Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-24

Christmas at tho White House il going to be
an unusually happy festival, because every
member of the Presidents family is enthusiastic
on the subject Of the children's enjoyment and
that makes the gayest kind Of a holiday. Ex-
press wagons were coming all day with
bundles and boxes, from all parts
OF the country. and messengers with notes
all tied up in white ribbons and other holiday
ladies or the children from friends in town,
have been just as steadily dropping in. On the
other hand Mrs Harrison has sent ont TO her
intimate circle Of friends very beautiful re-
minders OF the day and Of her affection This
morning Mrs. Harrison, with Mrs. Mckee and
Mrs Dimmick. spent the morning hours shop
ping They drove down town, Of course, but
anticipating the rain were comfortably clad i'll
very becoming mackintoshes, SO that the con-
trary elements did not lessen the duration Of
their tour through the shops.
By nightfall the children's Christmas tree
will be . shining and glorious object in the
library. Its preparation has given Mrs. Mckee
opportunities to display great ingenuity in Sc
lecting pretty things to hang on it. Mr. Phis-
ter has selected stately FIR tree. one with
straight branches. SO that the glittering objects
on them show to the best advantage. Mrs. Dim
mick has found q new and appropriate name
for the gold tinsol which will be literally used
to decorate the tree. She says the Germans
call it Kris Kringle's hair" and SO Baby Ben's
tree, TO his intense delight will be shining with
it. The children will not see the tree until
morning nor any of their toys, which their fond
parents and grandparents and friends have
been getting together for the last few days
The Presidents family party tomorrow at
dinner will be added to by the presence of Mr..
Russell Harrison, Mr. Mckee, Lieut.. and Mrs.
Parker and Mrs. Dimmick. DIR. Scott is in ex-
celent health and expects to get as much
pleasure out Of Christmas although of q widely
different sort, rs his great grandchildren. He
Is enjoying the serenity Of old age surrounded
lr,o <hos
or happiness.
Lieut. and Mrs. Parker and Mrs. Dimmick
have gone to housekeeping at 2029 P street
Miss Sanger went home to indianapolis to
spend Christmas with her mother.
The furniture for the green parlor has ar
rived and was put in place today. All the old
chairs and sofas have been recovered in q pale
green plush, almost silvery in effect, and
there are few other chairs done in a pale
rose plush. A three-seate1 divan, upholstered
in the green plush, is the only new piece. The
mantel and piano cover viii match in color.
The Vice President and Mrs. Morton are
making their usual holiday preparations and
will have their family circle widene by the
coming of a few friends. This evening the
youngest daughter is going to have Christ
mas tree party, and it keeps up the old custom
in the household to have this merriment for
The cabinet families as a rule will keep the
day quietly at their own tiresides, but almost
In each instance have friend or two to dine
with them. Secretary Blaine and his family
observe the day in the usual New England
fashion and all the members Of the family will
be here to partake Of the cheer. Secretary
Blaine is now seemingly i'll better health than
his wife, who has been ailing more or less since
she returned here last autumn. Almost en-
tirely the domestic matters Of the household
fall upon Miss Baine's shoulders, and she is in
every way equal to the emergency.
Secretary Foster confidently expects to dine
down stairs with Mrs. and Miss Foster and to
enjoy some delicacies other than those he has
been permitted in the sick ROOM His conva-
lescence has been tedious and has pretty well
exhausted all the ruses to which his attentive
nurses-his wife and daughter-were obliged
to resort to make the days and
nights less tedious. His frst venture
down stairs the other day was quite an event,
when going up again the Secretary
seemed to think that by some magic process
the stairs were greatly heightened and alto
gether required entirely too much exertion. To
say that his continued improvement after all
these weary weeks is the chief source of happi-
ness for his wife and daughter on the eve Of
Xmas does not half express the situation. The
Secretary's married daughter, Mrs. Myers. will
not come on from Fostoria. as her health is
none Of the best and her husband and baby
boy need all her strength and attention at the
holiday season.
The Postmaster General and Mrs Wanna
maker. after their custom Of the last two de-
cades. will keep Christmas in the good old
fashioned way BY assembling all their SONS and
daughters. their danghters-in-law and grand
children under the roof Of their country home,
Lindenhurst II in this country at all, all the
holidays are marked by q family reunion there
All the associations OF their married life GEN.
ter in this spot and they go back with the
keenest degree CT enjoyment, which equals
only their regret at being obliged to leave it
again
Attorney General and Mrs. Miller are going
to have their usual Christmas cheer with their
children about them. 1t As a happy family
circle. Mrs. Miller gives our markets high
praise. as she says no delicacy or substantial
necessity for q real Christmas dinner but what
can be obtained there.
Secretary and Mrs. Rusk are firm believers in
home cheer at Christmas and have arranged
for u restful day with their daughter and son.
They arc also good judges of what the regula-
ton Christmas feast ought to be, and will have
that and all the incidents of present giving to
make the day memorable one.
Secretary and Mrs. Noble and the Misses
Halstead make up n family party Astounding in
the happy personal attributes which go SO far
toward making real holiday They will cele-
brate the day at home with the usual exchange
of gifts and the meeting at dinner with q bit
more ceremony than usual Mt tho late dinner
Secretary Tracy and Mrs. and Miss Winner
ding may have Mr.. Frank Wilmerding, as has
been the custom, for q Christmas visit.
Secretary Elkins came to the White House
this morning to pay his respects to the Presi-
dent and Mrs. Harrison and to say goodbye,
as be intends spending Christmas with his fam
lily up at Elkins. W. Va. He will return in a
few days and Mrs. Elkins will be with HIM
The latter will receiye with Mrs. Harrison on
New Year day. Secretary Elkins has not de-
cided upon house hero yet and it will take
pretty good sized one to meet his family de-
mands He has n grown daughter, Miss
Elkins, the child Of his first wife, and there are
five young children in his household. Besides
these q married daughter spends much of
her time at home. Mrs. Eikins' sister, Mrs X.
NJ. G. Brown. has taken the house 1872 N street
and is now comfortably settled there. Hiss
Grace Davis, her younger sister, with her par
ents, ex-senator and Mrs. DAVIS. are ct tho
Rennert in Baltimore, where they expect to
spend tho winter, coming over here for the
great occasions.
The residence Of Mrs. s. NJ. Kavanaugh, 41S
NJ street northwest, was the scene of {, very
pretty home wedding this morning at 10 o'clock,
when her daughter, Miss Alice Lee Kavanaugh.
was married to Prof. W. Ii. Barry in the pres
ence Of her family and a few friends The
bride Ia petite brunette and wore a becoming
travelling suit. Prof. Barry is principal Of the
public schools of Paterson, N. j. After a