The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-12-23
WHITE HOUSE on CHRISTMAS
The Visit Of Santa Claus 10 Little Ruth
and Baby Esther.

The Library on the Second Floor Of the
Executive Mansion 10 Be Turned over
to the Little Ones and Their Christ
mas Tree-Mrs. Cleveland Out shop
ping Every Day for the Past Week.
The Christmas Days Of Years Gone BY
in the White Il ouss.
Washington. Dee 22.-NIrs. Cleveland
has given Santa Claus and his band Of
merry--mskers pass keys 10 the white
house during the holiday season. and
Christmas promises TO be an eventful oc-
casion at the executive mansion. 1t is the
intention of the charming mistress of the
presidential residence 10 celebrate the
Christmas festival in a spirit that viii
long be remembered by the two little
maids Of the white house, Ruth and Es-
Their, The library. on the second floor,
which adjoins the cabinet room. has been
seized for the occasion. by Santa Claus
and the preliminary arrangements for the
Christmas tree were commenced to-day.
Ruth is old enough to appreciate the
pretty mysteries that cluster around the
Christmas holidays. and Mrs. Cleveland
is quite as enthusiastic on the subject
as her lovely little daughters. Every day
during the past week Mrs. Cleveland has
been down town mingling with the shop
pers, looking for novelties to be distribu-
ted among the little folks. who are in
vited to assemble at the Christmas tree
party in the white house. There is no
ostentation or unnatural display on her
part as she makes the rounds OF the local
business establishments. She gives and
takes suggestions from her neighbors at
the crowded counters with a gentle voice
and a pleasant smile that Is irresistible.
The President is expected to return from
his duck-shootng expedition in South Car
DINA in time to take part in the Christmas
festivities
The white house is always an agreea-
BILE topic for discussion either in the
public prints or in casual conversation.
Your correspondent to-day made some in
quiries of those in "A position to be in
formed on the subject as 20 how Christ
mas has been celebrated by the various
families who have occupied the Presi-
dents house since the days of Abraham
Lincoln. During the administration Of
Mr.. Lincoln the Christmas festival was
appropriately but quietly celebrated by the
members of his family. The children were
too old 10 indulge In merry-maklng around
a Christmas tree, but there was a general
distribution of holiday presents, and
jolly party Of family friends were gem
ner, served in the state dining room.
Gen. Grant and his family observed
Christmas. while I'm the white house, even
more quietly than the Lincolns. Fred and
Nellie were too much grown up" to in
dulge IN Christmas trees, while Ulysses
and Jesse were Of that age when they were
trying to forget that they had ever been
deceived by the eXtravagant stories cir
culated for the benefit Of children about
Christmas time. Ulysses Mas captain Of
an amateur soldier company, which made
its headquarters in the basement of the
white house. On one occasion, while Gen.
Grant was entertaining a party Of old
friends at Christmas dinner in the state
dining room, Ulysses and his youthful
companions were making merry in their
mess half down stairs. The President
and his friends afterwards reviewed the
youngsters on the lawn, south Of the man
sion. Gen. Grant took special pleasure in
sending out Christmas remembrances to
his personal friends, in private as well as
official life. 1t was not unusual for him
to stroll out on Christmas Eve and deliver
some OF his presents with ms own hands.
When the Hayes family entered the white
house they made more Of Christmas than
any administration that preceded or sue
ceeded it, up to the present writing.
President Hayes and his family were en-
thusiastic in their devotion to the greatest
of all the Christian festivals. Five chill
dren in the white house, with parents no
ted for their domesticity and many beauti-
ful home characteristics. were sufficient
to make the old mansion an attractive
place for Santa Claus to visit. President
Hayes or some Intimate friend or relative
enacted the role Of Kriss Kringle and
every member of the household, domestic
and official was remembered in the dis
trlbution Of holiday gifts.
During the brief career of Garfield in
the white house he observed Christmas by
inviting a few friends TO join the family
at dinner and distributing presents among
all Of the dOmestics connected with the
house. President Arthur also passed his
Christmas in the executive mansion with
out any outward display or demonstra-
ton. His little daughter, Nellie, was the
first president of the Chidrens Christ
mas Club, an organization formed for the
purpose of making poor children at the
national capital happy during the hon.
day season, at least. She was an ener-
getic worker for that cause, and the
Children's Christmas Club is a pleasant
reminder Of pretty little Nellie Arthur.
During President Cleveland's first term
in the white house no attempt to cele-
brate Christmas, beyond inviting a few
eongenial spirits to join him at dinner
and then, If the weather permitted, to
accompany him for a drive He always
remembered the dOmesticS with substan-
tial presents.
President Harrison and his family OBJ
served Christmas something after the
TO his political friends, President Harri-
sons love OF domestic gatherings is one
OF his best developed characteristics. He
enjoyed a romp with his grandcnuuren
at Christmas time or at any other period,
and the holiday season was with one nota-
BILE exception an occasion of rejoicing
and feStivity at the white house.
Mrs. Cleveland intends TO make the
present holiday season at the white house
a memorable event in the recollections of
her children and their little guests next
Tuesday.