Evening star., 1927-11-24
Spring|ike Weather Prevails
as Capital Prepares for
Turkey Feasts.
HUNDREDS OF POOR
REMEMBERED WITH FOOD
Millions Throughout Country Hear
Chief Executive Read Proc
lamation Over Radio.

today to the spirit of Tha nksgiving
day and after turning ITS thoughts
to divine services, arranged to give
its full attention to that ambassador
of the harvest festival-his royal
highness, the American turkey.
President and Mrs. Coolidge set the
example for the country by attending
services of the First Congregational
Church held in keith's Theater, while
at st. Patrick's Catholic Church. the
annual Pan-American mass summoned
diplomats and high Government Off.
cials, and other churches of the Capt.
tai held seasonable services.
Army Band at White House.
AT the White House following the
services at the theater, the Army
Band prepared to serenade the Com
mander-n- chief of the Army and
Navy. New England quiet will pre-.
vail through the day. otherwise at
the Executive Mansion. The President
and Mrs. Coolidge will have Mr.. and
Mrs. Frank W. Stearns of Boston,
their house guests, for dinner. Four
turkeys have arrived at the White
House as candidates for the post of
honor and the Chief Executives cook
picked the largest and best for Mr..
Coolidges table. Although Amherst
College is in recess today, the brief
vacation prohibits John, the Presi.
dents son, from being with his
parents for Thanksgiving.
Mr.. Coolidge created an innovation
in the more than 800 years of observ-
ing the festival in this country by
personally appealing over the radio
last night to his fellow-Americans to
give thanks for the blessings the Ma.
ton enjoys. Millions were reached in
this great radio hook-up, hearing the
President, from his study in the White
House, read his Thanksgiving day
proclamation, which was framed
about a month ago.
Spring. like Weather Prevails.
Despite an unpromising forecast for
Thanksgiving weather, a pale Novem.
ber sun peeped across the Anacostia
River and smiled down upon the Capt.
tai, shrouded In light mist and smoke,
while countless chimneys sent their
smoke lazily toward a cloud-f1ecked
sky. Overcoats were cast aside in the
Spring like miidness of the morning.
The mighty wheels of the Nations
business were stilled, as the Govern
ment departments were closed for the
day. Postal deliveries were suspend
ed and the schools were silent, their
pupils intent on the good things of
harvestide for the nonce.
Mr.. and Mrs Washington did their
shopping yesterday and judging from
the throngs, augmented by the re.
leased Government workers who laid
their tasks aside around noon, the
merchants have ample cause for Civ.
ing thanks.
Numerous orga nizations arranged
to celebrate the day and amid jollity
the poor were not forgotten.
Hundreds Given Food.
The Salvation Army distributed 40
baskets of good cheer yesterday to its
regular relief cases and at noon today
was ready to give about $50 free tur.
Key dinners to those who applied at
it's building at 102 B street.
More than 200 baskets were distrib
uted yesterday to deserving destitute
families from the Central Union Mis-
sion. while at noon today all the poor
who came as guests were given a
Thanksgiving dinner at 613 c street
The menu consisted of roast pork
sweet potatoes, vegetables, bread and
butter, coffee and pumpkin pie. Rev
George G. Kundahl, the missions
evangelist. preached midday
Thanksgiving sermon in the mission
chapel. Superintendent John S. Ben
nett issued an appeal for funds to pay
the Thanksgiving bills.
Seventy five baskets were dis
| tributed yesterday from the Gospe
Mission. PA John Marshall place, and
today 80 families and about 200 men
were expected to participate in the
Thanksgiving dinner, which will be
served from II to 2 o'clock. Con-
tinuous services will be held from
noon until 8 o'clock tonight in con =
nection with the day of thanksgiv-
ing. Members of the board of trus-
tees will conduct the services and in
the afternoon a demonstration from
the children will be given in the
chapel Of the mission. DR.. W. Sim
clair Bowen of the Episcopal Lay
| mems Service League will bring the
message at tonights gathering.
Prisoners Dine ON Pork.
By a special order, Superintendent
w. j.. Peak of the District Jail is
permitting prisoners to receive food
from home today and this privilege
| will be extended tomorrow. 1t was
also granted yesterday. Two 300
pound hogs, grown at the Lorton,
Va, reformatory, will supply the
roast pork for the Thanksgiving din
ner at noon of the 466 prisoners. The
menu also includes brown gravy.
! mashed potatoes, stewed tomatoes.
cranberry sauce. celery, cake and
coffee.
The spirit of the festival prevailed
likewise at the hospitals.
The patients at Walter Reed Hos
pital have something in addition to
their Thanksgiving dinner to look
forward to today, for the new perma-
nent Red Cross house will be formally
opened this afternoon. The President
and Mrs. Coolidge have been invited
to attend the opening, which viii. be
held from to 6 o'clock. The two.
story red brick structure OF Colonial
architecture will be decorated with
palms, ferns, Autumn leaves and
chrysanthemums and yellow and
orange effect. All the members OF
the cabinet and their wives, as well as
the justices Of the Supreme Court and
their wives and other high Govern
ment officials, have received invita-
tions to attend.
Last night the last moving picture
was presented in the old wartime Rec
Cross Building and the veterans sans
their war songs during the evening
ending with "Old Lang Syne." Then
they made a pilgrimage to the new
building, which the Red Cross officials
considered particularly touching.
! Tonight hoesewarming. dancing
Continued on Page 3. Column 81