Evening star., 1947-12-26
Christmas Mood
Prevails asCity
Returns 10 Work
President Pays Visit
To Walter Reed and
Bethesda F.osDitoIs

Bethesda Hospitals
Washington continued in a holi-
day mood today as workers went
back to their Offices in belated
Christmas snow and housewives
planned menus around "the rest
Of the turkey"
1t was a family Christmas cele.
bration in most homes yesterday,
and the White House was no ex.
ception.
President and Mrs. Truman and
their daughter, Margaret, opened
gifts around their Christmas tree
with number Of relatives, later
sitting down to a turkey dinner
with the trimmings.
Sees Tree at Garage.
The President left the White
House twice. He made surprise
visits to Walter Reed and Bethesda
Naval Hospitals, and then walked
half mile to the White House ga
rcge to see {, 15-foot Christmas
tree erected by drivers of White
House cars.
Mr.. Truman's visits to patients
included calls on former Secretary
of State Cordell Hull, Admiral
Ernest j. King and one Of the presi-
dental secretaries, William D. Has
sett, at the Naval Hospital. He
walked through the wards at both
institutions to greet the bedridden.
At the White House garage, he
shook hands ali around, exchanged
holiday greetings. and walked back
to the White House.
Many Attend Services.
Many residents left their homes
to attend religious services, where
they heard the story of the Nativity
retold with it's message of peace
on earth. good will to men,
Skeleton stats were on duty at
places of employment where con-
tinuous service is maintained, in
Guiding Municipal Court, where
brief session held to handle lookup
cases, mostly imbibers whose Christ
mas eve celebrations got out Of hand
and traffic offenders.
At the main post Office, approxi-
mately SO carriers delivered perish
able packages on a volunteer basis.
Other postal employees, except thc-s
detailed to special delivery service,
enjoyed holiday.
Mail Volume Is Up.
| Despite the large volume of mail
this season-estimated to be 26 per
cent above last year's-City Post
master Vincent C. Burke said all
Christmas-card mail received until
6 am. Christmas Eve was delivered
that day. Other mail received later
than that also was delivered during
the day.
Mr.. Burke said mail loads were
still coming through, and that he
expected it would be two or three
days before all Christmas cards
reached their destinations.
| 1t was reported quiet at Union
Station today, where there was little
activity yesterday. Comparatively
few travellers were at any of the
transportation terminals yesterday,
but last weekend,s crowds are ex-
pected to reappear Sunday and
Monday.
Hospitals Have Entertainment.
Hospitals observed Christmas
with entertainments, decorations
for the wards and festive dinners
for the patients. Many clubs and
organizations lent helping hands,
including the Red Cross.
The American Women's Legion
of the World Wars sent gifts for
patients at Mount Alto Hospital to
give to their families. Four units
of the legion give monthly gifts to-
ward an emergency welfare fund at
Mount Also. in addition to money
and other gifts at intervals for
veterans at Mount Alto, Bethesda
Naval and Walter Reed Hospitals.
Many charitable institutions re-
membered the needy by serving
Christmas dinners. They and other
organizations had distributed bas-
kets of food, clothing and toys
earlier for the Christmas needs Of
those who otherwise would want.
Group Serves 1000 Dinners.
The Volunteers of America served
more than 1000 dinners at their
headquarters, 924 New York avenue
NV. Lines began forming at $50
am, and the meals were served from
10 am until pm.
The Volunteers had purchased 500
pounds of turkey for the occasion.
and despite the number served
there were three large birds, a gal
Ion of cranberry sauce, several cases
of milk and about 20 gallons of ice
cream left over, most of which was
sent to the Central Union Mission.
One turkey went to the Volun-
teers' Sunset Club for the Aged at
1925 Sixteenth street NV.
Some Have Prolonged Holiday.
Many Government workers were
enjoying a prolonged holiday which
will extend over the week end.
Christmas celebrations will con-
tinue for several days. The District
Chapter, knights of Columbus, will
entertain a group of children at the
Apex Theater at 10 am. tomorrow.
Other entertainments were sche-
duled for neighborhood and settle
ment house children today and dur
ing the rest of the holidays.
The Mothers Club of Friendship
House will hold a Christmas party
at 1:30 pm. Tuesday in the settle
ment house, 619 D street Sc.
Program Includes Show.
The party will be followed at 2:3o
pm. by children's matinee.
The program will include enact
ment of Christmas story by kim
dergarten children, shadow drama
of the Nativity by and 8 years old.
a puppet show, a tumbling exhibi-
tion, an exhibition by q magician,
dances and carol-singing.
The nursery group will hold q
holiday party at $3.50 pm, January
4. The children will present gifts
they have made to their parents and,
in turn, will be given presents by
Santa Claus in a post-season visit.
White Oak Man Arrested
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