Evening star., 1939-12-19
Pre-Christmas
Festivities
Under Way
Community Tree
Ceremonies Will
CIimux Celebrations

CIImux Celebrations
Christmas carols, religious plans
and Christmas festivities al
ready are under way to provide
stirring prologue to the celebration
of yuletide in the Capital.
Weather continued to be mod
crate, and the forecaster predicted
no cold weather for at least the
next day or two.
Increasing cloudiness today, light
rain beginning late tonight and
continued mild temperature" was
the promise of the Weather Bu-
reau, with the temperature pre-
dicted to reach high of about 81
today. The thermometer had
reached 38 this morning as stores
throughout the city opened their
doors for another big day of shop
ping.
Public celebrations throughout
the city will reach a climax Christ
mas Eve, when President Roosevelt
will light the community Christmas
tree.
Program at Congress Library.
At the Library of Congress to-
morrow at 4:30 pm. Christmas
carols will be sung by the Children's
Chorus under auspices of the Coun-
Gil of Social Agencies of Washing
ton, with Mary NJ Burnett, director,
assisted by members of the United
States Marine Band
At Woodrow Wilson High School
Auditorium the annual candlelight
service of Christmas music will be
held tomorrow night, with features
by choruses, orchestra and the
speech choir" Directors are Mrs.
Janet w. Torbert. Hendrick Essers,
Mrs. Ruth B. Lane and Mrs. Louise
r. Grover. 8,
For the benefit of Christmas bas-
kets to be distributed to the needy.
students of Anacostia High School
will bring canned goods as admis-
sion to motion picture at the high
school tomorrow at $50 am. and
2:30 pm. The food will be distrib-
uted Thursday to needy families
In Anacostia.
Handicapped children will be
feted by the Association for Educa-
ton of Handicapped Children
Thursday afternoon from l to
o'clock at the Thomson School au-
ditorium. The party is being ar
ranged by the association, composed
of parents and friends of the shutin
children. in cooperation with w.
P. A. teachers. Among the features
will be trip to and from the party
in a bus provided by the Kiwanis
Club, moving picture provided by
the Variety Club and Christmas en-
tertainment by the fifth grade chill
dren of the Thomson School. The
Junior Board of Commerce, in CO.
operation with others, plans to pro-
vide gifts. Art Brown Of Station
VOL will be master of ceremonies
Religious Drama to Be Given.
The Capital Transit Co. will send
out decorated streetcar twice this
week carrying 10 children to sing
Christmas carols. The trips will be
made Thursday and Friday eve
nings. Thursday evening the car
will leave Fourteenth and East
Capitol street at 5 pm, proceed to
the Capitol, around the courthouse
out F street to Fourteenth and re-
turn by way of G street and Union
Station. On Friday night it will
continue up to Columbia Heights
to the car barn at Fourteenth and
Decatur streets and return. The
children, from Fairgrounds and
community clubs, have been prac-
tlcing carols for weeks.
A religious drama, THE Prince of
Peace which was presented last
summer at the New York World
Fair, is to be given in the auditorium
OF Mount Pleasant Congregational
Church, 1410 Columbia road NV,
Friday night. The cast appears
under the personal direction of the
author, Mrs. Minnie Frost Rands
Authentic costumes from the Holy
Land will be worn by the players
There will be organ and vocal in
terludes between the seven episodes.
Children Present Program.
Children of Wheatley School pre-
sented a Christmas program yes
terday afternoon in the auditorium
OF the school, Montello avenue and
Neal place NE The chorus was
under direction of Miss Harriet
Nash, supervisor of music educa-
ton for the District of Columbia
Work Projects Administration. The
singers were accompanied by the
District w. P. A. Concert Ensemble
conducted by Robert Merchant
project supervisor of the music unit
Of the Community Service Project.
In addition to the city-wide fes-
tival at Banneker School. there will
be a series of Christmas plays
pageants and community sings
planned to integrate church, school
and community centers in each
major recreation area. q
Schedule Announced.
Schedule for the remainder of the
holiday period for these programs
as announced by T. J. Anderson,
assistant director of the District of
Columbia Recreation Department,
will be as follows:
Wednesday-10 am, Lincoln Play
ground, Christmas play; 4 PM,
Shaw, Christmas carols; 8 pm,
Young, Christmas play, Young Verse
Choir.
Thursday-11 am, Rose Park,
pre-school program and visit from
Santa Claus; $3.50 pm, Logan,
STORY of the First Christmas" and
Christmas carols, by dramatic and
choral clubs; Z pm, Deanwood,
community Christmas program; 8
pm, Dunbar, Christmas pageant
featuring Tempo Choral Society;
8 pm, Francis, '"The Gifts We
Bring" by dramatic, ballet and
choral societies; 8 pm, Birney,
"Three Kings at the Manger,
choral and dramatic clubs.