Evening star., 1921-12-24
SHOPPERS THR0NG
STREETS IN FINAL
CHRISTMAS RUSH
Crowds, Intent on Last-Min-
ute Preparations, Lend
Festive Air to City.
BASKETS OF CLOTHING
AND FOOD GO TO NEEDY
New Record in Number of Parcel
Post Packages-Many Par
ties Tonight.


Last-minute sh )ppers thronged the
streets today when government depart
ments gave a half holiday. lending a
festive air TO the entire city as the pcu-
pie turned Pennsylvania avenue, + street
and other tHoroughfares into moving
masses, all intent upon making final
preparations .or Christmas.
The Salvation Army and other or
ganiZations held their annual parties
today. baskets of clothing and food w"se
sent out to the needy, church programs
of Christmas music We're put in final
preparation today for tomorrow, and
everywhere the true spirit of Christmas
prevailed.
Rain Predicted Tonight.
Prediction of rain for tonight. with
probably clearing weather tomorrow. and
sunshine. with much colder by tomorrow
night. did not interfere with the move
ments Of the downtown crowds nor the
ci:y-wide distribution of parcel post
package by the city pos; Office. wniri:
yesterday distributed 30.co0 parcels. a
record in the history of the Office.
Five hundred Christmas baskets
were distributed this morning at the
recently dedicated home of No. l
Corps. the Salvation Army. 606 +
street, under the direction of Maj. J.
q. McGee. commander of the District.
The baskets were distributed after
Investigation of the need of those who
came to get them. Many happy en-
pressions followed the receipt of tn.
pG skets.
500 Children Made Happy.
This afternoon at O'Clock So" chill
dren viii be made happy by the Sal
alton Army at the Christmas enter
tafnment for them. when there will be
candy. toys. music and other enter
tainment for the little ones. Monday
morning the Salvation Army will give
its annual theater party to children
at the Cosmos Theater
At Mount Alto Hospital tonight the
soldier patients will be the guests of
Santa Claus through the Women's
Overseas Service League of Washing
on. There will be big surprise
resent for the boys. music by Marine
and players and Il special series of
.;oleaCN.
Monday morning Saks & 60. will.
make their annual distribution of lao
.veTcoats at the store to needy chill
tren. each of whom has been passed
upon as worthy by the Associated
Charities. Isaac Cans Will preside at
the distribution. which is eagerly
looked forward to each year.
Mission Giving Away shoes.
At Central Union Mission there will
be service at noon Monday and imme-
diately following the service Christ
mas dinner will be served, beginning
at / O'Clock. Monday night. at 1:3"
o'clock. there is to be a Christmas
..arty for the children of the neigh
oorhood Every child with get bag
bearing his name. each bag to contain
gifts OF clothing. toys. candy. etc. The
mission also is giving away shoes
through the generosity of George
Horning. certain number of pairs be-
ing fitted each morning at Saks & Co.
At the Gospel Mission Christmas
dinner will be served at 2 o'clock Mon
day. following which there will be an
entertainment and distribution of gifts
to the little ones. The Chinese Sunday
school of the mission will hold an en-
tertainment Monday evening in the
chapel.
Christmas Eve Parties.
parties tonight and many of the
stores will keep open late this even
ing TO accommodate those who put
off to the last moment the buying of
some gift or necessity. The Center
and other markets did d rushing
business today.
Tomorrow in all the churches the
birth of Christ will he observed with
special programs of music upon
which the singers have been working
Ior days.
Special Christmas parties will he
held tonight at the Neiehborhood
House and other settlement houses
Tomorrow, the lO0th anniversary
of the birth of Clara Barton, angel
of the battlefield,' founder of the
American Red Cross. will be observed
here by friends who have not for
gotten. There will no set program
She was BORN on Christmas day, 1871,
in Worcester county, Mass.