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Newspaper
Washington Post
Location
Washington, Washington Dc, United States of America
Date
Dec 26, 1914
Page
12
Snow transformed Washington for a rare white Christmas with sleigh bells and decorations brightening White House to cottages. President and Mrs Wilson remembered the less fortunate with gifts and benevolence while churches filled for Christmas services and society enjoyed concerts, rides, and festive entertainment.
Volunteers at Central Union Mission and Florence Crittenton Mission staged Christmas dinners, clothing giveaways, and gift distributions for hundreds of destitute families. The Jesus Will Be in You Mission hosted a noon Christmas tree event with readings, songs, and gifts for children.
A Christmas celebration sweeps military posts with festive dinners and decorated mess halls. At Fort Myer the holiday meal featured green branches and bells, a children’s tree event in the gym, and officials suspended nonessential duties until January. Washington Barracks and the Marine Barracks also observed similar Christmas festivities with special meals and lighted trees for the post children. The Soldiers’ Home hosted an elaborate dinner with carols by the home band as staff received a vacation from Thursday noon to Friday morning.
Inmates at Washingtons penal and reform institutions and the Washington Asylum enjoyed turkey dinners and family visits on Christmas Day. The Reform School held a vaudeville show and a post eve turkey feast with parents. Occoquan celebrated with a holiday dinner and a tree, while Inmates at the Asylum received baskets of food and gifts marked non contraband. J Berryman, head of the house, said holiday meals mirror typical fare, noting the table is always as good as District institutions.
Christian churches of many denominations observed Christmas with special music and sermons. Midnight Masses and late morning services were held at Catholic and Episcopal churches, with papal blessings and benedictions noted. Worshipers filled St. Aloysius, St Patrick and multiple parishes, as choirs intoned carols and hymns amid bright decorations.
Orphanages across the city held festive Christmas celebrations with trees dinners and gift distributions. St Ann s Infant Asylum and St Rose s Industrial School hosted masses and visits from Santa while St Winocett s and St Joseph s orphanages distributed gifts after services.
At Saks & Co in Washington DC overcoats shoes caps and underwear were donated to deserving boys with poverty cases aided by cash gifts from Mr Gans. Mothers cited illness and unemployment while most children were outfitted for two to three years. Associates assisted in clothing shoe and sporting goods departments. The effort aided families with limited incomes and medical needs.
Washington post office carriers worked through snow for Christmas deliveries. About 250000 packages were handled, 16000 more than last year, with 11 auto trucks, five two horse wagons, twenty one horse wagons, and 244 foot carriers assisting alongside 3406 regular mail carriers. Postmaster Praeger announced the surge in mail volume.
Nearly 3,000 Washington children attended a Christmas entertainment at Poli's Theater. The event featured the company players and acts, with a Children’s playlet Mother Goose by Prof. Howard Leslie Helt. After the show the kids shook hands with the actors and received toys. The Veit Rauvelta fraternity held a Christmas tree party at 1810 M Street NW with a matinee and dance.
The annual Christmas breakfast for dormitory men was held with most young men going home. Gifts were arranged under a tree for distribution after breakfast. Devotional exercises and short addresses by William Knowles Cooper and W Hiltar Didle concluded the celebration.
Christmas festivities spread through Washington as homes for the aged and infirm and the working boys enjoyed dinners, tree entertainments, and services. At the Women's Christian Home gifts were distributed after a prayer service led by Miss Catherine Bent. Turkey dinners, fruit, nuts, and candy accompanied the day. The St. Vincent de Paul Society planned a moving picture night for inmates at the Industrial Home School for Colored Children. Friendship House welcomed visitors for open house and a Christmas celebration for children, with a yule tide party and gifts for each child.
Tomorrow at 4 30 mass will be celebrated by Rt Rev William T Runcell with Rev M P J Egan preaching. A Christmas musical program will be repeated. Vespers by mixed choir at 4 30 and 7 30 devotions in honor of the Good Shepherd. Mgr Rusaeil will officiate and preach then benediction. New Year’s Day Feast of Circumcision Masses at 6 8 9 10 and high mass at 11 led by Father Egan with sermon by Rev John M McNamara. Christmas music again at the 11 o’clock mass.
John Hays Hammond Jr, once a writer hopeful, decided to pursue science after a day with Thomas Edison at West Orange New Jersey. He developed a wireless control system for torpedo boats and tested a heated shell concept that could ignite on impact, drawing Navy interest and comparisons to Marconi experiments.
The Ladies Auxiliary of the St Vincent de Toul Society at St Aloysius Church distributed 42 eye street northwest baskets for Christmas dinner from the president's residence. Parishioners donated the baskets at a pound party held by the Ladies Auxiliary at Gonzaga Theater on Tuesday.
Lewiston Idaho December 25 Major General of artillery under Gen Robert E Lee in the Civil War John Lane died at his home He was the son of Gen Joseph Lane former United States senator and first governor of Oregon
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