Evening star., 1934-12-22
TREE DECORATED
0RYULEFETE Of
NATION MONDAY
Roosevelt to Light Bulbs
at 5:10 Pm. in La.
fayette Square.
CAROLERS TO CHEER
HOSPITAL PATIENTS
President Drafts Message for
America-Kin Gather at
White House.

Decoration of the National Com
munity Christmas tree in Lafayette
Square was begun this morning in
preparation for ceremonies at pm.
Monday. President Roosevelt, lighting
$50 red and green bulbs on the tree,
will at the same time signal the Ma
ton the official opening of the Christ
mas celebration.
1t was definitely announced late
yesterday at the White House that
the President will not reconsider the
executive order issued last week grant,
ing a half holiday to Federal en-
ployes on Christmas eve and New
Year eve. 1t was said the President
did not consider it wise to close
all the governmental establishments
for three and one-half days and that
any attempt to differentiate between
employees who could be spared for the
full time would not prove satisfactory.
The Lafayette Square tree was
planted this year for the celebration,
as the one used in recent years south
of the Treasury Department has been
cut down.
Impressive Ceremony.
This years community tree Is eX-
pected to be the most impressive since
the national tree ceremony was estab-
liShed. In addition to the bulbs, there
also will be more than $50 tree orna-
ments, chiefly red. green and silver
balls.
Lighting of the tree is in charge of
John S. Bartlett and four members OF
the Electric Institute of Washington
N. H. Barnes, E. c. Graham, Frank
T. Shull and L. T. Souder-working in
cooperation with Harold Snyder of
the Community Center Department.
The ceremonies around the tree will
be broadcast throughout the Nation
by the Columbia and National Broad
casting Co. networks. Amplifiers will
bring the ceremonies to Washing
tonians attending. The American
Automobile Association is in charge
of sending out $4,000 invitations to the
ceremonies, which will begin at 4:30
pm. A half-hour Of music by the
United States Marine Band and the
singing of Christmas carols will be fol-
lowed by the arrival of the President
and his party. At $40 the tree is to
be lighted.
The President was in the midst Of
busy week end program today as
preparations were being made for the
second Yuletide of the Roosevelt fam
lily in the Executive Mansion. Part
of his week end task is the prepara-
ton of the Christmas eve message
he will deliver to the Nation at the
Lafayette Park ceremonies.
Family Gathers.
The Presidents mother, Mrs. James
D. Roosevelt, arrived yesterday from
Hyde Park and all Of the family will
be present except one son, Elliott, who
will spend the holiday with his wife's
family at Dallas, Tex.
The Central Union Mission will give
it's twentieth annual Christmas party
for children Monday at 9 am. in the
Fox Theater. Mrs Franklin D. Roose-
velt will attend, as she did last Christ
mas, and will give out the first bags
to the children. Approximately 1900
bags filled with comforts and toys
will be distributed by Santa Claus.
Christmas celebrations at institu-
tions of the District under the Board
of Public Welfare will be in full swing
beginning this afternoon while ar
rangements are under way for spe-
cial menus for next Tuesday.
Carolers to Sing.
Christmas carols will be sung this
afternoon at Gallinger Hospital,
groups of singers passing from ward
to ward Gifts will be distributed
late this afternoon to patients. Nurses
will sing carols also on Monday and
an entertainment will be presented
Monday evening by the Washington
Federation of Musical Clubs.
Gifts and songs also will be pre-
sented at the hospital Christmas day
by singers of the Washington Fedora
ton of Churches.
The outdoor Christmas tree at the
tuberculosis Hospital, Fourteenth and
Upshur streets, will be lighted at 5:45
o'clock tomorrow. DR.. John T. Ready
exalted ruler of the Elks' Club Of
Washington, and Elwood Street, di-
rector of welfare, will be guests. A
concert will be given by the Elks'
Club boys Band Festivities at this
institution have been in progress all
week.
Gifts to Be Distributed.
There will be a distribution of gifts
Monday, coming from the Episcopal
City Missions, Junior Red Cross, the
Powell School and private groups.
Carols will be sung by groups from
the Federation of Music Clubs and
the Mount Pleasant Congregational
Church.
While turkey is the order for the
day at numerous other District insti-
tutions, it will be roast fresh ham
for prisoners at the District Re-
formatory at Lorton and the work
house at Occoquan, Va Smoking to-
bacco will add something different to
the day.
Prisoners at the District Jail will
hear singing of carols on Christmas
eve in the rotunda and in the wom-
ems ward. A group from the First
Conversational Church will provide