The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-12-24
Dc. TO SPEND
AQU|ET XMAS
! Singing of Carols viii Be Chief
Feature OF Observance of
\. Holiday.
NIGHT CHURCH SERVICES
Midnight Ceremonies Will Be
Held by Catholics and
epsicopaIians.
NIGHT CHURCH SERVICES

a real old-fashloned Christmas.
In hundreds of windows tonight
will flicker the time-honored bay
berry candles. Merry bands OF
Christmas waits" will trudge
through the streets or ride about in
motor lorries, singing the traditional
carols handed down the centuries.
Good King Wencelas," Noel" God
Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" and doz-
ems Of other melodies will recall to
many the joyous Christmastide Of
years gone by.
MIDNIGHT SERVICES.
In many OF the Episcopal and
Catholic churches midnight services
VIII usher in the anniversary OF the
birth ofo tho Babe of Bethlehem.
Carol services by Sunday school chill
dren Will take place in number of
cdLhces.
In short, Christmas this year is GO
, ing to be truly old-fashioned-the
Christmas Dickens and Washington
Irving loved to write about.
The weather man promises a clear
cold Christmas day. While there Is
no snow in sight that will not dampen
the ardour of Santa Claus, for he
will make his annual nocturnal visit
Despite the fact that the postofices
throughout the city have been crowd
ed with Christmas gift senders. the
request of the City Postmaster to
mail early apparently was not headed
by goodly slice of the city's popu-
lation. Postal facilities at the vari
Gus sub-stations will not be afforded
later than o'clock tonight. From
that hour until next Monday morning,
will be one delivery tomorrow morn
ing.
Beiated shoppers today were sour
rying through the department stores
making last minute purchaser. Santa
Claus worked overtime packing his
wonder bag Of good things for all
good children.
MARKETS ARE FILLED.
The markets were filled with bun
dle-laden housewives, laying in pro
visions for the Christmas feast. Grimy
faced urchins were at every street
corner OF the shopping district, sell
ing "green moss. 10 cents package
The toy balloon man did a land office
business, and hundreds Of colored
men an dboys dispensed holly and
mistletoe at inflated prices.
Trains leaving Washington for the
thousands Of Government employees,
who are taking advantage OF the
weekend holiday to go home. All
Government departments were closed
Mt noon today in order to give the
employees time to finish their Christ
mas shopping.
HALF-HOLIDAY ALLOWED.
White House employees received the
customary turkeys yesterday. Presi-
dent and Mrs. Wilson plan to spend
the day quietly. They have sent many
baskets of flowers to friends in the
District.
The Mystic Shriners Of Almas Tenn
pie yesterday distributed baskets of
food to deserving families. Santa
Claus was at the Interior Department
yesterday afternoon, and the jolly old
saint had. the time of his life dis
tributing gifts to the workers.
The Salvation Army will make its
distribution of Christmas baskets this
afternoon at . o'clock from their hall,
$50 Pennsylvania avenue northwest.
Baskets for colored families will be
distributed from Seventh and + streets
northwest. The army will serve 5000
christmas dinners tomorrow, and will
stage an entertainment at the Cosmos
Thaater st 10 o'clock tomorrow morn
ing.
If there is lonely service or ex-
service man in Washington it viii
not be the fault of the District Of
columbia Chapter of the Red Cross.
That organization plans to send bags
of goodies to about 400 sick soldiers
in st. Elizabeth's Hospital. In addi-
ton they are going to provide
christmas tree for the chapter house.
nt.1, hn l. . nj
omen all day tomorrow for veterans.
In the Mt Alto, Providence, and Casu.
atty hospitals there will be bedside
trees for the patients.
1000 INVISIBLE GUESTS.
Three thousand invisible guests
will be at as many Washington house.
holds tomorrow. In answer IL the
appeal of Herbert Hooyors relief
committee for the poor children OF
Europe, Washington has already pro
,,ided for this number OF the 3,150,O0O
children In whose behalf the save
life" campaign is being conducted.
Eleven brilliantly lighted motor
trucks, carrying Christmas carolsrs
OF various social service Nrganiza
tions, will spread the gospel of good
cheer tonight through the city streets.
The trucks will leave Community
Service building, 91s Tenth street
Northwest. at o'clock. The carol
.rs will visit a number OF hospitals
and furnish music for the shut-ins.
Christmas festivities at Commun-
ity Service building will be held both
tonight and tomorrow. The National
Community chorus will furnish a
program of Christmas music at $3.50
o'clock Sunday afternoon.
There will be a Merry Christmas
I'm the District Jail, despite the fact
that several prisoners are awaiting
execution, and probably VIII never
eeo another Yuletidc season. Relig-
IONS services will be conducted In the
morning, following which the in
mates will BIO treated to a real Christ
mas dinner The Fort Myer Band
will play for the prisoners in the af-
ternoon.
pi.~ov~ries About Our Eyes What
WAY Explain the Different Accounts