St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-12-24

General Taylor's family spent one Christmas
only in the White House, and newspaper par
agrapher of that day possibly a disappointed
office seeker wrote that ''old lack and his
wife celebrated the day with big dinner and
grand pipe smoke afterward, retiring at early
candle light" Mrs Taylor's known preference
for army life, and her dislike of the formalities
of the President house. caused much injustice
to be done her. and fortunate it was that her
daughter, Mrs. Bliss, Familiarity known as
Betty Taylor, was with her to relieve her of the
| official duties devolving upon Presidents
WIFE
The Fillmore family, like the Pierce family.
paid little attention TO Christmas. Society gen.
orally regretted the indifference OF these presi=
Dental households to social duties, and it was
with undisguised delight that Washington
ians saw Buchanan's reign begin. The pres
ence of a beautiful young lady in the White
House was hailed as a promise of gayety for
the people of Washington and of the country
generally desired TO have more ''pretentious
doings and goings on in the PRESIDENT House"
Miss Harriet Lane, was the belle of the Nation
when she entered upon her duties as hostess,
and much of the President social prestige was
due TO her popularity She really graced the posi-
ton she held, and up TO her day there had been
but one woman who could be compared To her
in social distinction: this was Mrs. Madison,
and the younger woman was her superior in all
respects, excepting experience. Miss Lane had
presided over her uncles house in London
while he resided there as minister TO England,
and was not only equipped for society leader
ship, but was exceedingly fond of society. Every
day was a festival one in her calendar, and
beautiful were the entertainments given by
her. During her stay at the White House. the
Prince OF Wales was the guest Of the Nation.
and his visit which was greatly enjoyed by
him, added still more ecLat 10 her fame as the
Lady OF the White House. She was the recipi-
ent of more Christmas presents, and the belle
of more Christmas dances than any woman of
her day and Christmas was kept with all honor
in the White House while she lived there.
Christmas was not a gala day during the ad-
ministration OF President Lincoln. The scene
had changed and the great drama of war was
being enacted throughout the land. There
were no fetes, no parties, and no dinners, but
the three children of Mr.. and Mrs. Lincoln kept
the festival and the White House was full of
toys and drums, from Santa Claus land.
After the death of % Willie, the two remaining
sons kept the Christmas festival, but in a quiet
way, saddened by the sorrow of their parents,
and the absence OF their beloved brother.
Children and Christmas seem synonymous
terms, and there has been no family in the
White House who glorified this anniversary
who were without children. Grown up people
content themselves with present making and
dinner giving, but children demand more for
their Christmas. and they have always i'm
parted special Importance TO Christmas; not
only in the White House, but in every house.
President johnson had six grandchildren, who
knew Santa Claus Familiarity WELL and
Christmas trees and Christmas joys were
known in the stately old mansion during his
term. The children had parties and they were
the most important element of the household
at each recurring Christmas time. The observ-
ance of the day was wholly for their benefit,
and thus it came to pass that it was always
delightful occasion. The little creature who
made it memorable to all her young friends in
Washington was Belle Patterson. the Presi-
dents favorite grandchild, and the most gifted
of his descendants.
The Grant administration followed. and the
prestige of his military reputation and the
great wealth that was represented in Washing
ton at that era combined 10 make all White
House festivals celebrated. The Christmas
trees in the East room were objects worthy the
pen of the historians who described them. and
gifts. representing thousands of dollars always
lay beneath them.
President and Mrs. Hayes. with their house
full of children made Christmas reunions de-
Gghtful. They were sociable but not fashion
able people, and their method OF keeping Christ
mas was according to the home-loving ideas of
the West.
Mrs. Hayes was said to have been the happi-
est woman who ever lived in the White House,
and people who are happy the year round are
apt TO ignore special occasions for trying to be
so.
Neither OF the successors OF President Hayes
had opportunity to make Christmas festivals.
The early death of President Garfield and the
quiet habits of his successor, abolished fer
time Christmas from the White House cal
endar.
President Cleveland, up to the time of his
marriage gave no attention to Christmas, but
after that happy event the festival day was
kept with hearty rejoicings.
President Harrison was pre-eminently a
family man, and his grandchildren found him
to be a perpetual Santa Claus. Mrs. Harri-
son was strict observer of all family festivals
anu every OuI1SlIllcS was OD56EN6u. I6T OSdIn
saddened the last Christmas spent by the
family in the White House, and it was unnoted.
This year the day will be celebrated by Presi-
dent Cleveland and his wife in Washington,
surrounded by friends, and their little children.
one OF whom is old enough to appreciate Santa
Claus and his mission to her, at least. Christ
mas is not time for public rejoicing; rather
is it the occasion when families wish to be re-
united and when broken households desire to
be alone and separate. Christmas IN the White
House is shorn of much of its glory, by reason
Of the fact that the greater holiday and the
official one is New Years. Then it is that the
public OF Washington rejoice, for it is the one
day in the year when they can go to the White
House and shake the Presidents hands to their
hearts content. No official or social event
equals it in Importance, and hence it oversha-
dows Christmas at the National Capitol
LAURA HOLLOWAY LANGFoRD.
THE LEGEND OF THE STOCKING.