The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1902-01-09
President Steps a Dance to
Ragtime Tune.
LED IN A CHRISTMAS OAKEWALK.

prenccd Down the Line to the
strains of GA Hot TImc"-virginIn
Reel Started the Tun - Senator
Lodge Entered Heartily Into tho
ReveIs In the East Room.
President Roosevelt took part In the
cakcwalk and danced the Virginia reel
In the White House on Christmas night
rs a finale to the Christmas festivities,
writes tho Washington correspondent
Of the New York World. Senator
Lodge aud some young people, invited
guests, also took part In the festivities.
The frolic took place in the historic
east room. Amid much laughter the
party formed for the Virginia reel. The
orchestra struck up, and the president
Of the United States led the dance up
and down the line, executing many
fancy steps.
Mrs. Roosevelt and the other ladies
in the party were almost hysterical
over the antics of the president, who
cntc cred into the dance with all his ac-
customcd spirit. The president chas-
sod. sidcstcpped and "balanccd ALL"
while the little Roosevelt boys gave
| vent to howls Of mcrrmcnt.
Following the president came Henry
Cabot Lodge, United States senator
| from Massachusetts. usually Staid, dig
niiird, stately. On Christmas night he
forgot all this ana danced with all tho
vim and abandon of his young son,
who was present. The Roosevelt chill
drcn :uycd the senator Just as they
had their father.
For thirty minutes the reel was
danced. Then the orchestra struck up
| "Thcrc'u BE n Hot rimc." The guests
yelled, and some one started n cake
walk. The president chose partner
and led the caNcwalk down the long
east room, executing fancy, buck and
wing steps. while others in the party
clappcd "iuba."
"Go It, pop" yelled the Roosevelt
children. Mrs. Roosevelt laughed until
the tears came to hcr eyes. After
few minutes OF "a Hot Time" the or
chcstra began Playing "Whistlng Ru-
fus," n real cakcwalk tune, and the cn-
tire party joined in the contest. The
young son Of Senator Lodge soon dem
onstrateu that he was the star cake
| walker. and the president allowed him
| to lead. After the cakewalk came an
| old fashioned country square dance.
| 1t was the presidents own suggestion
| that after dinner the party have an
old fashioned Christmas celebration.
The party adjourned to the long cor.
rdor. where games were ulaycd for
half an hour, the children all Dartici.
pating.
When President and Mrs. Roosevelt
unon arising Drcpared to conduct the
family nroccssion TO tho SITTING room
TO examine tho Christmas STOCKINGS #
wos found thot tho rcetlosc vounretora
had stolen march md already knew
nll about tho nrcscnts and vorc iovone
, hocousc or tho multitndc of r,rts
Theodore tunior rnco,vod q enlond,d
huntinc, ontit inc,ndinr q sbotcu, n
morozinc rinc md huntinr En,rc
Tbcso arms will ho tr,o1 dur,no hia
buntInr trim iuet borup rndor tho
cnid,nco or Dr R,xnv
,vho norn,no voc dovotod T., q fon,ly
rounIor ,,urotuo+o1 Nv, ,.,sI+. Fron, ooh
;nnt momhrrs At1.20 tho whole fomi.
" includ,nr Name tho nurse drove
to tho residence of Commonder Cow,cs
: Shortlv y rtor tbo,r arrival switch pyos
turncd ond tho h,o christmas trco n
tn, LARGO sitting room on the second
floor instantly wos oh,azo with eloctrif
LIGHTS rho trco ,voa sot IN moss,
prounds surro,ndod hy y loko onI
| with won1orru, on,moIa grornod ~
o the sward.
q While tho merriment was Mt it
If height the president withdrew unoll
r. served. Shortly therein fter the childre
q were delighted by the entrance of
, rollicking Santa Claus What SCENE