Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-12-24
CHILDREN KISSED
BY MRS. COOLIDGE
Annual Christmas Party at
Keith's Draws Hundreds.
Cheer First Lady.

Two chubby faced youngsters, one
a little boy with a mass of yellow
curls, the other a brown-haired girl.
are among the happiest children in
Washington today. They have been
Rugged and kissed by the First
Lady of the Land and from their
beaming countenances they seemed
mighty proud Of it.
These two little youngsters. Billy
Cropp and Mary Mason, were among
the twelve hundred children made
happy by the smiles OF Mrs. Calvin
Coolidge at the annual Christmas
tree celebration held by the Central
Union Mission at Keith's Theater.
Seldom has Mrs. Coolidge received
a more enthusiastic reception than
the cheers that greeted her today
from the host of small children as
she Joined q red-clad Santa Claus
impersonated by John S. Bennett on
the stage, heaped high with Christ
mas bags.
Enjoyed Program Greatly.
Mrs. Coolidge evidently enjoyed 1t
all as much as the youngsters did
She would have liked to have stayed
throughout the whole entertainment
and give each Of the 1900 boys and
girls their bullying Christmas bags.
only the performance had dragged
out so long IL was necessary for her
to leave.
Santa Claus spied Mrs. Coolidge in
en- upper right.hand box. where she
had remained for more than an hour
and a half during the program that
preceded the appearance OF the Christ
mas gentleman. Mr.. Bennett told the
children that they were going to have
with them today q lady with a great
big heart" who would wish them a
merry Christmas.
Mrs. Coolidge quickly Joined .the. hap
py throng on the stage and clapped
her hands in merriment as a dozen or
more small children rushed forward to
greet her. Then came the camera
men. Standing in front Of the glitter
ing tree, which reached to the top Of
the stage, Mrs. Coolidge posed with
the score OF youngsters, Santa Claus
and Mrs. John 8. Bennett, head Of the
Mission Emergency Home for Chill.
dren. Little Billy Crop, whose tan
gled yellow curls caught Mrs. Cool
idge's eye came in for an especial hug
and kiss. He is one Of the inmates at
the home. Amusement was caused
when Mrs. Coolidge took Billy for a
girl and then mistook little Mary Ma
son for boy.
Mrs. Coolidge Speaks.
Just before Santa Claus got ready
to distribute the gifts Mrs. Coolidge
stepped to the front Of the stage and
II want to tell you how happy am to
hn xxyffH
am that l cannot stay and give you
each a bag, as l had promised" Then
Mrs. Coolidge told the children that
she was going to count one, two, three
and at three everybody should shout
Merry Christmas This they did
with lusty lungs.
The bags of Christmas toys were
heaped on each side of the Christmas
tree. Assisted by Mrs. Bennett and
Mrs William H. Ramsey, president
of the Woman's Guild, Santa Claus,
gave to each child an individual bag
Each bag was marked with the name
and age Of the child. Some contained
underwear and stockings, others
dresses and suits of clothes. All con-
tained a little candy. fruit. toys and
perhaps a book.
The arduous task Of filling these
1900 bags fell to the woman's guild,
the board of directors and the minis.
terial guild, representing those who
are cooperating in the work Of the
children to receive their bags were
Baby Catherine Adamson and Flora
Adler
Fully an hour before Santa Claus
made his appearance Keith's Theater
was packed from orchestra pit to gal.
lery with the 1000 children, their
families and friends. Manager Roland
Robbins, who acted as host, had ar
ranged an elaborate entertainment for
the youngsters.
First Lady Early Arrival.
Mrs. Coolidge was one of the
earliest arrivals, and received many
cheers from the children as she en-.
tered the box reserved for her shortly
after 10 o'clock.
First Of all there were movies. and
the antics Of Farina. the freckled face
boy, and their little companions
caused the house to rock with peals Of
laughter. Mr.. Robbins had installed
a monograph, which furnished music
After the showing of the films
Bishop James e. Freeman gave the
benediction. Then there were songs
in which all the children Joined and a
solo, "Silent Night" by Mrs. Frank
Crofton, accompanied on the piano by
Harold Dudley.
E. H. De Groot, jr.. president of the
board Of directors of the mission, who
presided, made the children welcome.
Next in order was an act by Archie D.
Engel. magician, who held the chill
dren spellbound as he plucked rabbits
out of hats, made objects vanish
mysteriously and pulled reams of
paper from caps.
'Kiddie Bag" Success.
The "Kiddie Bag" method Of
Christmas giving, inaugurated in
Washington some years ago by the
Central Union Mission, is declared
by officials Of the mission practically
to remove danger Of unwtse giving.
Each bag being marked with the
name and age Of a particular child