Evening star., 1947-11-28
Most Of Capital Back
Al Work, but Holiday
Is Extended by Many
Capt. Walter Storm.
Capt. Clarence Lutz.

Most Of Washington returned to
workaday tasks today after eating
bountifully Sf Thanksgiving turkey
enjoying crisp but sunny weather
and giving thanks at church serv-
ices throughout the city.
For thousands, however, Thanks
giving Day launched a long week
end. An estimated 20 pc rcent OF
Government workers took one day
of annual leave to give themselves a
four-day vacation.
Station Master William H. Marks
estimated that 10000 persons left
town for the holiday. From return
ing travel last night, he judged that
most of the travellers will remain
out of town until Sunday.
Schools Remain Closed.
For the school children, too
Thanksgiving started a four-day
holiday. Public schools in the Dis
trict and nearby Maryland and Vir-
ginia remained closed today.
Led by President Truman and his
family, many members of Washing
ton churches prayed as we'll as
feasted yesterday.
One service, held in the National
City Christian Church at Thomas
Circle, brought together four Chris
tian and one Hebrew congregations
The congregations were those of
the host church, the Calvary Baptist
Church, the First Congregational
Church, the Mount Vernon Place
Methodist Church and the WASH
ington Hebrew Congregation.
DR.. Hastings Greets Visitors.
Half the collection from the wor-
shippers who crowded the church
went to the Community Chest; the
rest to the needy in Europe.
The Rev. DR.. j. Warren Hastings,
pastor of the host church, greeted
the visiting congregations. Rabbi
Norman Gerstenfeld of the Wash
ington Hebrew Congregation read
President Truman's THANKSGIVING
proclamation. DR.. Clarence Cren-
ford of Calvary Baptist Church gave
the Thanksgiving prayer. The Rev.
John w. Ruskin of the Mount
Vernon Place Methodist Church
read from the Scriptures, and the
Rev, Carl Heath Kopf Of the First
Congregational Church gave the
sermon. Thanksgiving at Mid
night" ssss.>.t,. .a.z.s.
DR.. Cranfords prayer reminded
the congregations that we are an
island of privilege In q world of
misery" and Mr.. Kopf's sermon that
"two-thirds of the worlds people
will go to bed hungry tonight"
Institutions Serve Turkey.
Turkey appeared on more family
tables this year than-last, retailers
reported, although the feast cost
more this year.
Thanksgiving dinners with turkey
and all the trimmings were served
to the children and the aged living
in Community Chest-supported in.
stitutions as well as to the way.
farers at the city's missions.
Approximately 200 children were
served Thanksgiving dinners by the
Children's Aid Society, 466 H street
S.W, which began planning fol
Christmas even as the turkey was
being served.
Plea for Dolls Issued.
Mrs. Ruth Bawters, resident di
rector, made plea for donations O.
dolls to be presented to little girls a
the society's annual Christmas party
Some 700 children are expected tt
attend the party on Christmas eve
So far. Mrs. Bawters said, the 50
ciety has only one doll among tn,
toys it is collecting.
The society's services to the need,
include, in addition to baskets O
food and toys and candy at Christ
mas, daily hot meal for poor chill
dren, clothing and emergency aid.