The Washington times., 1923-12-25
SPIRIT Of XMAS
CHEER GRIPS
DISTRICT
Children of Rich and Poor
Alike ReveI in Joy Of
Holiday.
Continued from First Pagel

Through the night went couriers
of good will, representing every
class Of humanity. bringing to homes
their Christmas offerings.
Go to Midnight Mass.
Shortly before midnight the re.
Gently deserted streets were again
heavy traffic lanes, as thousands Of
Washingtonians crowded into Catho.
lie churches for midnight mass.
Then the world went home to bed,
to awake hours later upon clear.
crisp Christmas Day.
Among the more prominent resi-.
dents or washington who entered
into the observance OF Chrfsfnas
with a vim, were Calvin COOLIDGE,
President Of the United States. and
his family. ''
AT o'clock yesterday afternoon
when dusk had fallen and lasr'
minute shoppers were battling in
the store aisles, President COOLIDGE
walked from the White House fo
the Ellipse and touched q button
at the foot of the Community
christmas tree, sixty-foot Yer.
mont evergreen, thereby turning
on the 5000 colored lights which
bedecked its towering branches.
Carols Are Sung.
Trumpets sounded as the tree
sprang into colorful life and a choir
OF fifty voices from the Church of
the Epiphany led the assembled
thousands in carol singing.
Through the evening Washington
was drawn to, view the tree, and at
y O'Clock, when the choir of the
First Congregational Church led
the public in carol singing at the
north portico of the White House.
the grounds were packed with
those who Joined the Coolidges in
observing Christmas.
Tree In Blue Room.
The executive mansions facade
was Illuminated with strinpe If
electric lights and large wreaths
of holly, mistletoe and pine cones,
attested to the season. The Presi.
dent. his wife and his two sons
stood in the doorway as Harry
Edward Mueller led the choir and
the public in singing. In the fla.
nous blue room of the mansion
stood tree. which came as a sur.
prise yesterday, and which Mrs.
Coolidge and the boys trimmed
while the President was engaged
with callers in the executive Offices.
The President and Mrs. Coolidge.
with Mr.. and Mrs. Frank Stearns,
White House guests, made ready
h~day to attend the union Christ.
mas services at the First Congre.
gational Church, arranged by the
Washington Federation of Churches.
Members of the cabinet, the Judi.
ciary, the army and navy and Gov
eminent officials have been invited
to attend. Bishop William F. Nc.
Dowell, OF the Methodist Church,
delivered the sermon.
Mass at Monastery.
One Of the most striking features
OF last nights services was the mid.
night mass at the Franciscan Mon.
astery in Brookland. Following the
mass, the procession to the Grotto OF
Bethlehem took place.
Practically all Catholic and Protes-
tant churches have arranged special
chlstmas services foA today. Wash.
lngtons places of worship are fit
tingly decorated, to pay tribute to the
greatest day in the church calendar.
Inc Salvation Army distributed
o'OOO dinners to the poor of Wash.
lngton yesterday. At $50 O'Clock to-
Gay tree will be provided for poor
Shlloren OF Washington at army
west.
A victrola and many records were
1911 at the Wisconsin Avenue In
wards OF the District are being
given "a regular holiday dinner to.
day.
Xmas Spirit Prevails.
In all public and private instItu-
tIohs' IN hospitals and in the Dis
trlct workhouse and reformatory,
the spirit of Christmas prevails.
Inc Lions Club will go to Mt.
Alto Hospital tonight, with gifts for
Ine disabled veterans. During the
week. the WOmen's Overseas Sew
ice League will conduct series of
parties for wounded soldiers in local
hospitals.
The social service committee of
All Souls Unitarian Church pre-
scented Christmas tree to the
chlldren of Garfield Hospital. Trim
% "OAo OOAoIcO Dy me CI9VOs
iand Park School pupils.
COOlidges Rise Early.
Rising early, the President and
MRS Coolidge, their two sons, John
ana Calvin II, and the house guests,
Mr.. and Mrs. Frank w. Stearns,
gathered in the historic Blue Room
OF the Executive Mansion to- view
the Christmas tree. There, all of
the numerous presents sent by
friends and well-wishers were opened
and examined.
Following, the entire party at
tended services at the First Con-
sresatlonal Church, and returned
TO a quiet family meal. Through
out the remainder of the day
friends were received.
The Coolidges have done much
this year to afford real Merry
Christmas" to the city's unfor-
Inmates. Mrs. Coolidge personally
assisted in the distribution of BOO
salvation Army Christmas baskets.
Another little incident Indicative
OF the holiday spirit was the dis
patch OF fifty bouquets of White
House roses to the homes of shop
girls who had assisted Mrs. Coolidge