Evening star., 1946-12-24
Fair Weather
For Christmas
Forecast Here
Trumon to Light
White House Tree
At 5 PM. Today

CHRISTMAS EVE services planned
in churc ches throughout city.
Page A-4
CALENDAR AND PICTURES Of
Yule activities round about town.
.-. Page B-1
INCREASE IN VENDORS pressages
many Christmas trees left over.
Page Al
Sunny skies and ove-freez-
ing temperatures were promised
for Christmas as Washington
completed it's preparations in a
last-minute rush today.
Many Washingtonians were eX-
pected to pause to watch President
Truman turn on the lights of a'huge
living Christmas tree on the White
House south lawn this afternoon.
The President was scheduled to
press the button shortly after pm,
and about SIT to send the Nation
5-minute yuletide greeting via
the radio networks.
Military Band to Play.
Patients from Naval Medical Gen.
ter, Walter Reed Hospital and Forest
Glen Hospital were to attend as
guests of honor. The United States
Marine Band was to play starting
at 4:30 pm, and later the National
Press Club Carolers were to sing.
The southeast and southwest gates
of the White House grounds were
to be opened at $3.50 pm. for en-
trance by the public.
Those who miss the lighting
ceremony may see the lighted tree
any night during the holidays from
dusk to 9 pm, and hear Christmas
music played and sung beneath the
tree.
All that December madness of
frenzied buying and whispered
planning will begin to make sense
tonight. This is the night Christmas
trees magically sprout in the living
room and under them the tinseled
products of long hours of searching.
It's the night Bub and Sis go to
sleep a little earlier mama and
Papa think and with one ear
cooked to the rooftop, await the
arrival of that big man from the
North.
Buying Rush Still On.
But today the mad rush was still
on as the inevitable late shopper
raced against the pm. deadline,
when the last department store re-
/ volving Goor finally groans to a halt
| The trains. planes, buses and
autos, somewhat quieter the past
couple of days after last weeks big
rush, were expecting new flood OF
late home bound traffic tonight
when Federal and District govern
ment workers, given half a day off,
head for old firesides.
Not every one is leaving town. AS
a matter of fact, transportation Of
fees report the influx about as
heavy as the exodus. But the sum
total of the two-way scramble is
what most observers call the biggest
Christmas rush of all times.
Carol Singing in Streets.
Tonight carols will ring through
the streets. Many will attend
church services. Those who wish
to spread the full meaning of the
day to every corner will visit hos
pitals and homes for the needy and
aged with gifts and cheer.
Those who fancy a touch of snow
with their eggnogs will have to con-
tent themselves with bright, sunny
skies and temperatures in the 40's.
But at least the Weather Bureau is
impartial. 1t is dealing out the
same kind of parcel throughout the
Nation.
Mr. Truman delayed plans for his
own Christmas celebration to light
the tree. He will take off from Ma
tional Airport about 7:30 am. to-
morrow for Independence, Mo-, to
spend the day with his 94-year-old
mother and other members of the
family.
His tentative plans call for turkey
dinners with his mother, his wife's
family and with an elderly aunt in
Independence. Mrs. Truman and
their daughter Margaret left for the
Little White House" in Independ-
ence last week. Mr.. Truman will fly
back to Washington Thursday aft
ernoon.
Christmas came early for many
Washington children, especially the
needy, who were guests at parties
throughout the city. The gaiety will
continue tonight and tomorrow at
(See CHRISTMAS, Page A-4)