Evening star., 1953-12-25
Capital Re|axes
During Bright
ChristnlasDay
TroveI at StundstiII,
Downtown Deserted
For Holiday at Home
By Hermon +. Schoden

BY Herman F. Schoden
Christmas in Washington made
up with brightness what it lacked
in whiteness today as sunny
skies and crisp air radiated good
cheer in homes, in churches and
on the avenues.
Everywhere it was the oft-told,
but never old. story of bright
eyed children awake before
dawn for the long-awaited thrill
of Santa's visit; of family re-
unions and festive boards: of
exchanging of tinSeled gifts, and
of the realization of the deeper
meaning of it all-the birth in
the manger nearly 1000 years
ago.
There was peace on earth.
peace of a reStive kind. but some
thing to give hope for a more
lasting fulflllment of the admo-
milton: Peace on earth and
toward men. good will"
Snow Is Scattered.
United in spirit by the holiday.
eXemplified by yesterdays light
ing of the national community
Christmas tree, most of the Ma
ton enjoyed ideal weather.
Temperature readings above
normal prevailed in most sectors,
and only in parts of the Midwest.
New England and the Rockies
was there snow on the ground.
Washington began waking to
a chill Is degrees this morning.
but high of 46 was forecast for
the day and a low of 33 tonight,
together with a chance of some
rain or Sleet. Tomorrow should
be partly cloudy with more mod
crate temperatures, the Weather
Bureau said.
Few accidents or fires marred
the celebrations-a compliment
to those who have stressed safety
during the holidays.
Downtown Deserted.
Compared with the hustle OF
recent days, Washington down.
town was deserted city. Most
workers were enjoying a three
day reprieve by the hearthside.
Travel facilities, taxed until to-
day. dropped to Sub-normal di-
mensions, but transportation
men were not fooled. They knew
the reluctant rush home would
come Sunday.
President Eisenhower struck a
solemn and deeply religious note
in his Christmas eve address to
the Nation, setting a pattern for
what clergymen hope will be a
returning to an aWareneSs Of
the original meaning of Christ
mas.
Secretary of State Dulles
echoed it in a statement:
"At this time the Birth OF
the Christ Child-we think of
the goal to which He was dedi-
Gated. namely peace on earth.
We believe that the past year
shows progress toward that goal,
and peace on earth. good will
to men will continue to be the
purpose to which we consecrate
our efforts"
Needy Get Bit of Cheer.
For the less fortunate, those
without the bountiful gifts
which most know. such organ
izations as the Salvation Army
and Central Union Mission we're
spreading cheer.
More than 1000 dinners were
prepared by the Salvation Army,
in addition to the distribution
of the makingS for 1900 dinners
and $4,000 toys. The food bas-
kets contained a 6 to 8 pound
ham, 10 pounds of potatoes,
flour, lard. bread and 10 cans of
vegetables.
The toys were collected by Bob
Reed of Radio Station WRC. the
Marine Corps. Shriners and Jim
Gibbons of Radio Station
WMAL. The Salvation Army
also gave more than 500 aged
couples checks of from SO to
SIS to supplement their welfare
incomes.
About $50 persons had dinner
featuring roast ham at the Gen.
tral Union Mission and heard
staff members tell stories of the
rescue of derelicts from a world
<Nf 81 ~G l.