Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-12-25
A Christmas Story
/. G.. NJ.

The conclave is more solemn even
than usual. Plain that weighty mat
ters are afoot this Winter day In the
Capital Of the Nation.
The great civic triumvirate knits
composite brow in a single deepening
groove Of profound thought, In q single
portentous froWn OF responsibility and
determination. What can it be that
so stirs this ruling body at the near
Christmas time? Has the daily toll
Of motor murders and maimings
mounted at last to the measure of the
holocaust itself? Has the willy rum
runner for the thousand nd-first time
proved his superior intelligence and
wit and daring and execution? Have
streets Of midnight gloom given once
again the chance not to be refused by
thief and thug? If not one or another
of these oft-faunted gibes upon the
wit and will of constituted authority
what can 1T be, more dire. that so stirs
this leadership to it's depths? The
council chamber Is a tomb of secrecy
and silence. The very lamps. abashed
give out twilight, impressive and
solemn. 1t is clear that somewhere
somehow. at last, a momentous con
cert is about to free the great city OF
George Washington Of it's most ma
lignant shame.
One steals away, respectful and ex-
pectant, from this grave burgeOning
Of purpose before the claims Of the
Capital for its right to d safe and
blameless life.
< x s. !:
Christmas is just around the corner.
And all the Washington world is out
to meet, in joy and happiness and
goodwill, the birthday of the Blessed
Friend of all the world. Youth and
age. wealth and poverty and all in
between the two, strangers a moment
before, now meet and greet one an
other in friendship and understanding.
The shops shine with fresh and bloom
ing faces. The lights begin early to
exc out a longer daytime. Laughter
and play-these tinkle like temple
bells to the singing heart of the
world. So, day after day, joy has its
way on the tide of goodwill that is
Christmas.
Now tho dusk is coming ON. In a
single impulse the great current turns
homeward-a dinner. a bit Of rest and
out again into the glowing Christmas
streets.
And what is this particular turmoil
OF homecoming that centers around
mat friendly tree, near enough TO the
good folks swarming beneath it to give
the feeling of safety and companion
ship to these hominS hundreds? A
noisy throng, to be sure. tremendously
busy getting settled for the night
where from this loft they may look
down with bright eyes upon their
friends below. wondering, maybe
what all the extra joy is about just
now-since they themselves must,
every day and all the time. hold a
happy trust in the Good Friend to
Everything. And they push and chat.
ter and settle themselves-and unset
tie themselves-till all are placed in
comfort and quietude. And the easing
moment of sleepiness comes with only
a contented twitter here and there to
supplant the hubbub Of getting TO bed
They have no notion that they are
noisy-and even if they did have. they
are sure that all the people understand
y x !:
The fire wagons and their shrieking
alarm. 4 bird mods drowsily and
twitters. Fire somewhere-keep every,
body safe. Good Friend" And all the
halfwaked little birds go to sleep
again.
The great fire wagon, and the splen
did fremen. and the full panoply OF
authority draw up beside that home
tree of those safe and sleeping birds.
And them