Evening star., 1928-12-24
Community Celebration To-
night to Be Focal Point of
Nations Observance.
CAROL SINGING AMONG
FEATURES OF PROGRAM
Many Organizations Busy With
Distribution of Food and
Gifts to Poor.

WHeIl IIlS uIS6 StdIS BledIll GllOuSAl
the Winter dusk tonight the age-old
miracle of Christmas eve will have
come to Washington and all Christen-
dom.
This city will be the center of a
nationwide community observance,
starting at pm, when President
Coolidge presses button to light the
living tree in Sherman Square. which
will be signal for the simultaneous
lighting of community trees through
out the country.
This will be the Presidents final ap-
pearance before the people of Wash
ington this year on public occasion.
He is expected to leave tomorrow for
Sapelo Island, off the coast of Georgia
and will not return until after New
Years.
To Reach Tree at 1855.
President and Mrs Colidge are ex-
pected to arrive at the tree in Sherman
Square before the Treasury at 7:55 pm.
They will be met by members of ma
tional committee headed by District
Commissioner Proctor l.. Dougherty and
including Senator Arthur Capper, Rep
reSentative F. N. Zihlman O.. M. But
ler, Mrs. John F. Sippel, Charles F.
Carusi, E. C.. Graham and Frederic
A. Delano. They will also be met by
Miss Sybil Baker, chairman, and Col
U. 81 Grant, Sd, vice chairman of the
local executive committee.
Following the arrival of the President,
the Cantique de Noel will be played by
Arthur S. Witcomb of the Marine
Band as a cornet solo. Mr.. Coolidge
hen will be introduced by Commissioner
Dougherty. AS he lights the tree, a
signal flare in the form of Christ
mas star will be sent up, and the
message will be relayed by Boy Scout
buglers stationed throughout the city.
Greetings to be Presented.
Then will follow the presentation to
the President and Mrs. Coolidge of the
Christmas greetings of the people OF
Washington by representatives of the
Boy and Girl Scouts.
The Christmas greetings from the
people of Washington in the form of
beautifully designed and executed per-
sonal Christmas card will be presented
to Mrs. Coolidge through many or
ganizations of the Capital City, includ-
ing the Arts Club, City Club, District
of Columbia Congress of Parents and
Teachers, District of Columbia Fedora
ton of Labor, District of Columbia Fed
Grafton of Women'S Clubs, Federation
of Citizens Associations, Federation OF
Civic Associations, League of American
Pen Women of the District of Columbia,
Merchants and Manufacturers ASSocia-
ton, Quota Club of Washington, So
roptimiSt Club of the District of Colum-
bia, Twentieth Century Club, Washing
ton Board of Trade, Washington
Branch of the American Association of
University Women, Washington Cham
ber of Commerce, Women'S City Club,
Zonta Club of the District of Columbia.
Miss Marian Lane, Washington artist.
designed and executed the Christmas
card for presentation to Mrs. Coolidge.
The card will be presented by Jocelyn
Taliaferro Smith, niece of Commissioner
Taliaferro.
There will then be a series of Christ
mas carols, sung by the National Capt.
tol Oratorio Association, and accom-
panied by the Marine Band. Singing
of the Star Sangled Banner will close
the ceremonies. The band will play a
preliminary Christmas Eve concert
beginning at 1880.
Because of the Nationwide hook-up,
it is possible that both Mr.. and Mrs.
Coolidge may speak briefly.
At 8 o'clock there will be the pro-
gram of carol singing on the White
House lawn, led by the vested choir OF
the First Congregationalist Church.
This has been an annual custom since
the Coolidges have been in the White
House and has become one OF the
Christmas traditions of Washington.
- Mrs. Coolidge Busy.
Before the lighting of the tree Mrs.
Coolidge will have taken part In two
other Christmas celebrations-the Cen
tral Union Missions party for cmldren
at Keith's Theater and the distribution
of food baskets at the Salvation Army
temple, 606 E street.
The Central Union Mission party
took place at II am. and Mrs. Cooldge
aided in distributing gifts to l.4O0 cml-
dren. The food distribution started at
go There were 750 baskets. The
Salvation Army is distributing 1000
baskets altogether with enough food to
provide Christmas dinners for 5000
persons.
This evening the Salvation Army is
planning a special party for 1000 chill
dren at the Temple, when gifts Will
be presented. Tomorrow morning IS
baskets of food will be given away at
the Salvation Army center in George
town. These have been provided by
the Georgetown Citizens Association.
Tomorrow afternoon more than 300
homeless men will be guests at dinner
at the Salvation Army's Social Service
Center. 102 B street. A special Christ
mas party for colored children will be
given tomorrow morning at one OF the
colored theaterS.
Food Is Distributed.
The Christmas program of the Gospel
Mission, 214 John Marshall place, went
forward today with distribution by
workers for the mission of 200 50-pound
bags of provisions among the poor
families of the city. In addition at the
children's home conducted by the mis-
sion at 1913 G street a turkey dinner
was served the youngsters.
In the bags distributed among the
poor were many articles of food. An
| entertainment for children was held al
! the children's home yesterday, while
Continued on Page 4, Column A.
NO $40 TOMORROW