The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-12-22
IN WHITE HOUSE.
Roosevelt Children VIII Have a
Merry Christmas Time.


their offerings will ever be seen by the
intended recipients, All such presents
from sources not satisfactorily identlned
will be opened, in the ordinary course OF
business, by the White House clerks
and most of them viii find their way
eventually to Washington hospitals and
other charitable institutions.
Strangers are not encouraged to be-
slows gifts upon the president or mem
bers of his family. Though a polite ac-
acknowledgement is invariably made, Mr.
Roosevelt would much prefer that such
evidences of good will should be omit
ted Nevertheless many express wagon
loads of merchandise of every -lnagl-
nable kind, from candy to boxes of Gig
ars and from dolls to baskets of wine,
will be dumped at the door of the ex-
ecutive mansion during the coming
week, and the problem of getting rid or
the stuff will embarrass the CLERICAL
force for quite awhile.
OF presents the Roosevelt children VIII
get a plentiful supply from relatives
and friends. and Kris KTingle may be
chimney next Wednesday night with
sack heavy enough to elicit not un.
justified Srumble from the kindiiest OF
saints. Miss Alice. now that she IS
young lady, out in society, will not hang
up her stocking as heretofore, but the
good old custom will be followed cas-
usual in the Roosevelt family by Theo-
dore, Kermit, Ethel. Archibald and Baby
Quentin.
Being of Dutch extraction, the Roose :
velts think a great deal of the Yuletide
festival and make the most of Christ
mas. The president always gives his
wife something handsome and costly on
this annual occasion of rejoicing, but
not until the day actually arrives does
she know what It IS going to be. Ut
most secrecy is maintained in the house
| hold as to all such matters. and great
viii be the excitement of the young
folks when they rise early on Christmas
morning and peep into the bullying and
shockingly deformed stockings hung
from their respective bedDosts.
But this will be only the beginning.
The climax will arrive when, after
breakfast, papa leads the way to the,
library on the second floor, where the
gifts are laid out in fascinating array on
tables. The president will distribute
them, and for the rest of the day the
historic mansion is likely to be a noisy
place. Mr.. Roosevelt does not object to
the noise that youngsters make, within
reason; he regards it as a healthful
symptom The afternoon will be given
up to romp, in which the children's
friends from outside, invited for the
purpose, will participate.
Mr.. Roosevelt discourages any notions
on the part of his children that they are
superior to other peoples children
merely because the president Is their
! father. When Theodore, jr., first went
| to school at Groton. Mass. he explain
| ed to the youngster that there were only
four kinds of boys-tan boys and short
boys, good boys and bad boys. On this
non-aristocratic idea the family affairs
are managed, and even Miss Alice would
/ be likely to receive a rebuke from her
father if she ventured to put on airs .
Next Wednesday morning the steward
of the White House will distribute 81
turkeys among the clerks. uShers. mes
sengers. gardeners, policemen, stable
men and ushers attached to the White
House, that number being required 10
go round. and to each bird will be at
tached a card bearing -he name of the
recipient and the words. "A merry
Christmas from the president
The RcoSevelts will eat their own
Christmas turkey at 1880 o'clock in the
evening of December rs and the dinner
will be strictly a family affair no out
siders being invited Doubtless it will
very jolly little home festival. such as
any married couple with half a dozen
boys and girls of their own would en-
/ joy a similar occasion.
There was not much iollihcation at
Christmastide in the White House while
i the MCKinleyS were there, and no Won
der. the couple being childless and the
mistress of the establishment an in
valid. Nevertheless the festival was duly
observed. To every married man among
the employees Mr.. Mckinley gave 81
| turkey. and to each Of the members of
the clerical staff Mrs. Mckinley gave q
muffer and pair of YARN gloves Such
articles she was accustomed to knit with
her own hands, spending much of her
| leisure time throughout the year in
making them There were always three
| or four young nieces and cousins in
vited to spend the holidays at the White
| House, and they helped to contribute a
| little gayety.
Baby Ruth was nearly 2 years old
when Mr.. Cleveland came back to the
White House for his second term. and
there were two more little ones before
the four years were over Esther being
h(T in, no r7ci~r No
ion at Grey Gables. Mrs. Cleveland
took much interest in Christmas. and
each year had a tree, she herself super
intending the trimming of it. The Of
fetal electrician was called upon to pro-
vide hundreds of tiny colored incandes-
cent lights to take the place of danger
GUS candles. Many children from out
side were invited to come and see the
tree on the afternoon of Christmas day
and there was always a gift for each
little guest.
During the Harrison regime the
Christmas gifts were always hung on
tree. and the president himself acted as
Santa Claus, distributing the gifts
Little Benjamin Harrison Mckee. wht
became celebrated throughout the LAND
=. as Baby Mckee, was old enough by thai
time to enjoy the festivities. but his
sister, Mary Lodge Mckee, was still IL
arms when her grandfather came Il
the White House. Though ordinarily sc
grave and dignified, Benjamin Harrison
couId unDenQ at times ana one OF those
occasions was Christmas. There wa.
always a great romp in the nursery or
Christmas afternoon, and the austert
chief magistrate would get down on hi:
hands and knees. it is said, and permit
the youngsters to ride on his back
Mr.. and Mrs. Hayes were rema rlxa DlS
generous people and their custom was Il
give valuable present every Christmas
to each employee of the White House. Many
of the gifts were articles of sflycrWare anc
young Webb Hayes would be sent down
town shopping with Col Crook the cash
Ter of the executive office. to pick out the
articles deemed most suitable. Not ever
the humblest servftor WIS forgotten. Or
Christmas morning in the library there
was quite a ceremony, and Scott and Fan
ny Hayes distributed the gifts among tht
members of the assembled staff.