Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va) 1886-1890, 1889-12-27
W AS HIN G. 7 ON
HOW THE PRESIDENTS FAM
lily SPENT CHRISTMAS.
4 HAPPY DOMESTIC PICTURE.
The President Spends Part Of the Day
In His Onice--7ke Enjoys n Lively
Romp with the Children I'm the
Evening.

a happier domestic picture than
the White House presented yes
terday, says the Washington
correspondent of the Baltimore Sun,
could probably not be found the world
over. The family were up early. They
had to be to keep pace with the Nc
Kee babies, to whom the attractions
of shining Christmas tree and stock
ings filled to bursting came in all
their glory for the first time Each
of the children selected something
out of the pile of beautiful toys
and chung to it all day. They were
taken out for their usual airing, and
when they got back had the felicity
of looking into the dining room
where the grown-up folks were
dining.
President and Mrs. Harrison did
not 60 to church because there
was no services at the Church Of the
Covenant The President spent a
portion of the day in his office, but
his grandson, Benjamin Harrison Nc
Kee, wanted his attention and adj
miration SO frequently for some new
mystery or beauty in his mechanical
toys that work was out OF the question.
The President did not even get out
for his afternoon walk, as it was too
early to go before dinner, and after
il the Notification around the Christ
mas tree was entirely too absorbing.
Dinner was served in the private
dining room at fower-spread table.
Lieutenant and Mrs. Parker and Mrs.
Dimmick dined with the family.
After dinner all adjourned to the Red
Parlor, the children and their nurses
came in, and while Mrs. Mckee played
on the piano some gay dancing music
Baby Mckee had a lively romp up
aud down the corridor and in and out
of the parlors with his grandfather,
President Harrison, and his great
grandfather, the venerable DIR. Scott.
Little Mary Mckee, hugging a doll
baby as big as herself and dragging
behind her wagon that made music
as its wheels went around, chartered
and laughed gaily as her brother and
his companions ran about in a game
OF hide and seek Mr.. ] A. Anderson,
of Indianapolis, dropped in after din
ner and watched this merry scene.
When the shadows heightened out
doors Mrs Mckee gave the signal to
the servants to bring the Christmas
tree out on the upper corridor. The
lights were all turned down, and the
chief executive of these United States
was led sedately upstairs by his tiny
namesake.
The tree, with oil it's gay-colored
tapers burning in every branch. was
beautiful sight and we'll deserved the
chorus Of admiration that greeted its
appearance. The babies had their
frolic about it, and then were tucked
away in their little cots to dream it
all over again.
Just over from the white house no
less interesting family celebrated the
Christmas festival. Secretary Blaine's
house was bright with lights from the
ground to the peaked roof. He had a
happy family circle gathered about
his dinner table an hour before it was
served. The servants quarters and
kitchen which are in the rear of the
the mansion. low. two-story addi-
ton BUILT in the colonial style, made
a picture which would not look I'M
real on an old plantation. The doors
and windows were thrown open wide,
and generous-sized colored IMAM
my" was busy with her cooking, while
the colored butler and the walters
hustled about with their work.