Evening star., 1927-12-25
FIRST LADY HELPS /
GIVING OF BASKETS
Mrs. Coolidge Starts saka-
ton Army's Christmas
Food Distribution.

The First Lady NJ tha land turned
her attention To the poor md assistsd
in distributing 400 baskets ns Yulefids
cheer 10 as many families a. the sal
vatiOn Army Headquarters, sos 2
street. YESTERDAY afternoon.
As almost ] 900 persons flied the
auditorium 70 lts - pacsty and 800
more crowded around the dor out
side. hoping 70 receive a. hasge, or 10
gee Mra. Coolidge AZ s1c carne out Of
the door, the gracious FRA. Lady
standing amid profusiou ~ toys
awaiting distribution in the evening.
gracefully expressed her pleasure at
being present and told the assembly
that in THAR faces she read re spipt
Of Christmas that refe,.ed the
generosity of those who had contrib
uted to the cause and made the
supplying Of dinners - poor families
possible. Thank you all I, has
been lovely 70 see you" she concluded.
Greeted BY Cheers.
Arriving exactly ~ 230 O'Clock a.
scheduled Mrs. Coolidge vas greeted
by the cheers of the people and the
salutes Of the Boy and Girl scouts
who controlled the crowd an1 acted
as ushers. AZ she was escorted TO
the room and down the aisle oy STAFF
Capt. Ernest r. Holz, she greeted
those she knew with cheer smile
and word.
singing Of America" ard ,ran
PRAYER b. Rev. F. r. Harris ot
Foundry Methodist Episcopal Caurch
for those who We're in need ard "the
little ones whose tinv hands oren me
windows towards the east -arovkh
which the spirit Of Christmas flows
in"
Capt. J. p. Curran. who ed the
singing previous 70 Mrs Colleges
coming, introduced STAFF Car. FIo!Z
as the man on whose shoulders fell
the responsibility OF the work Of tie
Salvation Army in this district
Capt. HolZ welcomed those present
and expressed his regret that all the
poor OF Washington could not be
given their Christmas dinners around
one huge table. AS the next best
thing. he said. the Army was distri-
buting 500 basket dinners. Be,ween
275.000 and 100000 such baskets are
being provided throughout the country
by the Salvation Army. ne declared
At the conclusion Mrs. Coolidge was
introduced. As she stepped forward
her face lighted with a glow OF real
pleasure. Departing from her usual
custom on such occasions CT being
garbed in white. she wore a red dress,
a gray fur coat and a large scarlet
hat.
The Lords prayer was said, and
Mrs. Coolidge descended 10 the lower
floor TO give the first basket She good
humoredly remarked upon the battery
OF cameras which faced her as she
lifted the first basket Of provisions TO
present il 20 the aged woman who
happened to be the first in Lire Say
ing that her name was Miss Maggie
seemed a little dazed. and inquired a.
10 the identity OF the lady who gave
me The basket"
Huge Christmas Tree
The actual distribution Of the gifts
was done by Comdt. J. Parkins. Mrs.
Parkins. Envoy Horace MaIpass,
Envoy J. Murphy and J. Stout,
The huge Christmas tree ,ha, stood
on the platform. as well as the deco
rations OF the hall. were arranged 5y
Capt. William Park!ns. who also rem
dered solo on the cornec.
The four troops OF Boy Scouts pres
ent. under the direction OF Assistant
Deputy Commissioner T. A. King. con-
trolled the crowd. which seemed fear
full of being missed in the distribution
% the food. The troops represented
included 40. Il. s. and 81 TIE mem
oers OF Troop OF the Girl Scouts
acted as ushers.
Il was announced BY CAPT Hoaz
that between $1,000 and SS.8al was
spent on the provisions :hs. were dis
:r!outed yesterday. These baskets
contained q chicken, celery, bread.
potatoes. apples. oranges. -oiled cats,
butter. coffee. canned peaches. peas
and corn. rlacaroni. cookies, az cf
preserves and onions