Evening star., 1924-12-24
SANTA'S GREETING
CHEERS WEE FOLK
ChiIdren'S Entertainment at
Keith's, Aided by Mrs. Cool
idge, Brilliant Triumph.

Twelve hundred youngsters whom
Santa Claus might have overlooked
were 1t not for the foresight of the
Central Union Mission, laughed and
gasped and almost wriggled out of
their seats with Joy this morning att
Keiths Theater. when Alice from
Wonderland, Robinson Crusoe the
Boy from Back of the North Wind
Santa Claus and Mrs. Calvin Coolidge
contributed in various ways to make
this real Christmas eve for them.
The occasion was the presentation
of little pageantskit by Miss
Lenore De Grange, entitled "On
Christmas Eve" and the subsequent
distribution of 1900 individual Christ
mas bags filled by Washington church
folks who realize that Christmas is
not the same Christmas everywhere
The entire program was under the
sion, which is a mission of the
churches of Washington, with Supt
and Mrs. Bennett in charge of ar
rangements.
Sight to Brighten Dull Eyes.
1t was a sight to brighten dull eyes
In the seats where night after night
throughout the year there are seated
the more fortunate persons who can
afford to while away few hours
in ENJOYING the advertisement the
theater offers, were youngsters from
various sections of the city, who for
the most part were sitting in up
holstered theater seats for one of
the rare times OF their lives. Up
above, in box, looking down and
smiling, was the wife of the Presi-
dent Of the United States. She was
having just as good a time watching
the youngsters as the children were
watching the pageant
The donation of Roland Robbins
and the Keith management in addi-
tton to the use Of the theater was a
gift of laughter in the form of a
cartoon fable in slang, concerning
the antics Of various cats, dogs mice,
trick automobiles and birds
Then the curtain went up on q
poor little girl, wondering just who
this fellow Santa Claus is, who comes
into the elegantly appointed home
with a pack filled to bursting and
In some unaccountab BILE way overlooks
some homes located in alleys and
side streets.
Wonderland Princess Appears.
Lo and behold, Who shows IN. as
soon as the mother of the Poor Little
Girl has gone out, but Alice from
Wonderland, herself? She was late
Tor an appointment for tea with the
March Hare, and the Duchess and she
was in danger of hearing the cry:
ON with her head" But she came
anyhow. just to help the little girl
plan a party. And before long Rob
inson Crusoe and his parrot walked
In. Then came Hansel and Gretel
the boy from the North Wind coun-
try. Wendy and her groom and scores
OF others from books and stories. and
the party was on. Did those young
sters enjoy it? 1t was great to
watch them.
After awhile the sleep fairy came
and the gnomes and Santa Claus
When the little girl woke up from
her dreams she found "all sorts of
things" left for her
Keith's has heard some applause I,
is doubted that such as took place
this morning, however. has ever been,
touched in intensity. spontaneity and
genuineness as the final curtain
dropped.
Mrs. Coolidge Santa,s Aid,
Then there was the distribution of
presents. Mrs. Coolidge, at the ex-
press invitation OF Santa Claus came
down to the stage She had helped
hiiil OUT III getting the White House
horseshoer to fix up his reindeer's
hoof after a shoe had dropped Off en-
route TO Keiths. She busted herself
with the youngsters, helping to
keep them in line, and posing them
for photographs at the imperious re-
quests Of photographers who trooped
on the stage. Everybody was smil-
ing.
She then took the first package
from Santa and handed it to little
Margaret Lang. 5k-year-old ward of
the Children's Emergency Home,
which is operated in conjunction
with the Central Union Mission. And
the line started. At noon today each
of the 1900 youngsters were travel
ing homeward with one of the bags
filled with toys and clothing prepared
from a list made up in advance to