Evening star., 1945-07-04
Lady With All the Answers Is Commended

Mrs. Clara Wright Smith, known
as the LADY with all the answers, ;"
because she has helped answer al
most a million questions as director
of the District Information Center,
today will help to celebrate the
fourth anniversary of the founding
of the organization.
Often the salvation Of Washing
tonians and newcomers here, she
has received a commendatory letter
from Edgar Morris, chairman of the
Greater National Capital Commit
tee of the Washington Board of
Trade, which sponsors the Informa-
ton Center.
Speaking of the center and her
important wartime aid to visitors,
the letter states in part: 'It has
more than justified the high hopes
expressed by Mayor La Guardia who
came from New York to speak at
the opening ceremony on July 4,
1941."
Always Ready to Help.
The letter reminded Mrs. Smith
that "war workers and other local
residents, as we'll as men and women
in the armed forces, have found the
Information Center always ready to
serve them," and says that with the
cooperation of the Capital Transit
Co. and volunteers from the War
Hospitality Committee, nearly l.
600, 600 inquiries have been handled
| by your staff-each one contributing
to some persons well being and
morale while in the Nations Cap
ital."
The Information Center is located
in a booth at 1891 Pennsylvania
avenue NV. Easily accessible to
thousands of persons seeking quick
information, 1t has become central
headquarters for all facts about the
| District.
Questions answered daily concern
both the Federal and District gov
ernments, sightseeing, sports, edu-
cation, transportation, housing,
vacation resorts, rationing, concerts,
drama, churches, radio, theaters,
where to eat and where to shop.
The staff is on duty at the center
from $50 am. to $50 pm. week
days and from 8 am. until pm
on Sundays. The telephone number
Is Republic 581s.
Keep Up to Date.
Four large books at the center
are kept up to date with transporta-
ton information, details on coming
events, information about restau-
rants and Washington's recreation
facilities. The book on recreation
facilities gives detailed data on
baseball schedules, barge trips, boats
for rent and where to get them,
bowling, bridge classes for beginners,
boxing, tennis and bicycling.
The center also houses a group of
volunteers from the War Hospitality
Committee, which contributes to the
maintenance of the building These
volunteers perform a welcome serv-
ice in distributing free tickets to
theaters to service personnel. Also
present is a representative from the
Capital Transit Co, Mrs. Anne
Embrey, who gives out sereetcar and
bus information, a valuable con-
q
tribution to the helpfulness of the
center.
Representatives from all large
Government agencies. the Council
of Social Agencies and the District
Recreation Department have praised
the work Of Mrs. Smith and her
assistant. Mrs. Aida Campbell.
Mrs. Smith recently originated a
vacation folder which shows local
residents how to spend profitable
vacation in the environs of the
| District.
The District Information Center
is one of four wartime projects sup
ported for another year by the re-
cent completion of Greater National
Capital Committees campaign for
$35, 900 among Washington business
men, r-s