The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-12-21
How They Have Been SpentbyPresidents
and Their Families in Recent Years.
Mrs. Harrison's Preparations for Making the
Coming One a Merry Day for Her Grand
children-The jolly Hayes People.
Changes by Commissioner Raum TO Ex-
pedite Work at the Pension Bureau.
Nominations for Office Confirmed by the Senate
Indiana Measures in the H~ouse-Sena-
tor Allison's Reelection Assured.
PREPARING FOR canlsrnAs.
How the Day Will BE spent at tho Whit
House-A Tree for the Children.

PREPARING FOR CHRISTMAS.
How the Day VIII BE spent at the white
House-A Tree for the Children.
Special TO tie Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON. Dec. 2o.-Santa Claus has
added the White House to his list of visits
on Christmas day. For the first time In a
number of years there are children at the
White House. and a merry Christmas is in
prospect for the inmates. IL has been o
long time since Santa Claus has had occa-
sion to call at the executive mansion TO
dress a tree or fill a stocking. simply be-
cause the children in the White House were
too old for such things, or else there were
no children for Santa Claus TO visit. But
this year baby Mckee and his little sister
are there, and active preparations are being
made for a joyful celebration of the Chris
tan feast. Mrs. Harrison said to the Jour
nal correspondent yesterday that she was
making arrangements to have a tree for the
babies. They have always been used TO n
tree.n said she, land this year we certainly
shall follow our custom. They will also
hang their stockings. and We viii try 10
make it as merry a time for the little ones
as is in our power"
Owing to the recent death of Mrs. HarrI-
sons sister there will be no guests at the
White House. Mrs. Harrison said that on
this account she would not have a chill
dren's party to see the tree. The babies did
not know very many children in Washing
ton. and On account of mourning there
would be no one but the family ct the
house on Christmas day. Mrs. Harrison
and her daughter. Mrs. Mckee. have been
busy for the last several days with their
C%hsistmas shopping, and the day win be
celebrated in genuine home fashion by tho
President and his family. 1t is the first
time in many years that n tree has been
erected at the White House. but the day
has always been. as IL is the case In every
family. an unusual one for the Presidents
and their families.
Perhaps the family who had the ~jolliest
time in the White House during recent
years was the Hayes family. There were
quite a number of children. and the Presi-
dent and Mrs. Hayes always made it q great
occasion for them. On Christmas morn
ing. directly after breakfast. the whole
family used to gather in the library. which
is now used by the President as 8
! private reception room. but which
was ucc0 ouiAA6 VIA AAofSoo
istration as q family library. Then the
merriment would begin. Each one of the
family had prepared his gifts by wrapping
them in large bundles. and kept them in
his own room. A hell was placed in the
corridor and each member of the family
was given a number; then one would go
into the hall, usually Webb Hayes. and
would strike q number on the bell, and the
member who held that number had to rush
into the corridor and get his present.
which was hid somewhere In that apart
ment. He would take the present INTO the
library, and perhaps while untying IT the
number would again be sounded. which
would cause another disappearance. The
fun arose from the frequency with which
the bell was struck. and the alacrity which
the member of the family had 20 display
in getting into the corridor TO secure his
present. Often the same number would be
struck in quick succession. and the menu
Der would have TO leave the task Of unity
ing his present to rush out to get his sec
and he. too. had to unbend from his dignity
and Join in the fun, for If be did not re-
s2oud when his nnmber was struck he
Mould n hays ITO to Ps ;g a nd forfeit, as the Others
1t usually occupied several hours before all
the gifts were thus distributed, and the old
house during that time resounded with
iiy. but generally all Of the servants in the
house participated in this merry-making.
Mr.. Arthur, although his daughter Nellie
was not grown. usually celebrated Christ
m MIAMI IN a SaS n1ss wa of friends ny = safs Se f1sn slwa Va,
received . large number of presents; but
the day was not made one of unusual i'm
portance.
family gathering. and the day was quietly
Mr.. Cleveland after his marriage usually
spent the day 10y driving out 20 his country
residence, Red Top, and eating dinner
there.
of all the persons of recent years the
servants in the house say that Mr.. Hayes
was the most liberal in regard 70 Christmas
gifts. He invariably remeinbered each aud
every servant very handsomely. One year
he surprised all the clerks and employees by
sending each family = large turkey with
the compliments of Mr. and Mrs. Hayes.
No one knew anything about it until they
went home and found the turkey. These,
with gifts Of money. made him remem-
bered.
president Cleveland. during his last year.
handed around a iye-dollar gold piece TO
the servants in the house. but this was only
after he was married
The Presidents and their families have
for years always used the private dining
room on Christmas for their dinner. Only
once within the last twenty years has the
state dining-rocm been used for family
gathering on a holiday. AID that was one
Thanksgiving day. when President Hayes
gave a dlnneT 10 De fanny WIS
House clerks and their families. The
small dining-room Is much cozier and home
like. aud. therefore. on occasions when it 10
purely a family gathering. the Presidents
much prefer to use this room. The White
House is always closed TO the public on
Christmas day. and the family have IT TO
themselves.
Already baby Mckee and his little sister
are looking forward with a great deal of
pleasure to Santa Clans.s visit. Little
Rem who has inst returned 20 Washington.
talks about what Santa Claus is going To
bring him, and has already his stocking
prepared 10 hang on Christmas eve.
Mr.. Russell Harrison left Tuesday night.
and IN is not expected that he and his fam
ily will be be here for Christmas.