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

Luuy w Ill Al
Mrs. Clara Wright Smith, known
as the lady with all the answers >
because she has helped answer al-
most q million questions Is director
Of the District Information Center
today win help TO celebrate the
fourth anniversary Of the founding
OF the organization. @s
Often the salvation Of Washing
tonians and newcomers here, she
has received a ,eommendatory letter
from Edgar. Morris, chairman Of the
Greater National Capital Commit
tee OF the Washington Board Of
Trade, which sponsors the InfoYma :
tion Center. 9s'
Speaking Of the center and her
important wartime aid to visitors,
the letter states In part: TT 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,
1s4l."
:, Always Ready to Help,
The letter reminded Mrs. Smith
that "war workers and other local
residents, as well as men and woner
In the armed forces, have found tn
Information Center always ready ::
serve them, !" and says that with III
cooperation OF the Capital Trans
Co. and volunteers from the Wa
Hospitality, Committee, nearly L..
900 900 inquiries have been handled
by your staff-each one contributing
to some PERSONS we'll being and
morale while in the Nations Cap
ital.r
The Information Center is located
in q booth at 1881 Pennsylvania
avenue NV. Easily accessible 10
thousands Of persons seeking quick
information, 1t has become a central
headquarters for all facts about the
District. $fi
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 ut the center
from $50 am. to $50 pm. week
days and from . am. until 5 pm
on Sundays. The telephone number
is Republic 5sls..
Keep Up TO Date.
Four, large books at the center
are kept up TO date with transporta.
tion information, details on coming
events, information about restau.
rants and Washington's recreation
facilities. The book on recreation
facilities gives detailed data or
baseball schedules, barge trips. boat.
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 ths
maintenance OF the building. These
volunteers perform q welcome serv.
Ice In distributing free tickets tc
theaters TO service personnel. Also
present is o representative from the
Capital Transit Co., Mrs. Anne
Embrey, who gives out sereetcar anc
bus information, q valuable con-
tribution to the helpfulness Of the
center. $500 b.
Representatives from all large
Government agencies, the Council
Of Social Agencies and the District
Recreation Department have praiset
the work Of Mrs. Smith and hel
assistant. Mrs. Aida Campbell
Mrs Smith recently originated .
vacation folder which shows ioeal
residents how to spend a profitable
vacation in the envtrons 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 fol
$685. among Washington business,
men.