The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1922-12-20

Washington gets very human on
Thanksgiving and Christmas and fair
ly close to human on the other foli-
days of the year. Thanksgiving never
was much of a southern holiday and
a part of Washington counts itself as
southern, but the New England day
in recent years has taken hold of the
capital city In all its quarters, streets
and byways. Curiously enough, the
foreign diplomats make much of the
feast day of the Pilgrim Fathers.
1t Is the evident desire and inten-
ton of each Incoming foreign diplo-
matist to take unto himself. insofar
as he can, the duty of recognizing
purely American festal days. He
thinks doubtless that 1t would be a
grateful tribute to the people OF the
country to which he Is accredited II
he should show recognition of the
spirit of its institutions. .Thanksgiv-
ing day is celebrated with turkey and
stuffing and with a good semblance
of family rejoicing In the homes OF
the foreigners who bear credentials to
Uncle Sam as representatives of their
governments.
Christmas Day In Washington.
Christmas Is coming on n then
there will be In this town a festal day
which everybody may behold, for Its
manifestations are not confined to the
homes of the inhabitants. The spirit
of Christmas day here shines In the
streets. Washington makes much or
the day of gifts and rejoicing. The
diplomats bring their OWE Christmas
| customs with them. So far as the
soutl.ern European and the Latin
American countries are concerned. the
day Is one of an %outpouring of the
spirit of gladness and neighborliness.
The families of the foreigners here
resident In official capacity celebrate
Christmas ut home in the first instance
and Their go from n home to another
of their affiliated peoples.
It Is not believed TIL year that con
gress will take much of a recess dur
ing the holiday season. The senators
and the members of course will not sit
either on Christmas or oil New Years
day, but the old-time practice of TAX
Ing two weeks off has not held for
some time, because business has been
too pressing. The two days of rest,
however, will be taken and with them
possibly an extra contiguous day or
two.
Once on n time the markets of
Washington In the holiday season
from Thanksgiving until January fairly
dripped with the fat of game. The
whole country tributary to Washing
ton was famous for game birds and
game mammals of various kinds. but
now with the exception of n few spe-
cies of animals 1t is forbidden by the
law TO sell game of any kind.
The old familiar holiday spectacle
Of men standing on the street corners
with great festoons of canvas-hack
ducks about their necks and shoulders
and which they offered for sale to. the
hon vivant no longer is to be seen.
The pot hunter has passed from the
land and the water, ana 1t Is better
so. for otherwise there would have
been little game left for future gen.
erations.
MistIetoe and Holly.
This is the season when the holly
and the mistletoe appear In the mar
kets in Washington In great clusters
and punches. Mistletoe is q parasite
and the cutting of 1t from the trees
upon which it has fastened itself is
benefcent thing for the forest growth
but 1t is a different story with the
holly.
Many fine holly trees in the vicinity
of Washington are killed every veal
by the yandal market men who hev
off great branches, leaving the dis
figured and manned tree to struggle
for continued existence as well as II
can. Many n beautiful tree has beer
sacrificed to deck q Christmas holiday
There Is some prospect that the state
of Virginia may take action in this
matter, for most Of the holly comes
from across the Potomac river.
The holiday season in the White
House this year will be quiet in Its
manifestations. Mrs. Harding has moi
entirely recovered from her recent Sc
we're illness. Therefore all social, af
fairs usually held Mt this season II
the White House have been called off
The President and Mrs. Harding ant
some of their relatives and closest
friends will observe the days in q