Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-12-25

The President of a peaceful and
prosperous nation led in tribute last
night to the Prince of Peace as a
white deacon f1ared against the skies
and hundreds of voices sang the sweet
carols of old.
Serving as a joyous prelude to
Christmas day and as an inspiration
to neighborhood celebrations through
out the country. the national COM
munity Christmas tree, in Sherman
| Square. blazed into color at President
Coolidge's touch upon a button,
living spruce, symbolic of living
truth.
Three hours later the portals of the
White House threw back to hundreds
of listeners ranged on the north lawn
the sound of anthems which nave
rung triumphant through the ages
as the vested choir of the First Con-
gregational Church conducted a
Christmas Eve choral service.
Just as dusk deepened into dark
ness the Marine Band took up the
refrain of carols which told in music
the sacred story of the Savior's birth,
and promptly at 6 o'clock the Presi'
! dent of the United States lit tree
| which Is peculiarly the property OF
the whole Nation.
Lights AdOrn Tree.
Green. red and yellow. the lights
| twinkled into vividneSs against the
dark background of the huge tree,
| fanked by men, women and children,
who pressed close around and were
even clustered about the base of the
Sherman Statue a few rods away.
A white flare, mt high in air as
the bugles blew the glad message OF
the Christmastide, illumined the
ranks of the spectators and MADE
clear the path of the President as he
set the dark tree ablaZe with glory,
| topped by golden star, silent symbol
of a heavenly light which once led
| the Wise Men to the Babe of Bethle-
| hem.
Mrs. Coolidge, clad in white and
| wearing sprig of holly on her CLOAK,
was approached by three little girls
wearing the khaki of the Girl Scouts.
uniform of service. Boy Scouts served
as ushers.
One of them, 10-year-old Elizabeth
Robins of Troop %, who lives at 1880
Twenty seventh street, bore big bas-
| ket Of Christmas green's which she
extended toward the smiling First
| Lady of the Land.
| "In the name of the community
| give you this basket" she piped IN
| clear. small voice.
| Mrs. Coolidge beamed upon the
child, the sort of smile that's made
grown.ups as we'll as children love
| her, and accepted the basket, saying
us there a speech to go with 1t, or
| is the speech to be omitted?'
The little girl, overwhelmed but
| proud, shook her head and backed
| from the platform accompanied by
| her guards, Amabel Mckee or Troop
| IL, living at 1915 Monroe street north
east. and Rosalie Dunbar of Troop 30,
1926 Wisconsin avenue.
Throngs View Tree.
| Long after the strains Of the Marine
Band were but a memory ana the
President and Mrs. Coolidge had re-
tired to the nearby White House
| escorted by the reception committee
and Senator Arthur Capper of Kan
| sas, who officiated at the ceremonies
| incident to the lighting of the tree,
the tree, gay with it's festoons Of vari'
colored lights, was visited by scores
| of people. many of them homeWaro
| bound shoppers tarrying for mo
| ment to view one Of the traditional
signs of Christmas.
| The White House lawn was CROWDED
when, promptly at 8 o'clock. the choir
Of the First Congregational Church
filed beneath the tall porte cochere
their white surplices and black cas-
socks, standing out against the white
mansion. Accompanied by an instru
mental quartet from the Marine Band
the chorus Of 65 mixed voices sang
carols which are known and loved
| in cities and hamlets alike the world
| over.
Again the refrain of 30 Little Town
| of Rethlehem.' "Hark, the Herald
! Anels Sing" "Silent Night" and other
carols which drew tight the bonds
of memory for those in the silent au.
dience who were far from home and
gave to little children a memory
they will cherish for years to come,
| rose clear upon the air. drowning
out the hum of distant traffic.
| Mrs. Coolidge's Tribute.
One of the anthems, BELLS of
christmas" was composed by Rev. DR.
James Noble Pierce, pastor OF First
| CONGREGATIONAL Church, and dedicated
to Mrs. Coolidge. The chorus was di
rected by Miss Ruby Smith Stahl
soprano, assisted by Dorothy Wilson
Halbach, contralto: w. Madison Tay
lor, tenor, and John Chandler Smith
bass, with Charles T. Ferry at the
piano.
Schreeching sirens of half a dozer
| fire trucks and engines rushing to a
blazing automobile gave noisy
| touch to the carol program Of the
| church choir. An automobile caught
| fire in the narrow street between the
| White House and Treasury, but de-
spite the din made by the Fire De
partment the carolers went ahead.
The National Community Christmas
Tree Celebration, was Conducted un-
der the auspices of the community
center department Of the public
schools and the office Of public
buildings and public grounds o
the National Capital. Cooperating
organizations included the National
lEducation Association and the Ameri
can Association of University Women