The Washington times., 1922-12-23
=. ~ . D. D.
HA[Ts
FOR BIG
DAY
Government Wheels Stop and
People Glow With Pre-
Christmas Spirit.

People Glow With Pre.
Christmas Spirit.
With the wheels Of national and
municipal governments stopped In
reverent Difference to the worlds
greatest anniversary, Washington
today began eleventh-hour prep
arations for the biggest Christ
mas celebration since the days be-
fore the world war.
Have an Extra Day.
This afternoon will see q city free
from labor. devoted to the great
common festival of Christmas Eve.
As 'the night before Christmas"
this year falls on Sunday the Gus
tomary joyous rush Of shoppers.
visitors, homegoers and amusement
hunters win press through the
streets today and tonight.
Although unaccompAnied by snow.
which inevitably elevates the spirits
and .quickens the heart-beats Of
humanity, the. throngs on the
Washington streets are today com
pletely enveloped In the glow of the
season. They are out today to
prove that the Capital can do Jus
tice to the occasion without "a
white Christmas"
While numerous Federal officials.
non-native clerks and others will
leave the city to observe the holi-
day with the home folks, the capi-
tai will receive, probably the larg-
est throng Of Christmas visitors in
many years. -..-.t
The diplomatic corps which at
this time Of year feels more exiled
than ever win endeavor to relieve
Its homesickness by native Gus
toms. The numerous embassies
and legations will be scenes of old.
time Christmas cheer, with all
time-honored Embellishments.
The shopping crowds are re-
cruited, with no discrimination.
from the halls Of state and from
the meanest novels Of the city's
underworld.
The buying contingent will be
swelled by. the release. Of thous-
ands Of Federal and District EN-.
ployes at I O'Clock.
Plan AID For Poor.
Practically every organized body
Of men and women in Washington
Is planning assistance for the poor.
While Washington's needy are not
20 numerous as In other large
cities. the number 10 sufficient to
bring out scores Of civic, business
and charitable bodies 10 their aid.
The slogan for the day is: mo
hungry family on Christmas morn
ing" ...
Proof that Washington is enter
ing upon its merriest Christmas Is
given by statistics of the city post
office, showing an approximate In
crease of 20 per cent In the num-
Der of holiday parcels received over
last year. Outgoing mail also II
heavy, although the peak has been
passed. An interesting exhibit OF
volunteer bundle wrapping IL in
constant progress in the big cor
ridor OF the postoffice, where stout
wrapping paper and twine are pro-
vided for patrons unequipped with
these necessities for safe mailing.
q Churches Az Celebrate.
Churches Of all denominations are
preparing special programs for
Monday, mass In many Of the
Catholic churches beginning at mid
night. '.' ..'s.-
The McKim memorial chimes of
the Church of the Epiphany VIII
usher in the feast day today at
noon, their peals sounding far over
the heads Of the hurrying shoppers:
On Sunday night, extra cars oi
the Washington Railway and Elec'
A ~l<,H " xvvtll r.,v, ~ RrO0k In nd,
| where the celebration at the Fr9n'
ciscan Monastery will open at mid
night.
Markets were crowded early today
with Christmas dinner shoppers
Turkey was on sale at IS cents
pound, a price appreciably lower
than the Thanksgiving costs.
Holly and mistletoe, the age-old
symbols Of the Druids' Christmas
are greatly In evidence, and the horn
Of plenty has poured fruits and
vegetables in great quantities into tins
mafts. R''F
Hotels and restaurants are deco
rated for the holiday, and, specia
Christmas fare win be served on
Monday. t.
A special delivery letter to tn.
Washington Times from the Nortf
Pole headquarters of santa Claus
was received today. II follows: .
Best wishes to everybody II
Washington, and particularly u
the children. Tell them that In
in great shape and Dunder ant
Blitsen and the rest Of the rein.
deer are rarin' to 70. IN be !,
Washington ON Sunday night witl
e. fins pack q toys and nd soodsss o sss''