The Washington herald., 1922-12-22
CAPITAL PUTS
LAST TOUCHES
ONXMASP[ANS
Departments and Stores viii
Close, and Churches Offer
Elaborate Programs for Day
SPECIAL THEATER BILLS
District Organizations Prepare
to Make Holiday Happy for
Poor Residents of the City

Official, diplomatic and civilian |
Washington today and tomorrow
will complete preparations for the |
observance of Christmas.
While fathers and husbands |
clean up their desks in anticipa- |
tion of the two-day holiday, |
mothers, sisters and wives will be |
busy making last-minute pur-
chases.
Religious observances will fea- |
ture the festival. Catholic and
Protestant congregations in the Dis
trict have prepared elaborate pro- |
grams.
GIVEN HOLIDAYS.
By Executive order clerks and |
officials in the various departments |
OF the government will cease work |
at l O'Clock tomorrow afternoon. |
Both houses of Congress will re-
cess at the same hour-not to meet |
again until "wednesday. Govern |
ment department workers will re-
turn to their duties Tuesday morn |
ing. The Post Office Department |
will be the only exception. Mail |
windows at the main office will be
substations throughout the city.
The District Building win be He |
serted for the two-and-one-half-d day |
period, with the exception of the |
watchmen and the police and fire /
department employees. Schools and |
colleges in the District were closed !
during the early part of the week. |
not to reopen until after New Year |
STORES TO CLOSE.
While present weather indica- |
tons are causing Santa Claus no |
end of worry for his sleigh and |
reindeers, the stores and shops
which deal in supplies have no
cause for complaint. Tired CLERKS |
and helpers will close the doors be- |
hind them promptly at 6 o'clock !
tomorrow night The establish
ments will reopen Tuesday
Theaters will offer special Yule-
tide bills. Hotels have cheerful tin
sel-decorated trees for those of then. |
guests who remain in Washington. |
The National Press Club will have
q Jollification for the newspa per
men of the Capital. Most of the
other clubs will observe the day.
CHEER FOR THE POOR.
AT the Gospel Mission. 500 will |
be treated to Christmas dinner |
Central Union Mission. the Volun- |
teers of America. and other havens |
FOR the unfortunate. have expended |
much time and money so that |
everyone will be remembered.
Disabled veterans of the world |
war. both in and out of hospitals.
will be provided for. The Red
Cross authorities at Walter Reed
have arranged for big Christmas
dinner with visit from Santa
Claus thrown in. The Women's
Overseas Service Leasu are helD-
ing to care for disabled fighters.
Various posts of the American Le-
glon and other service organiza-
tions are active.
HOLIDAY IN HOSPITALS.
Heads of Orphanages. hospitals
and homes of various sort through
out the District say their charges
will not be forgotten. In the nurses
homes at the hospitals, Santa and
his workers will function. while
Christmas carols and hymns help
make the young women cheerful.
Even at the District Jail there will
be observance of the day
Unique among the Yuletide oh.
servances will be those at the en-
bassies and legations Each diplo.
matte office will follow out native
customs in celebrating the holiday.
Luncheon clubs of the city have
been active in the distribution of
baskets to the poor and needy-and
many members OF these organiza-
tions will spend Sunday and Christ.
mas morning completing their work.
There will he one regular delivery
of mail on Christmas Day the post
office department announced yester-
day. The usual holiday collections
will be made. Stamp. money order
and general delivery windows will be
closed all day
Christmas services in the churches
will open at midnight-althouzh the
bells of Church of the Epiphany will
chime out Christmas hymns and
carols twice tomorrow-at midday |
and again at p. m.
MASS OF WELCOME.
Each OF the larger Catholic
churches will hold a solemn high
mass at midnight. The annual mas.
Of welcome to the Christ child at
the Franciscan Monastery will be the
most important OF these services.
The services start at IL O'Clock.
Tickets will be necessary to gain
entrance to the midnight mass at
st. Patrick's. Pewholders at the
Shrine Of the Sacred Heart will be
given first preference in the choice
Of seats.
Midnight services will be held in
many Of the Episcopal churches in
the District. Many other churches
and societies will hold Christmas
Eve celebrations.