Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-12-22
WHITE nousE cHRIsrMAs.
The Cheerful "Reminiscences of the SePtu-
agenarian DOor-Keeper.

AMG NMNNAANA ANhAhAAANN ft@Ne g ~ NrtN
agenarian DOor-Keeper.
WASHINGTON. December el.-Baby
Mckee has written Christmas letter.
To santa Clans? Oh no. Baby Ben has
more worldly wisdom than 90 take any
chances. He never saw that wonderful
o.rsonage. the Christmas saint. lie
nav be- an right, but Ben Is Nine
taenth Century baby and prefers sur
hing. So he sent his letter % papa, after
h.lad written it on Miss Sanger's type
eat.r. The small statesman sat upon
agile % letter pads. and submitted 70
tLe aecessity of having his chubby
fingers uided from type 20 type, but,
lsd4 the debating. and this is what
Leur0te:
Dear Papa have broken my steam
engine and would like new one for
Christmas want some candy and
-1me kindergarten chairs.
When this point was reached Miss
sanger suggested that he should ask
for something for Mary, but with sub
Imc Independence the small Ben an
uluuced that Mary could ask for her
oau Sings The children Of the White
House Will have a tree this year, as
t4ey d.i last. On the Presidents private
plr.0r. The party will be strictly pri-
.lie o., the children look forward % a
merry time with grandpa on that day.
l,r pendel. who has been one OF the
t04r-keeDers at the White House for
'slltr-ive years. mas many pleasant
memories of Christmas Days there. he
als qDpoiuted ia President Lincoln :
tu. and is the only man now on duty
lf the White House whose appointment
bears Mr-Lincoln's signature.
We didn't have many CHRISTMAS do
.ngs In those days" says Mr.. Pendel;
.'there were too many grave things 20
think about, and then there were no
children at the White House, only Tad.
Willie was dead. aud Robert was away
un duty. Mrs. Lincoln used 20 buy
great many presents for Tad, but he
could amuse himself with the 'buck-
tails better than with playthinsS."
The 'bucktails" were a regiment OF
Pennsylvania volunteers that were sta
to-ed inst below the White House.
Tie only Christmas tree | ever saw
BOZ t.r White House, said Nh Pendel,
sa n Andrew JOhuSonS time. IL
',al a the Blue PlrlOr, and was the
lcr.-.t sight ever saw. There were
EAlran thrc then-Frank Johnson,
tr..l.nt's son. Mrs. rdtterSon'S
rrn and Mr. StOycr'S three
4-. .-ey t-i gay times. Mr.. johnson
.0-y fond 90 children. Once he
'-'-l parts ON h's own birthday, ana
.~- o,cr three hundred of them.
--r'e "l, not grown person present.
-- danced in the East Pari0r, and
-, continued Mr. Pendel, "iS the
.l time ever saw dancing in the
"-I" House until Mrs. Mckee gave
,,ei party last year. After the dance
,... johnson gave The children a Splen-
L- lunch in the state dining room, and
s was the only occasion when the
.-.-ien ever ate there"
l-is party was memorable for another
.l.-t d, was the only time during the
ADMINISTRATION that Mrs. Johnson re-
.''t.' aud ,he aid so on this occasion.
..ed in her iuy4iij's chair.
4-r CHRISTINA, parties during Prcsi
N'"t i'rants time were grOwn-up affairs.
- .-;se numbers % people were in
.',l Tic Grants We're in the habit of
-@".ns very splendid presents and Civ
"s elaborate dinners.
MIS- Hayes was quite house-mother.
Hls. Harrison is, aud her sturdy boys
-l- genuine homely Christmas times,
a' they used 20 in their home in
"-'o' One Of the features Of these par
vas lne telling OF Christmas stories,
''. ~. which Mrs. Hayes was quite famous.
'ne 1arhelds never spent a Christmas
~ The White House, but little Nellie
arthur had a nice time.
was So sorry for her when She first
'-'"'i said Mr.. Pendel. "She looked