Evening star., 1924-12-25
PRESIDENT LIGHTS
LIVING YULE TREE
Spruce in Sherman Square
Attracts Thousands-CaroIs
at White House.

Ignoring the murl<y, Indictment
weather. thousands Of Washington
ians, headed by the President and
Mrs. Coolidge, last night welcomed in
the festival honoring the birth of
Christ with songs, grown mellow with
age and customs grown sweet in ira
dition In addition, on Sherman
Squar re-, just south of the Treasury,
there were exercises dedicating Il liv-
ing spruce tree, which will still be
growing when this generation is gone.
Just before S o'elock approximately
10000 Washingtonians surrounded the
National Community Christmas Tree
in Sherman Square, and lane of
spectators was strung out along east
Executive avenue expecting the Presi-
dent and Mrs. Coolidge to walk TO the
scene. They came in an automobile,
however, and the crowd jammed in to
the lines. while the United States Ma
rine Band. led by Lieut.. Santleman,
played the Presidents song, Hail to
the Chief" ,.s ..
President Turns on Light.
Shortly after s o'clock President
Coolidge turned switch which
lighted the tree. There were speeches
and appropriate songs, and then the
presidential party returned to the
White House TO receive the vested
choir of the First Congrega tionai
Church. which later sang Christmas
carols on the front portico OF. the tx
e'utiVe Mansion. on the " hite
House lawn hundreds of persons
stood waiting TO get glimpse at
close range of President Coolidge.
He did not come out on the portico,
but stood inside the open door with
Mrs. Coolidge, accompanying the
singers with the carols
Songs that have ushered in Christ
mas for centuries fioated up through
the damp air from the White House
last night, and there was tradi-
ttonal and age-old atmosphere about
the singing which was impressive.
The presentation of the community
Christmas tree was attended by ex-
usrcises which were brief but strik-
effective. Mrs. Cecil Norton
SisSN-r chairman Of the committee in
charge Of the arrangements and head
Of the community center department
Of the local public schools which ar
ranged the event, received the Presi-
dent and Mrs. Coolidge and presented
to them the members of the execu-
tive committee.
Among Those Presented.
These included Representative
hamilton Fish. jr., of New York; Miss
Evelyn Smith. president of the ANA
walk Nursery of New York; F. NJ.
Feiker vice president of the Society
tor Electrical Development; E. C.
Snyder, United States marshal in the
District: T. l.. Townsend of the Wash
ington Electric League, Paul Wooton
of the McGrawHill engineering pub
lications, Mrs. l.. w. Hardy, general
secretary of the community center
organization. and Robert Lawrence,
director of community singing.
President Ovid NJ. Butler, executive
secretary of the American Forestry
Association, on behalf of that organi-
zat ton, then made the address pre-
senting the living Christmas tree to
the President He pointed out that
the tree would live and grow and be
waiting for successive seasons for
decoration He opened a vista OF
the future containing portrait OF
the tree enlivening many Christmas
celebrations.
Il accept this tree and 1 will now
light it for this occasion" were the
words President Coolidge used in his
address of acceptance. He turned
switch. The tree was flooded with d
thousand red and green and amber
lights; some arranged in candle ef-
feet; some brilliant, some subdued:
the whole offering study in artistic
color combinations.
Singing Assisted by Quartet.
Mr.. Lawrence led the singing of
Christmas carols, accompanied by the
Grass quartet of the Army Music
school. which included: Charles F.
Faddington, leader and first cornet;