Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-12-20
Shoppers Brave
Rain in Late
Buying Rush
Many U. S. Employees
PIon Trips Home
For Holidays

While Community Center and
parks officials were mapping final
plans for the National Community
Christmas tree celebration, thou
sands of late shoppers today braved
a driving rain to finish their Yule-
tide chores and hundreds of Gov
eminent employees prepared to take
advantage of the long holiday week
end by making trips home.
Rain or no rain, Christmas shop
ping must 60 on, and the 81 police
men detailed at downtown intersec-
tons had to be on hand to regulate
traffic flow and safeguard the never
ending stream of pedestrians.
The officers didn't seem to mind
the rain. They pointed to their
rubber raincoats, boots and gloves
and seemed to feel that sympathy
Tor them should be saved for some
steaming August afternoon.
Seven Community Trees.
National Capital Parks officials
announced seven community Christ
mas trees will be erected through
out the city for yule celebrations.
Most of them already are in place
and will be completely decorated
within two days.
The national community tree was
put IN place in the Ellipse last
week end and will be decorated Fri
day morning, to be ready for Pres
ldent Roosevelt to light at dusk
Christmas Eve.
Many Government employees plan
ming trips home will be able to take
advantage of excursion rates on rail-
ways, which are Offering reduced
rates for round trips to some points
between December 81 and Janu-
airy 7.
The forecast today called for fair
and colder weather tonight and to-
morrow, with low tonight of about
So degrees. The current weather
map gives no promise of white"
Christmas in the United States gen.
orally, said j. B. Kincer, climate
expert at the Weather Bureau.
No Sign of Weather Change.
While pointing out that the bu-
reau makes no forecasts for more
than two days in advance, he said
there was no sign of change in the
weather in the immediate future,
and only drastic change in condi-
tons would bring general snowfall
for Christmas.
Many Federal workers are plan
ming to take a holiday embracing
both Christmas and New Year, since
they can remain away from work
from Friday. December %, to Tues
day morning, January 2, at a cost
OF only four days annual leave
In announcing plans for other
community trees. parks officials said
a tree sponsored by the Southeast
Business Mems Association will be
located at Seventh street and Penn
sylvania avenue Southeast. in the
park area known as United States
Reservation A. No special exercises
will be held there.
The Citizens Association of Chevy
Chase will hold ceremonies at pm.
Saturday in Chevy Chase Circle. at
Connecticut avenue and the District
line. in conjunction with the lighting
Of the tree.
Program at Palisades Playground.
At Sherrier and Danna places,
NV. exercises will be held at 5 pm.
Sunday on the Palisades Playground
by the Conduit Road Citizens Asso-
citation.
No official celebration will take
place on United States Reservation
800. B., Michigan avenue and
Twelfth street NE. The tree will be
lighted at S pm. Sunday under
auspices of the Michigan Park
Citizens Association.
In addition, two colored organiza-
tons will participate in tree lighting
ceremonies Sunday. At S pm. the
Pleasant Plains Civic Association
will officially inaugurate it's yuletide
at the Baneker Recreation Center
at Georgia avenue and Euclid street
NV.
The Central-Northwest Citizens
Associations will hold exercises at
6 pm. Sunday in the little city
park triangle known as United
States Reservation ITO. These
ceremonies will be at Tenth and U
streets NV.
The official schedule for the ma
tional community tree service calls
for concert from 4:3O to pm,
followed by exercises lasting half
hour. These will include the Presi-
dents brief talk and ceremonies on
the lighting of the tree.
Mail Record Expected.
Postal authorities expect a record
volume of holiday mail this year.
Numerous substations throughout
the city are remaining open until
$50 pm. tonight and tomorrow, and
the main post Office near Union
Station and the Benjamin Franklin
Station on Pennsylvania avenue at
Twelfth street NV. will be open "a
hours a day.
Only parcel post and special de-
livery mail will be delivered on
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day,
1t was said.
The Public Library, Eighth and K
streets NV, and all branches and
subbranches will be closed on De-
cember %, "a and Is and again on
December 80, 81 and January l, &C
cording to an announcement by DR..
George F.. BoWerman, librarian.
The minimum temperature early
today was 81 degrees, and the tenn
perature rose to 48 during a per-
sistent rain this morning.
While the weather remained "fy-
able" here despite the rain and fog,
poor visibility in the vicinity of New
York grounded Northeast-bound
airplanes at the local airport until
the skies clear somewhat.
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