hundreds of heads of cauli-
sewer and punches of celery and
other goodies went to make up the
meal. for ahe men at the big govern
rnent hospital Pumpkin pies. mince
nies. oranges. mixed nuts and thou
ar the end of the meal. will cause the
men to remember the dinner served
al Walter Reed on Christmas day.
1919.
The big dinner was prepared by
William Jackson. an Army chef for
The past twenty-t' o years, with Il
staff of assistants Numbering more
han a hundred men and women.
Earl F. Green. major, Sanitary Corps.
=. S. A, was in charge OF the dinner.
An elaborate entertainment pro-
ram was staged last night in front
81 the main building at the post and
m the Red Cross house by young
women from the community service
More than 800 women from the COM
Inunity service sang at the big Christ
mas tree in front of the ma n build
ing and in the Red Cross house.
AT Naval Hospital.
Elaborate preparations for Christmas
we're made at the Naval Hospital and
foday all are entering into the spirit of
he time Decorations of holly and
Christmas tiuseI have been distribut ed
throughout tie hospital. and each ward
ras a large Christmas tree. An enter
rajnment has been planned for tonight.
New York Mails Set Record.
NEW YORK, December e4.-The