Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-15
COMMUNITY TREE
IN PLANS PROGRESS
President Hoover Expected
to Press Button Lighting
Spruce in Ellipse.

sponsored by national committee
sseade6 by Secrete~y of the interior
wilbur, arrangements are going for
ward for the community celebration on
the Ellipse, Christmas eve, featured by
the lighting of the National Community
Christmas :ree
1t is expected that President Hoover
viii continue the custom of his prede-
cessor In attending the ceremonies and
pressing the electric button that will
make the tall spruce blaze with lights
Mrs. Hoover, who always attended the
community celebrations in Sherman
Square when in the city IN the past
few years also is expected TO be pres
ent at the ceremonies.
This will be the sixth year that the
President of the United States has
lighted the living tree as symbol OF
the Christmas trees OF all The Nation.
Various Bodies Cooperate.
Arrangements for the general cele-
bration are being made under the di-
reCtion of an executive committee head
ed by Miss Sibyl Baker, director of the
Community Center Department. The
once of Public Buildings and Public
Parks has charge of the tree and again
this year Lieut.. Col u. S. Grant, Sd
Is vice chairman of the executive COM
mittee
The Community Center Department
of Washington has always had charge
of the arrangements for the ceremony
of the lighting. i'll cooperation with the
Electric League. Committees represent
ing these departments have been at
work for many weeks, perfecting plans
for this annual Yuletide ceremony. The
executive committee includes represent
atives of all outstanding organizations
in the Capital City.
This year, in response to the decision
of the executive committee to make
washington "carol-minded, the Dis
tr'ct Commissioners have approved the
issuing of a proclamation calling upon
individuals and organizations to join in
carol singing at Christmas time.
Gathering for Children.
1t is the plan of the committee that
this years lighting of the tree shall be
an occasion for the gathering of many
children to give the Christmas greet
ing of Washington to the President
and Mrs. Hoover and it is intended
that all those who gather at the tree
will join in singing carols.
The committee on carol singing
which is headed by Mrs. Joseph M
Stoddard, president of the District oil
Columbia Federation of Music Clubs
includes representatives of all leadint
civic, social and welfare organization;
In the city. as we'll as the directors oil
music in the District of Columbia pub.
lie schools.
A suggestion to Col. Grant that al
the evergreen trees in Sherman Squar,
be decorated and lighted in conjunc.
ton with the Yuletide festivities ha,
been referred to Miss Baker. The Off.
Gals, however, do not favor the plar
of lighting up more than one tree.
Harry E. Hay Of East Clarendon, Va.
made the suggestion.
Grant Opposes Idea
Col. Grant expressed it as his per.
sonal belief that this idea would not
be found to be practical at this time
It comes too late for this celebration
work for some time on the decorations
for this years tree.
One decorated and lighted national
community Christmas tree. rather than
\ number, is more effective and pic
turesque, in the opinion of Miss Baker
She pointed out that the national tret
here has caused several neighborhooC
Christmas trees to be lighted, aftel
the President of the United State!
lights the national tree. Information
reaching Miss Baker is that Washing.
ton this year will have eight neighbor.
hood trees. including those of the
Rhode Island Avenue Citizens AsSo
citation, the tree in Montrose Park o.
the Georgetown Citizens Association
the Columbia Heights Business Men!
Association at Sixteenth and Harvard
streets and that of the PetWorIn s.ti'
gems in Sherman Circle.