Evening star., 1924-12-21
FESTIVITIES OF CHRISTMAS
WILL BE LAUNCHED TONIGHT
Preliminary Celebrations to Continue Until Holiday
President and Mrs. Coolidge to Join
in Public Ceremony.

With Christmas, which comes but
once year, entering today the last
lap of its race to get here by Thurs
day, the National Capital is lining UP
to welcome It in the last stages and
at the finish line with a splurge of
song. celebrations, merriment and
general good Will.
The festivities will begin tonight
with several celebrations and con-
tinue daily and nightly almost until
this grand Christmas eve sendo of
Wednesday night at the national
community Christmas tree in Sher-
man square and in the White House
grounds, where carols will be sung.
President and Mrs. Coolidge will
join heartily in the ceremonies by
opening the Sherman Square celebra-
tion with a tree-lighting formaltty,
later going to the White House for
the carol-singing by the robed choir
of the First Congregational Church
and the public.
The great. community tree will
blaze forth with myriad lights as the
President snaps a switch. The deco
rating was worked out by the Elec-
trio League of Washington and the
electric connections will be made
permanent for use in future celebra-
tions.
Great crowds are expected to as
semble about the tree at O'Clock
Christmas eve to take part in it's
sented to the President by Ovid NJ.
Butler, executive secretary of the
American Forestry Association. Dis
trict officials, members of Congress
Judges of the courts and other ON
cials will witness the presentation,
A program of entertainment, ar
ranged by the Community Center
department of the District public
schools, will include community SIM
| ing of Christmas carols, under the
leadership of Robert Lawrence, anc
ACCOMPANIED by the brass quartet OF
the Army Music School. The United
States Marine Band will be on hanc
with selections.
| The public also is invited to the
| carol singing at the White House
later. This serenade is a renewal
, Of a custom begun last Yuletide.
! During the first part of the WeeF
clubs and charitable organizations
will remember the city's needy fam
/ lilies with gifts of food, clothing, toys
etc. Missions viii take a. prolniheh
| part in this work.
Four big Christmas parties TOT 'the
| poor of Washington are planned
Wednesday and Thursday by the Sal
walton Army. They are:
| Wednesday,, $3.50 p.m.-Distributiof
| of $50 baskets of food, each with din
ner enough for five people at the
Army's auditorium. COS Z street.
| Christmas morning, 10 o'clock
| Christmas party for colored children
at Broadway Theater, near Seventh
| and streets. Entertainment anc
distribution of candy and oranges.
| Christmas day-Dinner for men a.
| Industrial Home, 102 & street. -,
! Christmas night, 1880 p.m-Distri
! button of toys, dolls. candy ant
toranges to 1000 white childrsn II
army's auditorium. COG E street.
Dress 200 Dolls. ... -.,
Women of the Evangeline residence
! 1880 L street, in the last few week!
dressed zoo dolls for the poor chill
dren. These will be on exhibition to
morrow, Tuesday and Wednesday,. a
| tNe residence, and will be given ava!
Thursday night at the children
party.
This is the largest Christmas pro
gram ever undertaken by the Sal
walton Army here, Adjutant Ernes
, r. Holz, division secretary, an
nounces. The army has been appeal
ing for $4,000 to pay expenses o.
Christmas relief. Nearly $4,000 ha.
| been contributed.
It may be necessary to curtail the
program if the $4,000 is not raised
by Christmas, army officials say. Do.
nations should be sent to 607 Z
street.
Mrs. Calvin Coolidge has accepted
the invitation of the Central Union
Mission to be the guest OF honor al
the missions Christmas Eve, distribu.
ton of clothing to needy children al
Keith's Theater at 9:45 o'clock Wed
| nesday morning.
| This clothing will be distributed to
the children in 1000 to 1900 bags
and Mrs. Coolidge has consented to