Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-12-24
CAPITAL IS READY
TO OPEN MERRY
YULET|DE SEASON
Shopping Records Set, Dis
trict Turns to Many Local
ObservanCes.
PRESIDENT TO LIGHT
TREE THIS AFTERNOON
Heavy Travel Takes Many From
Capital For Holidays-Needy
Cared For.

Gay despite its laSt-mtnute scramble,
the Capital-from the White House
down to the most humble dwelling
was suffused with holiday spirit to-
day on the eve Of the happiest Yule-
tide In years.
Jingling bells. not on reindeer, but
on the cash registers Of the city's
business houses, promised new all
time shopping records, and as the
zero hour approached the mails
showed signs of returning to normal
after piling up like never before.
Latest word from the forecaster in
dicated Santa Claus would use roller
skates on his excursion to Washing
ton, the weather prospects for to-
night and tomorrow being overcast
skies with moderate temperatures.
Heads Of local business houses, In
GLIDING several Of the large depart
ment stores, reported today that
Christmas business Is from 10 to 20
per cent greater than last year. Sew
eral Of them reported records during
the early part of the week for q single
days business. It was generally
agreed that not only did Washing
tonians buy more Christmas gifts, but
that they demanded higher quality and
were willing to pay higher prices than
they have since 1929.
It was q joyful Washington which
awaited the official opening of
the Yuletide season by President
Roosevelt at S pm. today in Lafayette
Square. Lighting the national COM
| munity Christmas tree, the President
will summon the American people to
observance Of the most cheerful and
prosperous Christmas since he took
Office during the depth Of the depres-
sion.
Today found Washington in full
holiday mood. The public schools
closed their doors yesterday afternoon
and there will be no more classes until
January 4. The Federal and District
Governments granted . half -holiday
to more than 100000 local employees
today. and offices will not reopen until
Monday morning. Many local busi-
ness houses also viii remain closed
Saturday.
Train Facilities Taxed.
Taking advantage of the three.and.
a-half-day holiday. many Washing
tonians left to spend Christmas with
relatives and friends and transporta-
ton facilities of all kinds were taxed
to the limit. Railroads have put into
operation every available passenger
car and, In addition to second sec.
lions on most trains, were operating
extra trains.
Highway traffic also was of record
proportions today. Ohicials of the Key
stone Automobile Club, on the basis Of
reports from the clubs touring bureau,
said that without question, travel vol
ume will be higher this holiday season
than in any comparable period in the
history Of the city" The reports show
not only heavy outgoing traffic, but
also heavy influx into Washington
during the holidays.
The three air transport lines operat-
ing out Of Washington have been
damned to capacity for a week, turn
ing away passengers, although every
available airplane has been pressed
into service. One Of the major lines
reported every available seat for today
had been sold as early as December /.
When President Roosevelt goes to
the national community tree late this
afternoon to light the tree and call the
Nation to observe the greatest holy day
in the Christian calendar he will be
accompanied by members Of his fam
lily and his official staff. Many of the
(See CHRISTMAS, Page A-4.)