The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-12-22
HOW XMAS is KEPT
SANTA CLAUS BIRTHDAY AS GEL
EBRATED IN TOWN AND
COUNTRY
OBSERVED AT WHITE HOUSE
Becoming More of ChiIdren's Day
Elaborate Celebrations in New
York and Paris-A CosmO-
pOIitan Institution.
snecin1 to The Globe.

SBcC10I To UlOOS'
WASHINGTON, Dec. IA. = Last year
President Roosevelt celebrated Christmas
day by playing Santa Claus in the quiet
little village of Oyster Bay, where he
was making his home when absent from
the capitol at Albany while serving his
term as governor of the Empire state.
This year it is scarcely likely that he
will find it consistent with the dignity of
his Office to climb down chimneys and
perform other feats which belong to the
grand old Christmas character.
The president will probably enjoy
quiet Christmas dinner at the White
house in which few intimate friends
will participate and will spend one of
the quietest Christmases in his history.
A ride or drive in the afternoon, if it be
fine, will be de rigeuer, and in the even
ing there may be some kind Of an ell
tertainment gotten up at the White
house to amuse the children.
Christmas day is becoming more of 4
children's day in town than anything
else, a fact which was particularly no.
ticeable last year in New York and other
large cities.
Large dinner parties, except at country
resorts, are the exception rather than the
rule, the Christmas table being reserved
for private family reunion than for any
ether purpose.
The Christmas dinner is by no means
made q medium for the display of oSten-
tation.
Many of the wealthy who are religious
ly inclined attend services at the ca
thedrals and churches In the morning,
where some of the services are very elab-
crate and beautiful, and where the deco
rations lend a touch and tone of Christ
mas which is most gratifying and appro-
pirate. The singing of the Christmas
anthem, rehearsals of which have been
carefully held before hand, are made a
matter of especial attention in some
churches.
Very many quite religious people do
not find time to go to church at all en-
Christmas day They have elaborate
programmes mapped out by which they
try to glorify the day by good works
rather than by religious observance.
The entire day is spent by some Of
these people in providing for the needs uf
others on this festive occasion. Old
friends, old servants and less prosperous
EelghborS are looked up and made happy
by the present of some needed article or
articles which the occasion makes it pos
sible to bestow without giving offense
Many persons who have attended
church in the morning go to the theateS
in the afternoon for relaxation, whilst
others enjoy a spin in the park behind
an electric motor or span of fast horses.
or, if there is skating in the parks, en-
joy the eXhiliration of an hour or two on
the ice.
The really elaborate celebrations Of
Christmas must be looked for at the WIN
ter resorts, such as Lakewood. Tuxedo
Or Hampstead in the neighborhood of
New York, and other places of similar
type throughout the country.
AS such resorts tally-ho and other driv-
ing parties are the vogue, and OCCASION
ally fox hunt occupies the morning or
it may be outdoor or indoor sports, ac-
cording to the condition of the weather.
Elaborate luncheons are served at these
places and the day is finished off with
private theatricals and dances. 1t is at
the country house that the spirit Of
Christmas seems to become particularly
rampant. In other quarters the wealthy
classes seem to devote themselves more
to the happiness of THEN poorer neighbors
the underworld in fact-than to any
special form of celebration calculated to
enable their own enjoyment of the day.
Miss Helen Gould. for Instance, de-
votes herself to promoting the happiness
Of the children aud Christmas day finds
her the presiding genius of any number
of Christmas trees, laden down with
presents for her little proteges.
Bohemia has its own way of celebrating
Christmas. and many jolly parties of
actors. musical and literary lights are
gotten up for Christmas eve or the fol-
lowing afternoon. These are often held in
private ateliers, or again, as often at
some fayorite resort like Sherry's or
Rector's where the celebrations generally
last until late Christmas morning.
The really big Christmas celebrations
seen in the large cities are in connection
with charities
In no city of the world is there any ap-
proach made to the bounty with which
New York provides for her submerged
tenth.
Madison Square Garden last year was
turned into a gigantic banquet chamber.
in which the Salvation Army acting as
Rlmoner for the generously disposed, pro-
vided liberal Christmas spread for % 900
people, sending dinners away in baskets