Evening star., 1935-12-24
ROOSEVELT LIGHTS
YULE TREE TODAY
IN PARK SERVICES
Pressing Button Also viii
Start Chimes Ringing
Throughout u. S.
CHRISTMAS PURCHASE
VOLUME SETS RECORD
Franciscan Friars and Lincoln,
Nebr,, Cathedral Choir to Sing
in Community Rites.

In a happy blending of ancient
Yuletide tradition with the wonders
of modern science, President Roose-
welt, amid the singing of time-honored
carols. will light the national COM
munity Christmas tree in Lafayette
Park at 5:09 pm. today and in the
same motion will start the ringing Of
chimes which will be heard by radio
throughout the Nation in signal that
the Christmas observance has begun.
There was every sign that the rec
ord-breaking volume of Christmas
shopping would continue in local
stores until doors were closed tonight
on the last belated shopper and store
employe, after a final check on the
results Of one of the greatest sales
periods in local business history. hurry
home to prepare for their own Christ
mas celebrations.
There was a real Christmas atmos-
phere as Washington turned from its
daily tasks to the celebration of what
is expected to be the gayest Yuletide
in years. One of the oldest and best
beloved of Christmas carols tells US
that "the good King WenceSlas looked
out upon the feast of Stephen when
the snow lay ~ound about, deep and
crisp and even" Washington, too,
had the Wenceslas outlook, and there
was something of the happiness of
the old Christmas in the local prepa-
rations.
Community Tree Focal Point.
The community tree near the north
edge Of Lafayette Park is the focal
point Of Washington's Christmas Eve
celebration, The ceremonies will begin
there at 4;30 O'Clock with a program
of Christmas music by the United
States Marine Band, led by Capt.
Taylor Branson, leader. At S pm.
President Roosevelt, accompanied by
the entire presidential family, will
arrive from the White House.
| Nine minutes later, after an invoca-
! ton by DR.. Frederick w Perkins, IL
troductory remarks by First Assistant
/ Secretary of the Interior Theodore A.
Walters and greetings to the President
on behalf of the people of Washington
by Alice Joy Webster, Girl Scouts of
America, and Richard Miller, Boy
Scouts, the President will press a but
ton which will food the living Christ
mas tree with light, while chimes
carry the Christmas message to the
| Nation.
The Presidents Christmas greeting
to the Nation will be carried by radio
! into every part of the land. Before and
after the Presidents address there
will be carol singing by the Franciscan
Friars of Washington, directed by Rev
Bonaventure Simon, and by the Lin
coin Cathedral Choir of Lincoln, Nebr.,
directed by John NJ. Rosborough. The
ceremony will close at $50 with bene-
diction by Right Rev James E. Free
man. Episcopal Bishop of Washington.
For the fourth season, the La
fayette Park tree will be a singing
tree and. Immediately following the
benediution this evening, Christmas
carols will be heard coming from the
branches of the tree, to continue at
intervals throughout Christmas week.
Greeting Cards Distributed.
More than 1.5OO greeting cards
have been distributed by the American
Automobile Association invitin 9
strangers in Washington to attend
the lighting of the tree and this year,
in addition to the regular 300 seats on
the Presidents stand, there will be
400 seats in front of the stand for
the use of honored guests and the
general public.
The community tree will remain
lighted each night until January 2,
ami each night the tree will sing
The first National community Christ
mas tree was lighted here in 1923
and the celebration begun at that
time has grown until today it ranks
as one of the highlightS of the
Capitals Christmas.
Within the snow-blanketed White
(See CHRISTMAS, Page So