Evening star., 1937-12-25
Generosity
Features
Yu1e Here
All Apparently Are
Anxious to Share
Happiness.
BY SALLIE v. H. PICKETT.
society Editor Emeritus.

Ing the cry from stately drawing
rooms. down through Theodore Roose-
velt'S great middle class" and into
the homes as lowly and comfortless
a. the manger where Mary and the
Christ Child lay and received the
homage of the wise men. Gifts flow
from the golden horn Of plenty into
the empty baskets of the poor, and
II there is one neglected family it
will not be the fault of the police
and other distributors who have gen.
erously given their time, money and
space for the gifts.
Seldom. II ever, has there been such
a demand on Washington generosity
as this year, and seldom have the cof-
fers OF the rich been opened 50 wide.
Times have changed in 20 years, and
instead of the serious-minded and
sages past the half-century mark TAX
Ing unto themselves the management
OF looking after the needy there are
the gay young generations making
sacrlflces and giving of time and
money in a way to bring happiness
and comfort to the unemployed and
their families. AS proof, it was one
OF Washington's prettiest girls who
when the generous young host just
home from college called for a third
round of cocktails In a fashionab Bile
hotel rose to the occasion and with
unfaltering voice said, 1.-TWO Is
enough; let our host give the price
Of the other round OF drinks to me for
my poor box" They all Joined the
host in agreeing, and that shows how
the scene has shifted from the gray
generation to the gay one. Every
where the young and very young are
proflting in good character building
from the hordes Of dependents fill
ing Washington's poorest quarters.
Embassies and Legations
Colorful Spots.
1t is in the embassies and legations
that one finds the most alluring GUS
toms and color at this season, but for
Christmas Day there is always the
dinner for the staff. 1t is thus that
Sir Ronald and Lady Lindsay will
celebrate today, much more after
the American than the old English
custom. However. there will be
Christmas tree and exchange of gifts,
music, eayety and worlds of fun all
quite in contrast to that period in
British history when in 1914 Parlia-
ment forbade any merriment or re-
ligious ceremonies, on the ground
that it was heather festival. and
the day was ordered to be held as
a fast. 1t was well that Charles II
revived the feast, even though the
Scots held fast to the puritanical
view for generations, and today there
are few livelier places than the rrit-
1sh embassies wherever they are to
be found. Even in the 40 years of
my professional career, when good
queen Victoria's portrait looked down
on the guests in the old British En-
bassy on Connecticut avenue, there
was the far-famed boar's head sur
rounded by holiday greens and carried
to the table steaming hot by a process
sion OF liveried retainers. And too.
there was the waSsail bowl equally
tremendously presided over, and all
the articles of food that went to
make up typical old English feast.
All embassies and legations, espe-
cially those of Latin American coun-
tries. come in for the brilliant, chatty
stories, told annually through the
press, but, like the Christ Child story.
ever new. Observances of the holiday
At the many homes differ widely
enough to make u fairy tale of each
one, but the South and Central Amer
leans bring the season a little closer,
more Vlvldly to our minds by having
the Nativity scene carried out realistic
ally. The stable in Bethlehem shows
the humble manger with Mary and
the Holy Babe, and the cattle and
farmyard fowls, and rising above the
sacred scene the usual glamour of
shining lights and tinsel and gifts,
There Is eating and drinking and
great hospitality, with usually chill
drens parties to gladden. the season,
Christmas Season
At the White House.
The Christmas season at the White
House is like an open book before the
puolle-the great Christmas trees, the
gifts, most OF them conceived and
executed by otherwise idle fingers,
and sold at, or, rather, bought from
the Val Kill industries or the clever
craftsmen of Arthurdale and other
such centers, where handicraft has
reached an artistic and useful stage.
OF gifts rich and poor, annually sent
to the White House family but little
D ever known, that being too per-
sonal to broadcast through the press.
But whatever else there may be of
giving and receiving, feasting and
dancing and general holiday cheer,
there is annually the scene of the
President and the household gather
ing IN the family sitting room, a table
ana light conveniently placed, and the
PRESIDENTS strong, melodious voice
hlling the room as he reads THE
Christmas Carol" 1t is said by those
90 fortunate as to have heard Mr..
Roosevelt read this well-loved tale on
Christmas Eve, through many years,
that he exacts and Seally engages
Vrapt attention from even the young
est members of the household group.
Adding great charm to the Capital
vt Christmas time are the lighted
Christmas trees in many parks and
triangles, trees whose glistening gay
balls and tinsels may be seen for
many blocks away, reminding every
one that this is the season for think
ing of others. Old Georgetown's
streets are veritable highways of lights
and glistening trees, families taking
It upon themselves to spread the good
cheer without as well as within the
homes. And then there stands the
tall, stately tree at Mount Alto, where
soldiers f1ocked after the terrible
World War, to be seen for miles away
and reminding the world that still the
terrible spectre stalks at all times
somewhere in the world. and making
us grateful for the peace that is ours.
Bankheads Visit