Evening star., 1937-12-23
CAPITAL FINISHING
YULE PREPARATION
President Roosevelt Lights
Community Tree at
Dusk Tomorrow.

mail ebbing back toward normal levels
and only one more day of grace left
for belated shoppers, Washington to-
day turned to final preparations for
Yuletide which promises in many
respects to be one of the gayest since
the boom days of 1929
When President Roosevelt presses
the button that lights the National
Community Christmas Tree in Lafay-
ette Park at dusk tomorrow, he will
signal to Washington and the Nation
the official beginning of the national
observance of the happiest holiday
in the calendar. 1t will be the fifteenth
lighting of the national tree.
Tree Being Decorated.
The tree was being decorated today
under direction of c. Marshall Finnan,
superintendent of National Capital
Parks, and Albert Clyde Burton, in
charge of recreation in the park sys-
tenn. Sound amplification apparatus
and flood-lighting system were being
installed
Chairs were being set out, 700 of
them for the use of the general pub
lie, without tickets on a first-co
flrst-served basis. All reserved seats
already have been set aside for Fed
eral. District and civic leaders.
Shortly before noon today a con-
ference was held between Secret Sery
Ice authorities, 1t. Henry Helms of
the United States Park Police. Mai
Ernest w. Brown, superintendent of
the Metropolitan Police and others to
make tnal plans for policing and seat
ing arrangements and the getting of
PRESIDENT Roosevelt'S car into the park
as we'll as the necessary motor escort,
special stands have been constructed
10 1acllltate the work of motion pic
lure and still camera men and wires
nave been placed underground.
Although there will be a half hour
OF christmas music by the Marine
Band, Capt, Taylor Branson. leader
beglnnlng at 4:30 pm, the ceremony
Will oegln officially at 5 pm. when
PRESIDENT Roosevelt and his party will
arrive at the stand facing the tree, at
the loot of Sixteenth street.
Alter an invocation by the Rev
Russell j. Clinchy, pastor of the Mount
Pleasant Congregational Church, Sem
'ator Thomas, Democrat, of Oklahoma
VIII open the ceremony. Vernon
Mcklnstry, Troop 2Ol, Boy Scouts of
America, and Betsy Ellen Smith, Troop
o. Girl Scouts, will present greetings
OF the people of Washington to the
President and Mrs. Roosevelt.
AT $40 pm. the President is to
press the button lighting the tree.
-, Inc sound of ringing chimes will be
carried by radio to all parts of the
Nation and will be the signal for the
simultaneous lighting of community
trees in thousands of American COM
munltles. Three broadcasting COM
panles will carry the Lafayette Park
program
The program will close with the
christmas message of the President
10 the Nation with the singing of
carols by $50 choristers of the Schola
Cantorum of the Interior Department.
Principal Musician Winfred Kemp of
the Marine Band will play the can
tlque de Noel" as a cornet solo.
The celebration is sponsored by the
Community Center Department. the
American Forestry Association and the
office of the National Capital Parks.
Salvation Army Party.
The largest annual Christmas party
IN the history of the local divi-
sion of the Salvation Army will be held
at pm. tomorrow at the COG e
street NV. headquarters Through
economies effected in other activities,
the Salvation Army will be able to
distribute $50 baskets this year. it
was announced by Maj Gilbert S.
, Decker.
The Navy Band will play and Cole
man Jennings, former Community
Chest campaign chairman, will speak.
Brlgadier James Asher will act as mas
ter OF ceremonies and the invocation
will be pronounced by the Rev. John w.
Rustln, pastor of the Mount Vernon
Place Methodist Episcopal Church
South.
Among the guests of honor will be
Mrs. Daniel S. Roper, wife of the
Secretary Of Commerce: Mrs. Lucille
Foster McMillin, Civil Service COM
missioner; Mrs. Claude A. Swanson.
wife OF the Secretary of the Navy;
Mrs. Cordell Hull, wife of the Secre-
tary Of State; Lady Lindsay, wife of
the British Ambassador. Sir Ronald
Lindsay; Miss Katharine Lenroot. head
Of the Childrens Bureau; DR.. William
l.. Darby, secretary of the Washington
Federation of Churches; Mr.. and Mrs.
Sidney F. Taliaferro, Mrs. Eleanor
= Patterson, Frank R. Jelleff and the
Right Rev. James E. Freeman.
More than 1000 children are ex-
pected to attend the Salvation Armv
children's Christmas party at 6 pm.
tomorrow at the street eadquarters
A. big Christmas tree has been deco
rated and there will be toys and CANDY
for the youngsters The Salvation
Army Divisional Band will play Christ
ntas music.
31,500 Rotary Guests.
Fifteen hundred boys. members of
the five local boys clubs, were guests
OF the Rotary Club at a Christmas
party last night in the Central High
School auditorium. The program
included entertainment from the
stage of the Capitol Theater, the Club
Volga Boatmen, and Cocoanut Grove
Ipny Wakeman, Cliff Battles and
Left End Charlie Malone of the WASH
ington Redskins also appeared. Music
was provided by the Boys Police
Band. The program was in charge
of a committee headed by James Lut-
tes, chairman, with Harry Somerville
az stage manager: Bruce Allen, mas
teS of ceremonies, and Roland Rob-
bins, program chairman. Refresh
mfntS We're served The party WAS