Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1937-11-28
Bv Cynthia Cr0weU.

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TN ACCORDANCE with one of the
Nays most cherished and most
recently established traditions the
4 receiving ship at the washington
Navy Yard is planning a party at
which number of Washington's
needy children will be the guests Of
honor. And although the plans are
not yet completed, those in charge of
arrangements believe that this years
party will be an even greater success
than those of previous years.
For last years party the Salvation
Army selected so children between
the ages of and IL from Southeast
Washington. They were first enter
tanned with typical Christmas din
ner and then assembled around a
large Christmas tree where Santa
Claus presented to each child pair
Of shoes, a sweater and a toy--to
each girl a pair of boomers and to
each boy a pair of socks After this
they were shown a Mickey Mouse
movie, through which many of them
slept-being very tired and very
sleepy little children.
Hugh Rodman. the Kentucky Adj
miral," is generally supposed to have
established this Christmas time GUS
tom in the Navy, but he himself dis
claims all credit. He protests that
the idea originated entirely with the
crew of the New York, of which he
took command on October 10. 1915;
that he. like the other officers, merely
encouraged the idea.
IN ANY event, the first of the
Nays Christmas parties was given
aboard the New York on Christmas
of 1915, and for this reason she be-
came known throughout the feet as
the christmas ship" Her sailors
went into the byways and highways
of the city, collected all the waits
and strays who would otherwise have
had no Christmas, and brought them
to the ship. which had been elab-
orately decorated for their reception.
They were entertained with a dinner,
children's games and Christmas
tree. Each child received a gift-at
this first party each boy was given
a Scout suit and each girl an mex
pensive fur piece.
December of 1917 found the
"Christmas ship"-with her officers
and men, their plans for the party,
and the store of gifts which had been
purchased earlier in the season-in
Edinburgh, rather than some Amer
lean port, as had been anticipated
After some consultation tie crew
decided that child was child, of
whatsoever nationality, and as a re-
suit of their decision 125 poor chill
dren, preferably lads and lassies who
had been orphaned by the war, were
invited to the New York on Christ
mas Day. They were entertained,
had fine dinner, the usual presents
and toys and in addition each was
given two silver shillings.
The idea of the christmas ship"
Immediately caught the fancy of all
Navy men and soon became general
custom of the American fleet. Per-
haps 1t was so readily adopted be-
cause Christmas has always been par
ticularly dear to the hearts of sea-
faring men 1t is the Nays one
great season of festivity. And al
though the idea of inviting needy
children to share in the celebration
is distinctly American in character,
the true roots of the Nays entire
Christmas tradition are to be found
IN ha hn
British Navy. During the time of
England's first navy it became Gus
tomary for the sailors to decorate the
spars and riggings OF their small YES
sells with evergreens-the Druids' con-
tribution to the Christmas celebration.
And today Christmas transforms an
American warship from an engine OF
destruction into an emblem Of peace
and good will
THE ships take on holiday aspect,
each one gay with many-colored
bunting, the accommodation ladder
wreathed with evergreens, and little
Christmas trees at the jack-staff, the
flagstaff and at the mastheads. The
sailors make every effort to transform
each steel compartment with its gun
into a replica Of an American parlor
at Christmas time. Usually there is
. fireplace with electric logs burning,
a mantlepiece, some improvised fur
niture, holly wreaths in profusion
and sometimes a bit of mistletoe is
suspended aloft in hope that pretty
girl may happen by on Christmas