The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-12-25
PRESIDENT LEADS CHRISTMAS PARTY
 AT THE CAPITAL
Thousands ThrOng White House Grounds For
 Huge Celebration
CHRISTMAS CHEER :.
 PERVADES NATION
Whole World Unites In Spreading Peace On
 Earth Spirit
(Rv Associated Press)

WASHlNG1ON, Dec. he angels song at Bethlehem was caroled tonight from the White House to a nation at peace with the world and with good will toward all men.
 The chief executive of the na- tion and the first lady of the land joined with white-vested choir and with thousands who thronged the White House grounds in observance of the recurrence of another Christ mas eve.
 Previously the President and Mrs. Coolidge, following another custom they inaugurated at their first Christmas III the White House year ago, had wis ited one of the public parks near the executive mansion and with another large group witnessed the lighting of national community Christmas tree. Mir. Coolidge, himself, pressed the but ton that flooded the tree, a 40-foot spruce transplanted from the Adiron- dack mountains of New York, lighted with hundreds of vari-colored globes.
 Return To Preside
 Having thus taken the lead in the two ceremonies that marked the public celebration of Christmas Eve in Wash ingtOn, the President and his wife re- turned to their own fireside to spend Christmas Day with the simplicity that has always attended observance of the holiday by those living in the rural regions of Vermont.
 Several hours before the dusk of Christmas Eve descended on the gray and rain soaked city, almost all gov ernmental activities had ceased. Con- gress began its Christmas recess Satur- Gay and the departments by executive order closed their doors at 1 o'clock, releasing the thousands of clerks for last minute shopping and other work of preparation.
 Employees and officials of the mail service alone remained at their tasks during the afternoon, striving to clean up a Christmas mail that averaged throughout the country nearly 8 per cent greater in volume than year ago. Many of these worked far into the night in the various postoffices throughout the country, but even that work will cease at 1 o'clock tomorrow afternoon.
 Remains At Office
 Department heads remaining in Washington for the holidays left their desks with their employees, but President Coolidge, feeling that perhaps in work he might forget the loss since last Christmas of his younger son, remained at his office until nearly dark. Then threading his way practically unnoticed among the throngs of hurrying late shoppers, he took a short walk through part of the retail district.
 Several of the cabinet heads will spend tomorrow in other cities. Secre- tary Work left Washington several days ago to visit his daughter in Evanston, H.; Attorney General Stone returned to his home in New York; Secretary Mellon went to his home in Pittsburgh Secretary Wilbur, after sending of greetings to officers and enlisted men of the naval forces, left on a visit to Wayne, Pa., where his sister lives Secretary Gore departed for his home in Clarksburg, W. Va., and Secretary Davis, en route home from South Amer ica, is in Havana.
 Secretaries Huges, Weeks and Hover, and Postmaster General New will cele- brate the day at their Washington homes. MT. Hoover, in accordance with his custom, will drive out into the country tomorrow with Mrs. Hoover and yielding his own axe cut his own Christmas tree.
 Assists Poor
 While the President remained at his desk today, Mrs. Coolidge went about the city. assisting some of the charity organizations in distributing gifts to the poor. She visited during the morning A downtown theater, where the Central triI gifts to hundreds of children from homes which Santa Claus probably would have to pass by. Santa Claus Coolidge in the gallery, called her to gifts.
 Then in the afternoon, Mrs Coolidge went to the headquarters of the Saliva nearly a thousand baskets of food to needy families.
 Mir. Coolidge took occasion during the day to extend his Christmas greet ings in a special message to disabled veterans of the World war. declaring their valor, which aroused the world $ admiration during hostilities, has since engaged our continuing respect because of their courageous fight to heal the wounds of war" He also signed an executive order waiving civil service re. quirements for government employment of widow of one of the twenty tight men discharged from the Bureau of Printing and Engraving two years ago.
 Those attending the Christmas tree ceremony were led by the choir in the singing of Christmas carols as the President pressed the button turning on the lights. The program was con duced with concert of Christmas music by the marine band and brass quartet from the army music school.
 The choir of the First Congrega- tonal church, which the President and his family attend, provided special mum bers and led in the signing of carols at the White House. Among the num- bers was a new carol, Christmas Bells" written by the pastor of the church, the Rev. Jason Noble Pierce, and dedicated to Mrs. Coolidge, who inauguratcd the custom of singing carols on the White House lawn last Christmas Eve.
 The simplest of obscrvances will mark Christmas at the White House. The President, Mrs. Coolidge, their son, John, and Mir. and Mrs. Frank W. Stearns of Boston, the only guests, will attend union Christmas services in the
 (COntinued on page twO)