Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-12-25
RICHMOND IS PREPARED
TO OBSERVE CHRISTMAS
About Municipal Tree AblaZc
in COlorcd Lights.
CEDAR GIFT OF KIwANIANs
Many Celebrate Anniversary of Birth
OF Christ Child i'm Appropriate
Manncr-Spirit OF Happiness and
Good Will Shines Forth.

Wonderfully clad in it's garment OF
twinklinG lights. nuiticolored stream
crs and hundreds of small American
flags, Richmond's tall and majestic
Community Christmas Tree blazed
forth in all it's grandeur last night oil
the Ford lot as the church chimes
pealed forth the hour of and ushcred
INTO the capital city of the Old Do
minion a Yuletide season Of peace and
good will after the hectic chaos of a
world torn for years by bloodshcd.
strife and revolution
While hundreds of carol singers on
the steps of the City Hall, across from
the old Ford lot, sang:
1T came upon the midnight clear,
That glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth
To touch their harps OF gold
huge star. fashioned OF metal and
wood, Glided ;-cross the sky and came
10 rest hundred feet above the
crest OF the giant cedar tree. a spell
or silence rested over the thousands
who had come to watch the lighting of
the tree and sing the gladstone carols
Every head was bowed for few sec
onds. The choir sang verse of 20
Little Town of Bethlehem" ending it
Lights Are Turned On.
AS the last note of the carol died
away OH the chill Christmas air. a
switch was thrown. Then it was that
the tree became as a thing OF life as
on'nns the red ,,sI, and green green and purple and
dred. Across Capitol Square from the
river rive, came stirring breeze with the
tree and the hundreds Of America n
fags stretched out their folds triumpa-
antly and swayed with the cedar limbs
For a few minutes the lights re-
mained on. Then the tree again be-
x. no n m IL Kim,
the direction of Walter c. Mercer, di-
rector of the Richmond Community
leader OF the War camp nSs't8x Gsmxmu%iiss nHins
Service; When the carol died away,
the switch was thrown over again and
ana beauty. IL will remain lighted
throughout the Christmas week to bear
mute mute testimony to the birth OF the
nineteen centuries ago.
Free Gift of Kiwanians.
Not until yesterday did electricians
working on the community Christmas
irce , rec complete their task. No less than
loo yards Of tinsel were used in the
decorations. There were eight differ
ent kinds Of colored bulbs strung from
FIT hes of.tbe t9 RIran,. RTaneh The tree is the
ffians Tor the exercises last night were
IormuIated by a committee headed by
81 Mrs TWtnkey w and R1~.Hi!n John Stewart Bryan.
OF the committee on decorations. Her
daughter, Miss Dallas Burrows, turned
on the lights of the tree.
Happier and more reverent than in
I4rmer years was the celebration OF
Christmas Eve in Richmond yesterday
here and there could be seen figure
W"sarine the khaki of the United states
Army or the blue of the naval forcas
reminders OF the peace that has come
1918. 'se'ias or
Service Men Assemble.
On the street corners eX-seryice man
who bore the brunt of battle on 'IIn, tha
IN 3ern ,be n II Iront mHn or served their country
ered and told "reminiscences of Chrisr- :
az I'm IN camps overseas or on this side
%ho %ni had much for which to be =" thanh .,fn
scicpsI1,a Hna ms thought crept uncon-
homS haneh,ae cireie or in public places. " '"'
dren 5s i'er was on the faces Of chill
hho houPP purchase fon ,o, trinkets at the eleventh.
Mi vas caught up by men and augnter wan
chris, chhrte @ were hearty greetings of "SI "SIerrH
SnTILs.mas oatIs to you" wherever neon,s
- w.