Evening star., 1935-12-22
BY ROBERT CRAWFORD.

Il Il ASODGAN4 NAsHA wa OASDs
It is rumored that Scrooge and the
Ghost is to visit the White House,
Christmas night, and along with Tiny
Tim, Bob Cratchet and the entire
Cratchet family will entertain the
President and his household in the
East room overlooking Lafayette
Square.
They have been at the maNsion
before, and have for many years Joent
Christmas evening with the Roosevelt
family, sometimes at Hyde Park or in
their town house in New York, being
always the honored guests. This,
however, is the first time they have
made an appearance walking and
talking and acting just as Mr.. Dickens
pictured them in his famous Christ
mas Carol"
Sistie-pardon, Eleanor is now pre-
ferred-and BuzZy Dali will hear Tiny
Tins, God bless us every one" ring
out through the big room; Bob Cratch-
ct will propose toast to Mr.. Scrooge:
"Mr. Scrooge!" said Bob, IN give you
Mr.. Scrooge, the Founder OF the
Feast!"
"The Founder of the Feast. indeed! -
cried Mrs. Cratchet, reddening. Il
wish I had him here. I'd give him
a piece Of my mind to feast upon, and
I hope he'd have a good appetite for
It," Bob, with mild rebuke to
his irate wife. My dear" said Bob,
''the children! Christmas day"
"It should be Christmas day, I am
sure" said she, "on which one drinks
the health of such an odious. stingy,
hard, unfeeling man as Mr.. Scrooge.
Bobs mild answer, MY dear,
Christmas day" Then when the lights
are turned out in the historic old
East room, the slithery, creeping
Ghost in the grave yard will point
to the grave stone and speak in
sepulchral tones, and Scrooge, Shiver-
ing and trembling as he creeps to-
ward it, following the finger, will read
on the stone of the neglected grave
his own name, "Ebenezer Scrooge."
President Roosevelt, who has for
many years made it a part OF the
Christmas night celebration to read
aloud to his household Dickens
christmas Carol" has this year
granted a British film company per-
mission to show the picture entitled,
"Scrooge." This is the Presidents
favorite Christmas story and the
timber of his clear resonant voice and
his merry laugh must be especially
suited to Dickens masterpiece. Those
who have heard him, say he grows
uuite dramatic-much to the chill
drens delight-and the climax is really
thrilling.
Merchants and Shopkeepers say this
is to be the gayest, merriest and hap
piest holiday season that Washington
has seen in six or seven years. The
shops are positively crowded to dis
comfort and the crowds are buying.
The Northwestern National Life In
Surance Co. of Minneapolis, re-
Gently stated that, Significant gains
IN mass purchasing of seven important
groups of prosperity goods in the
first 10 months of 1885 reveal an in
creasing number Of American families
who again feel able to buy beyond the
bare necessities of life" Fur coats,
automobiles, jewelry and the buying
OF theater and opera tickets all come
under prosperity goods"
The National Retail Dry Goods AS
Rociation has announced that more
than 100000 workers will be pressed
into service in retail stores during
December-and part of November-to
meet the needs Of the throngs of shop
pers. The association also predicts
that $4,50o, 900, 900 will be the amount
of retail business for the month.
Hotels and night clubs here report
that they are fast being booked to
the limit. The $5,250,000 paid during
the month to $4,000 members of
Christmas Saving Clubs, in the Capt.
tai will not all be spent for holiday
goods, but it is safe to say that a
large part of it will flow out into
general trade.