New-York tribune., 1919-12-25
Evidence of Return TO Old
Christmas Spirit Shown
in Liberal Gift Buying
and Clogging of Mails
Army and Navy to Share
Fighters Both at Home and
Abroad to Enjoy Best Din
ncr the Market Affords

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2a-Wlth peace
in fact, if not in substance, the Ameri-
can people tonight began the celebra
tion Of Christmas in pre- war spirit
Evidences Of the nationwide return
to the spirit that dominated the Ameri-
can Christmas prior to 1914, when the
war, although then confined to Europe,
cast a reflection across the Atlantic,
has been noted in unprecedented buy
ing of gifts, according to reports to the
headquarters of mercantile associa-
tions. Christmas maidstone Of the
most exact indications of national par
ticipation in the spirit of the holiday
have been the heaviest on record
Members Of President Wilson'S Off
cial family will pass tomorrow at their
homes, many family gatherings having
been arranged. Vice president and
Mrs. Marshall went to Indianapolis
early in the week for the holidays.
Secretary and Mrs. Lansing left to-day
for Watcrtown, N. Y, to remain several
days with members of the Secretary's
family, and Secretary and Mrs. Glass
are to pass the day at their home at
Lynchburg, Va. Other Cabinet mem
bers will be in Washington.
All Departments Closed
All departments Of the government,
by executive order, closed at noon to-
day until Friday morning.
Officers and men of the army, whether
they be in camps in this country, in
possessions, had received tonight the
wishes for merry Christmas sent out
by Secretary Baker. A Christmas din
ner, more varied in its nature than that
of year ago, because of the lessened
-4,iC
camps and cantonmentS.
Special preparations have been made
Tor Christmas in the navy. The Navy
Department predicted that its mon,
whether in home waters or in remote
parts of the world, would have the
mcrriest Christmas in the navy's his
tory. Ship supply officers, it WAS said
began earlier than usual this year to
prepare for the occasion, so that every
man is assured of turkey dinner
Entertainments have been arranged,
many of them for tonight.
Radio Carries Daniels Greeting
Naval radio stations to-day broad
casted the following message from Sec
retary Daniels:
= "Christmas greetings to all in the
naval service mobilization has lost
many shipmatcs who were with US last
Christmas, when we celebrated the
peace the Navy had helped win, but
they are still our comrades. The glory
OF achievement abdes with all who
served in the World War. May the
blessings of the peace won and the
blessings of the Prince of Peace cheer
every heart this Christmas time"
For the men Of the Army, Navy and
Marine Corps, convalescing in hos
pltals from war wounds, most elaborate
preparations have been made both bv
the military authorities and by CRATE
1ul citizens of the communities in
which the institutions are located.
Lansing Issues Statement
Secretary Lansing tonight issued the
following statement addressed to the
American people:
%Chrstcndom on the 25th day of De-
cember celebrates the ANNIVERSARY of
the birth OF an era which gave to man
KIND a DIVINE message of peace and
those principles which have been the
foundation stones of modern PROGRESS
and civilization.
To-day it is heralded abroad that
we have entered upon a new era of
peace and of higher standards of in
tcrnational and national life 1t is not
a new era, but the old era, which was
usnereu IN by the blrth OF Jesus, per-
fected by His teachings and conse-
Grated by His death-the old era. to
which we return after time of mad
ness, of agony and of evil Clothed in
the ancient peace proclaimed over nine
teen centuries ago on the hills of Beth
lehem, the world, with conscience
awakened by the fiery ordeal through
which it has passed, should find re-
newed hope that Christian principles
will triumph and become the dominant
force in the affairs of men and of ma
tions."