The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-12-25


mas ia Washington was asbitter sorrow.
In 1868 Mr.. Colfax said to the president:
MIR. Lincoln, you are worn cut. "a
going to my old home for Christmas Go
with me. Bring Tad and rest cay or
So.
Mr.. Lincoln shook his head: ''No,
Mr.. Colfax, | can't take holidays. I've
said before TO yon that l would gladly
change places with the soldiers who sleep
on the ground today"
The next year Chalstmas was bitterly
cold. Mr.. Lincoln noticed that Tad was
out doors without his cap quite early IN
the morning, and he said: 'iy son,
what are you doing cut N the coid?''
''Just helping Uncle Daniel load up
LOADING up what?''
Tad dragged his father along to the
area door. There sat Daniel wrapped in
Tad's best mufier, with baskets and
bundles beside him.
Where is he going?" asked the
president.
'sOh, we are both going to the hospital
where Jimmy is, you know. teid MN
we'd make him laugh Christmas day"
Jimmy was one of the guard
Mother was awful good with some
clothes. Cook likes Jimmy, so does Dan
lei lone of the waiters), and we've got a
splendid load. -
"That's good. Tad, but do put on your
warm coat and cap
That Christmas Secretary Stanton sent
Tad soft scarlet blanket with his name
on it in bag letters. Some general gave
him top boots and gun. The cook made
him huge plum cake, that was passed
around before it was cold, to - Father
frst,' then to the rest OF the family,
then to the guards and servants.
Secretary Chase and General Fremont
called to see Mr.. Lincoln at dark, and
almost tumbled over a string OF rag
mullins at the front door following Mas
ter Tad through the public hallsto The
kitchen.
''I'm fetchin' 'em in to dinner and to
get some presents - said Tad, and the
president and his cabinet had at least one
merry half hour OF that Christmas day.
Perhaps the most attractive event OF
President Johnson S administration was
the Christmas party for children, given
to please his nephews and nieces and
their friends. Andrew, Lille and Sail1e
Slower and Miss Belle and Master An
drew Patterson received the little guests.
Evet ything in the house Was eX-
quisite IN tint and newness. A plat
form stood in the centre Of the
East Room, on which sat the Marine
band. Over them was fesboOned sliken
flags. Flowers bloomed everywhere;
Two or three hundred guests arrived
by O'Clock. 1t was fairy land OF
butterfly coloring. Gold and scarlet
sashes, stockings and pretty slippers.
The little dancers fitted in and out over
the softly carpeted rooms like birds OF
every brilliant hue. Christmas logs
burned on the hearths, and grave states
men stood about gazing at the beautiful
scene. Professor Marini guided the little
feet through ssL'ArieI' and the High
land Fling and amazing quadrilles.
The Russian minister. the Swiss consul,
Secretary Seward and many officers de-
clared ''they never saw so beautiful
picture
'sThe plain family from Tennessee, - as
Mrs. Patterson called themselves, gave
constantly some new pleasure TO the
the house.
The Christmas of $50 found the happy,
wide-awake family of General Grant set
tied in the White House. 1t was Just four
score years on March 4th since Mrs.
Washington was Executive Mistress.
During their eight years IN the White
House the Grants were counted an unus-
uaIly happy home circle. All their hOh-
DAYS were marked with simplest pleasures
and unseifsh charities. Mrs. Grant was
very Systematic in her charities. She made
lists and distributed Christmas gifts with
wisdom and good sense. There was no
end of calls upon them so soon after the
war, and none went away empty. In 40
President Grants father spent Christmas
at the White House. The sons came home
from college, and Nellie and her friends
made the old house ring with good times.
Mrs. Fremont gave them dancing re-
ception, and the sewing club, of which
Nellie was the president, had wonderful
Christmas entertainment, furnished
mostly from the White House.
General Grant ike General Sherman
had great love for children and their
pleasures. One Christmas the natinSs
was s'The adventures and misadventures
of Clown and Pantaloon in the wonderful
pantomiEe of Jack and the Beaustalk, -
and the White House children were de-
termined TO go.
''Now, father, please,' urged Nellie
Grant, and Eyes, father, you promised
u.s. said Jesse, and General Sherman
said, Gwen go, all of US, and take the
whole tribe.'' And they did. Uncles
and cousins, several distinguished gen
erals and the president. officers of
church and state were forgotten in the
ridiculous FRANKS of Jack and the Bean
stalk A great banquet was afEerward
served in the state dining room by the
new steward, Melah. All the distin-
guished guests joined with the children
in games and fun. There were music and
promenades through the east room.
Christmas at the White House with
Mrs. Hayes as its mistress was beauti-
full succession OF Christmas charities and
joyful gatherings. So much has been
said of 1.-THE Madonna OF the White
House, that | hesitate to repeat even q
few simple facts.
William, 1 want you to buy forty
turkeys besides our own, vegetables,
pickles and fruit to go with them. We
will need them Christmas eve. 1 can trus5
you, William, to provide generously" she
said to the steward one ChristmastIde.
The steward himself tells me with pride
and affection how for four years he got
the forty. turkeys not one less than
twenty-five pounds, and how the madam
came to the .store-room, rolled uD her
sleeves, and with her own hands flied
bags with cranberrles, lemons, crackers
and small delicacies Tor the sick. ooh,
liked to buy for her and see her give it
out, y he added. In 1877 Rutherford, ir.,
came home from Cornell. Scott and
Fanny from school. Young friends went
with them to Mt. Vernon the day before
Christmas, and a large, merry party cele-
brated Christmas eve with tableaux, games
and music, Mr.. and Mrs. Hayes joining
in them.
They gave the home Christmas presents
in al original way. All the gifts were
taken to the family room, assorted for
each person, and laid on tables. Mr.. and
Mrs. Hayes distributed them. At the tap
OF a bell someone was called, and, walk
ing in, he received all his gifts. Each in
turn came the same way. After the fam
iIy. the employees and servants, and at
last the children tapped the bell and the
President and Mrs. Hayes walked in de-
murely. Great shouts and much laughter
follow these two calls, and one of the sec
retaries remarked: sit was more to see
the handsome mother Rugged and kissed
"a rn-hi,.lad ainnt nv her bio hnrs and