Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-12-20
FULL CHRISTMAS WEEK OPENS
WITH SPECIAL CHURCH SERVICES
President and Mrs. Coolidge to Take Active Part in
City's Observance of Holidays-Spirit of
Giving Pervades Throngs Downtown.

A Christmas week fun of activity
opened today with distinct spirit OF
the season prevalent, as the Capital
led by President and Mrs. Coolidge
and the Nations lawmakers, began tC
lay aside all other considerations and
to give itself over wholly TO enjoy
ment of the holidays.
Congress viii call to a close its dis.
cussion OF the World Court. tax reduc
ton and other proposed legislation
Tuesday, and those members who live
in not too far distant places will re
turn to their home towns for Christ
mas and New Year day, reconvening
on January 4.
The public schools of the District
will be closed at the end of the session
Wednesday afternoon and will not he
called again until Ja1uary 4.
Merchants, however. are active
reaping the peak OF their years sales
as thousands of persons with the spir-
it of Santa Claus i'll their hearts
swarm the downtown section. making
last minute purchases. Traffic is the
most congested in many months and
the limited number of special officers
assigned to enforce the new anti-jay
with a difficult task as they try &c
hold up the beldted buyers.
Mrs. Coolidge to Present Gifts.
President Coolidge is to participate
in the city's community tree celebra
ton to he held Christmas eve around
the great spruce which last year was
planted in sherman Square, south OF
the Treasury building. and Mrs. cool
idge will play Santa Claus to n host
of the poor of the District Thursday
at 1880 o'clock. when she will preside
at the distribution of 1900 bags of
food, clothing and toys. under the aus
pices the Central Union Mission, at
keith'S Theater.
While there are dances, receptions
and dinner parties planned through
out the holiday season by virtually
every home there are few large social
events scheduled, the majority of the
residents of Washington following
the example Of President Coolidge
and the First Lady in enjoying the
holidays at home with their families
The President and Mrs. Coolidge
plan to spend Christmas at the White
House in their usual quiet observ-
ance OF Christ's birthday and vii
have with them their son, John
Coolidge. who will come from Am
herst, to enjoy his first trip home
since the present school term opened
Special Church Services.
Special Christmas sermons are to
be preached IN all Washington
churches today and classic sacred
compositions will be rendered by
many church choirs and quartets
Numbers OF the services are to be
broadcast
1sadio stations WCAP and WRC
will broadcast all day Thursday and
Friday carefully selected programs
which will have numbers ranging
from Christmas carols TO the most
classic compositions which fit the
season.
The poor of the District are to be
remembered as we'll as the well-to do
The Associated Charities, the Saliva :
ton Army. the Central Union Mission
and the many benevolent societies
and charitable organizations of re-
ligious institutions have been busy
for weeks planning how best they can
bring cheer to the needy. Even the
prisoners at the District Workhouse
and at the Jail are to be served spe.
cial Christmas menus
Clerks Get Holiday.
The thousands OF Government clerks
here this year will be granted a spe.
cial boon in the form Of an additional
days vacation Saturday. December
%. A bill passed by the Senate Fri
day and by the House yesterday pro
vides for a legal holiday. and the
measure only needs the Presidents
signature to become effective.
The national community Christmas
tree will be lighted by President Cool
idge at o'clock. following a program
by the United States Marine Band
which will begin at o:45 O'Clock. The
great tree, trimmed with a myriad Of
vari-colored electric lights will flasf