Evening star., 1932-12-24
Raw, Wet Weather, Cloudy
Skies and Little or No
Snow Forecast.
CURTIS TO BROADCAST
GREETINGS TO NATION
National Community Tree to Be
Lighted in Sherman Square.
Notables to Attend.

An old fat fellow dressed in red. with
benevolent grin and long white whis-
kers began his annual Christmas round
this morning on the other side of the
earth and expected to ride westward
with the night. striking the Capital of
the United States as the clock tolls l2
The chances are he will find raw. wet
weather here, cloudy skies and little or
no snow for the runners of his sled. for
that is the kind Of weather the FORE
caster has predicted, but, being a good
fellow. he won't mind. Rain is pre-
dicted for the Capital tomorrow.
His magic pack bulged with its
| myriad toys as he slid down a Chinese
chimney this morning and left a shiny
comb for a wee ones pigtail, and,
strange to say, it was still as big as
ever when he was reported seen almost
as far along as Europe.
Consequently children here, some
what alarmed when they learned he was
giving his first toys to the Chinese, be-
came reassured with the belief that it
still would be of sufficient size to as
sure them full stockings when he
reached Washington.
Curtis to Broadcast.
AS the youngsters looked forward
with eager anticipation for the arrival
of Santa Claus, grown-up Washington
prepared with charity, reverence and q
Joyous spirit, scarcely dampened by the
troublous times, for observance OF
Christmas.
Vice President Curtis will broadcast
the Yuletide greetings of official Wash
ington to the Nation this afternoon at
the lighting Of the National Community
Christmas tree in Sherman square,
south of the Treasury.
A few minutes after 5 o'clock he will
throw the switch. filling the hundreds
of varicolored lights on the living spruce
with brilliant radiance. Distinguished
groups of spectators, including those
high in official, diplomatic and social
life here, are to attend the ceremony.
The Vice President will arrive at the
tree at 5 o'clock. accompanied by .
party including his sister, Mrs Edward
E. Gam. Preceding his arrival there
will be a half-hour concert by the
United States Marine Band led by Sec
ond Leader Arthur S. Whitcomb, in q
program of music appropriate to the
occasion.
In past years the President has been
the central figure at the tree-l!ghtlng
ceremony but his vacation trip South
this year interfered.
Gov. Franklin D. Roosevelt and Mrs.
Roosevelt have accepted the invitation
of Senator Capper to listen in on the
nj nl,
The following telegram was received
from the Governor:
Mrs. Roosevelt and I will be de-
lighted to listen in on the national
community Christmas tree celebration.
Merry Christmas to you all.
The metropolitan police forces are
cooperating to take care OF traffic
near the tree. The Eliipse is available
for parking. it was announced by Capt.
Doyle Hickey, superintendent OF PARK
police. Motorists from the North are
asked to enter the tree area via West
Executive avenue or Seventeenth street.
| Special invited guests and all persons
having special automobile passes will
| have a reserved parking space west OF
| Sherman Square on East Executive
avenue.
Capper to Speak.
The arrival of the vice presidential
party will be announced by Girl Scout
| bugler, who will blow Attention" As
! they take their seats in the stands
Boy Scout will sound Roll Call" and
the exercises, to be broadcast through
cut the Nation, will begin.
| According to the official forecast, the
! Christmas weather will be raw. but any
, rain which may fall will not come until
| night or tomorrow.
| Senator Arthur Capper, chairman of
the National Community Christmas
Tree Committee. will make brief in
| troductory address and the Vice Presi-
dent will light the tree.
Then to the strains Of "Hark, the
Herald Angels Sing" the Gordon
! Junior High School carolers dressed IN
, red and green medieval costumes, Will
march around the tree. The Girls Glee
| Club of George Washington University
will sing The Bells" and Arlton Muir
ray, a Boy Scout, will present the greet
inss Of the people of Washington to
the Vice President. A Girl Scout, Isabel
Walter, will give Mrs. Gam an armful
of pink roses.
After more music by the Girls Glee
Club and the Mems Glee Club of George
Washington University and the Marine
Band, Vice President Curtis will broad
cast his message to the American
people
With President Hoover in the South
and Congress in recess until Tuesday.
with many members away to spend
their holidays with fam1l1cs ana 1rlenos:
many other officials also were out OF
the city. Secretary Wilbur also was
in the South, inspecting the proposed
Everglades Park in Florida. Secretary