Evening star., 1939-12-09
u. 5. YuIe Tree
To Be Placed
On E||ipse
President to Light
M-Foot Cedar
Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve
The National Community Christ
mas Tree, focal point for the Ma.
tion's Christmas eve observance,
this year will be placed on the
Elhpse, south Of the White House
grounds, the Christmas Tree Execu.
tive Committee announced today.
President Roosevelt again Is to
make his annual Christmas eve
radio address to the Nation and
preside at the lighting ceremonies
scheduled for shortly after s pm.
December "a.
Representative Jennings Randolph
of West Virginia, chairman Of the
House District Committee, will act
as chairman Of the national COM
mittee, with Arno B. Cammerer.
director Of the National Park Serv-
ice, as vice chairman.
Miss Sibyl Baker of the District
Recreation Department is chairman
Of the Executive Committee which
met yesterday at Wesley Hall.
More Space Provided.
Held in Lafayette Park since 1923,
the Christmas tree lighting cere-
mony this year is returned to the
site where observance In the Ma
tional Capital first was established.
A cut tree donated by a Vermont
college to President Coolidge was
set up on the Ellipse in 1923.
This year, the 18th annual observ-
ance, a living cedar tree, probably
to come from Maryland, will be
planted near the center Of the
Ellipse. Albert Clyde Burton Of the
National Capital Parks, said plans
call for a tree approximately 40 feet
high.
The change in site. committee
members said, will provide more
space for the ceremony and for the
larger tree, as we'll as locating the
tree where it may be observed more
readily by the audience Christmas
eve, and by passersby during the
week.
The program of the lighting cere-
monies will be broadcast over
Nationwide hookup of radio sta
tions. President Roosevelt's greet
ing to the Nation is scheduled for
Sill pm, and will be preceded by
a concert by the Marine Band, be-
ginning at 4:3o pm.
Scouts to Extend Greetings.
The Most Rev. Patrick j. Nc
Cormick, D. D., vice rector OF
Catholic University, will deliver the
invocation, and the Rev. John w.
Rustin of the Mount Vernon Place
Methodist Episcopal Church, will
give the benediction following the
ceremony
The Federal Playhouse Chorus Of
the Agriculture branch of the Ma
tional Federation of Federal EN-.
ployes, will give program OF
Christmas songs under the direction
of Lynn L. Gillchrest. Blanche
Hutchinson will accompany the
mixed chorus.
Greetings to the President and
Mrs. Roosevelt will be extended by
representatives from the Boy Scouts
and Girl Scouts. John Browning
Of 1911 wyoming avenue NV,
member of Scout Troop No. S, has
been chosen as the Boy Scout rep
resentative at the presentation
ceremony. The Girl Scout has not
yet been named.
Capt. Patrick j. Carroll, head Of
the Park Police. said he expected
this year "the largest crowd we've
ever had" The road around the
Ellipse is to be closed to general
trafic during the ceremony, with
east and west traffc permitted on
Executive avenue, however, he said.
The south side of Constitution
avenue will be available for public
parking. with the north side re-
served for cars of members of the
Marine Band Fifteenth and Seven
teenth streets also probably will be
available for public parking during
the tree lighting ceremony.
Nearly 1000 Seats.
Seats for 140 persons are to be
provided at the Presidents stand,
while an additional 300 seats will
be placed on elevated platforms ad-
jacent to this enclosure.
The executive committee an
nounced that the singing tree"
featured last year would not be
repeated, but that the decorative
lights would remain illuminated
until New Year night as usual.
Mrs. Frank A. Linzel, president
of the Woman's Council of the
Washington Federation of Churches
and member of the Committee on
Lighting of Alley Christmas Trees.
said Mrs. Roosevelt was expected
to preside at the lighting ceremonies
at a Georgetown celebration.
Seventy of the seventy seven
alleys expected to be decorated with
Christmas trees already have been
provided for by churches, Mrs. Lin
eel said.
In addition to Miss Baker, the
Executive Committee includes Ovid
Butler Of the American Forestry
Association and Frank T. Gartside
of National Capital Parks as vice
chairmen.
Other committee heads are John
s. Bartlett of the Electric Institute
of Washington, chairman Of the
Committee on Lighting the Tree;
Mrs. Sue Richwine, chairman Of the
Committee on Lighting Alley Trees,
and John A. Remon of the Chesa-
peake & Potomac Telephone Co.,
chairman of the Committee on
Broadcasting. ...
Members of the national COM
mittee include: District Commis-
sioner George E. Allen, DR.. Frank
w. Ballou, superintendent of schools;
Lewis r. Barrett, co-ordinator of
recreation; Mr.. Butler, Senator
Arthur Capper Of Kansas, the Right
Rev. Joseph M. Corrigan Of Catho-
lie University, Frederic A. Delano,
L