Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-23

the giver. And then children are children.
after all. and Ruth is just as easy TO please
as any other little girl OF two years might
De, whether she lived in a two-story frame
house or marble palace.
The Morning Mt Church.
1t is customary for the President ana his
wife to attend divine service on Christmas.
and II Is probable that this rule will be fol-
lowed this year. Gen. Harrison walked 20
church nearly every Sunday during his term
OF office. and on extra occasions he attend
ed with punctilious care. MIR. Cleveland
does not go as regularly as his predecessor.
but on these red-letter days, such as
Thanksgiving and Christmas, he makes one
OF the congregation that nils the homely
old church on IL street. where Rev. Or.
Sunderland breaches.
There were some jolly Christmas times
curing the Harrison administration. when
there were three children, at times, on duty
as makers OF merriment. Little BENJAMIN.
better known as Baby Mckee" was on all
occasions the hero, with the lions share OF
the gifts. Then there were two girls, Ben's
sister, and Marthena Harrison, Russell's
child. When all three were in the house slt
once there We're lively times. Frequently
thelr laughter and, 1t must be said, occfa-
sionaly their walls, could be heard I'm the
more solemn parts OF the house, where tie
aHalrs OF tie nation were being discussed
III sometimes happened that Ben, who was
guished surroundings. would break away
from ms nurse and would get through the
folding doors that separates the private
part of the house from the offices ON the
second floor, and then there would he a
great chase. On Christmas the house was
given over to the children, and nothing was
allowed TO interfere with their merry-mall-
ing.
There were also some happy DAYS in The
1ule tide when Gen. Grant was tn the
White House Nellie Grant was allowed
q great many childish privileges. and her
Christmas times were always full OF soy
and happiness. The east room was often
the scene of merry parties given by hef,
ana children's feet dance over .he floor
that were trodden the night before IT may
be, by distinguished men. and beautiful
women, officers and Diplomats, leaders In
state and society.
Smiles as Well ms Cares.
There are some bright spots In the fife of
a public man, after all. The Office of Presi-
dent is not happy place; Il has many,
many responsibilities and frequent hitter
disappointments. But the days come when
there can just as easily be smiles ana hap
Ply times as cares and the wrangies of state
craft, and nowadays, when there are two
dear little girls in the great white place
that hides so much from the world. the sd
vent OF Christmas is welcomed with more
delight by the elders. IT may be. than the
youngsters. For the reflected happiness
or the children means much TO those who
reel the weight or life as IL has grown
to be.
So on Christmas day no one win et-
tempt to 'see the President" That Gay
is as sacred to his personal self as though
he were the greatest OF tyrants. who could
make and break laws and customs at his
pleasure. Ordinarily on Sundays there are
few callers, but the most intimate OF his
official associates are even then admitted
TO his presence In some cases. But Christ
mas day Is not only Mr.. Cleveland's own,
but the childrens well. and the rules are
ironclad that there shall be no intrusion
Of public matters into the family circle
that cannot but be broken by SO many
obligations.
The family win spend the day In the
privacy OF the rooms in the second story
that are set apart for their own personal
use. The library and all the other living
rooms have been tastefully and neatly
decked with evergreens. and In the nurs-
cry, which is on the north side OF the cor
rfdor that separates the floor into two parts.
there is a magnificent tree. ablaze with
colors and heavy with presents.
Into these rooms no sound Is 70 come
on the Christmas morn but the notes Of
childish laughter. and above all there VIII
be more than ever before the sound OF the
refrain:
And on earth peace. good viii toward
men"