The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-12-24

N'N-S eSNA.
SECRETS OF THE NURsETY.
Some insight into the white house nur-
sery secrets may prove interesting here.
In the tirst place, there are three nurses
TO Ruth and Esther, two white women
and one colored nanny. The colored
member OF this trinity is the most val
ued of Mrs. Cleveland's minions. She
belonged originally to a Virginia family.
put has been doing what is
known as "help" work at the
north since the war. At one time she
was employed in Mrs. Folsom's house
mold. While she ranks third as nurse.
she is practically general manager of the
Daoles' bureau and bottles. She knows
from experience, and little more from
instinct, just when the bottle is needed
and just how long and how late the chill
dren should stay out for their ''airing 8"
ReOecca is her cOgnOmen, but Aunt
Beck1e" is the name she goes by in the
Presidents family circle. She never leJs
the clothing of either child go through
the regular routine of cleansing,
put washes each piece herself.
she harpS upon the fact that more
'chilluns" have been killed by
half-aired clothing than by Group or
measles. She is the domestic tyrant of
the white house, and rumor has it that
she once refused to allow Mr.. Cleveland
to hold his own child because he had
scolded 1t for crying on a former occasion.
How these little stories leak out is never
known, but Madam Grundy has an ear
always turned TO the white house and
sleeps with one eye open The two white
nurses in their French caps and filigree
aprons keep constant watch of the chill
dren during the day, but to "Aunt
Becker belongs the task of watching
over their slumbers by night These three
Will be important factors at the white
house on Christmas ranking Importance
even Lady Churchill Lamont
A CONTRAST WITH NEW YEARS.
Christmas at the mansion will be in
strong contrast to New Years, With its
gay glitter of foreign grandees and super
cilious attaches. The quietude of the
one will almost be forgotten in the toll
and the tumult of the other. On New
Years the most important social func-
tionS of the season occur There are
rejoicing and heart burnings, envy, jeal-
ousy and good nature. IL is on this day
that the rank of the legations is set
tied for the ensuing year. There
is on this day more of the
grandeur of a foreign court than the sim
plicity of American government. This
occasion this winter will be of special i'm
portance, for it will be the first time that
UdSSdQOTS Will DOW DelOIe ule GIeSl-
dent with official insignia upon their
breasts. Additional Importance will be
given the occasion from the fact that Sir
Julian Pauncefote will act as the dean of
the diplomatic corps. Heretofore, when
there were no ambassadors, only minis
tiers plenipotentiary and ENJOYS extraord-
mary, the oldest member of the corps in
point of service was, by precedent the
dean. But now all that is changed. In
d. g. A IL.
proper standing, the chief functionary
was created ambassador England was
the first to return the compliment, and
so by right Sir Julian Pauncefote dis
places old Romero, of Mexico. Patenotre
of France, presented his credentials sec
ond, and so stands in order to Sir Julian.
1t has always been the custom on New
Years day for the President and his
wife, assisted by the cabinet officers and
their wives, to receive the diplomatic
corps, the army and navy and the SUI
preme bench. The latter, though named
last, come first in the order of their pre-
sentation. Then file in with all pompo s.
ity imaginable the naughty and aristo-
cratic membe of the diplomatic corps.
Finally the army and naval officers, with
their wives, are presented according to
their respective rank.
ONLY oHILDREN's VOICES.
But on Christmas only the sound of
children's voices will find an echo about
the white house. Even Private Secretary
Thurbers discordant tones will be con-
fined to the business end of the building.
AS on all other holidays he will present
himself, and if Mr.. Cleveland so wills. he
will be received in the presidential pres
ence long enough to pass the civilities of
the day, and inquire if there are urgent
communications to be answered, or any
members of the ca binet to be summoned.
After this mere formality, Mr.. Thurber
will possibly be allowed to extend his
greetings OF the day to Mrs. Cleveland,
and smile that smile which has more than
once, it is said, sent Baby Ruth into
mental exile. Ruth'S only companion in
dolls is the Internationally year old
daughter of Mrs. Bisseil They are the
playmates of the cabinet circle. Secre-
tary Smith has a small boy, but the only
time he was ever sent to call ON Miss
Ruth he snubbed that young lady and re-
fused to play with her, because she was
not boy. So he will scarcely enter into
the joys of the day at the white house
But little Miss Bissell will spend the
hours with Ruth while Mrs. Cleveland is
at church. At the dolls fair held here last
week these little women were the most
conspicuous figures in the hall. They
passed from stall to stall gazing jealousy
at the rows of dolls while Mrs. Cleveland
and Mrs. Bissell received the guests as
sisted by Lady Pauncefote.
RUTH VERY FOND OF DOLLS.
So they will be on Christmas in the big
dressing and undressing their
dolls and wondering why Esther sleeps
all day and why she can't play dolls, for
Ruth is very fond of dolls. In fact, she
wouldn't be the ideal little girl if she
weren't. She is never seen about the
white house grounds without she is cud-
ding in her arms some member of the
doll family. When Mr.. Gibson, of Geor-
gia, the only officeseeker on record who
had the temerity to stoop and kiss the
child, was one day on the point of passing
on, Ruth held her doll up to him and,
much to his confusion, he was forced
to pay homage to the sawdust lady
also. He is now consul in Syria,
but is remembered here for his dar-
ing osculatory feat. Ruth has in all
forty dolls of different sizes, shapes and
colors. They represent several birth
days, Christmases, and the admiration of
unknown friends. They are arranged
into families, and each family has its own
apartment in the nursery doll house. So,
in this room, around the miniature home
of this tribe of mimic people, will Ruth's
fourth and Esther's first Christmas be
spent
All who pass out Pennsylvania avenue
or loiter about Lafayette park on that
day will look wonderingly at the big
xvhita DilIars and curtained windows