The sun., 1903-12-26
CHRISTMAS IN WASHINGTON.
The President Distributes Gifts to Ills FAM
ily and to Many Friends.

WASHINGTON Dec. 25.-The Christi mas
holiday was observed at the White House,
in the homes of Cabinet officers and at the
several foreign embassies and legations
with the usual festivities. President Roose-
welt transacted no public business of inn
portance. although he went TO his office
for few minut es at II o clock this morning.
At noon he attended the funeral of Mrs.
Hoar. the wife of the Massachusetts, Senator,
at the residence on Connect icut avenue.
The day in Washington was dark and
cloudy. Rain fell in the morning and the
weather was threatening all day. Mrs.
Roosevelt had decided that there should be
no Christmas tree this year, but Archie,
the Presidents young son, had secreted
small tree in one of the apartments. and he
called in the members of the family this
morning to see it and receive some gifts
which he had placed upon it. The general
dist stribut ion of gifts, however, was made
in the library of the White House. the
President presenting them Quentin, the
youngest of the Roosevelt children. was
m ost highly pleased of all with mina-
ture farm wagon presented by the manu-
facturers. The younger children OF the
family played with the wagon all the after
noon and Quentin filed an application wit tn
the President for pony. Many other gifts
were received from all parts OF the country.
President Roosevelt not only gave each
member of his family presents ana sent
a number OF gifts to Oyster Bay, but
also rememt cred many friends here. He
has a special phot ograph which has never
been published and which lie pIonounces
the best taken of him. He had number
of these put in black frames, wrote his
autograph upon them and presented them
to friends To others he gave his -Strcn-
uous Life" and other volumes of which
he is author. each bearing an autograph
Nearly all the members of the Cabinet
celebrated Christmas in their homes in
Washington, but Attorney-General Knox
and his family spent the day at Valley
Forge, Pa, Mr.. Knox's country, place.
Tie Secretary Of Agriculture and Miss
Wilson entertained at dinner number
Of Iowa students who are studying IN
Mrs Hay had as their guests their daugh-
ters, Mrs Payne Whitney and Mrs. James
Wadsworth with their husbands, and
Clarence Hay, the Secretary's son.
The President and Mrs. Roosevelt enter
tained large party OF intimate friends
at dinner tonight, the state dining room
being used for the purpose. The guests
we're Senator and Mrs. Lodge, Mr.. and
Mrs George G.. c. Lodge, Mrs. John Lodge,
Capt and Mrs. Cowles, Mr. and Mrs Brooks
Adams, C. H. Davis, Miss Davis, the Masters
Davis, Lieut.. Granville r, Fortesque and II.
II. NJ. Ferguson of New York.
While the Russian Christmas does not
come until Jan. the day was celebrated
by dinner party at the Embassy. given
by Count Cassini, the Cars Ambassador.
and his niece, the Countess, to all the
attaches and a number OF friends; The
Mexican Ambassador was somewhat re-
strained in entertaining by the continued
inc disposition of his wife, Sehora De Az
piroz, but he had the members of his staif
TO dine with him.
The Austrian Ambassador and Mrs.
Hengelmu eler spent the day in showing
to many callers the beautiful Christmas
tree prepared for their little daughter
and entertained small dinner party.
The staff of the British Embassy Jared in
true old English style as the guests Of the
Ambassador and Lady Durand. The
George III. solid silver plate belonging
to the British Government and OF Which
the Embassy is the custodian, was USED on
the dinner table tonight.
The German Ambassador entertained
his staff and few friends at dinner and
afterward presented each guest with Il
gift from beautiful Christmas tree as II
souvenir of the occasion.
The French Ambassador and Nine. JUS
scrand entertained only the Embassy STAFF
at dinner The Peruvian Minister gave Il
dinner for young people.
The Cuban Minister and Sonora Quesada
we're hosts at a party this afternoCn for
forty children given in honor of their son
There was a Christmas tree and after each
guest received a souvenir of the occasion
games were INDUCED i'll. The children
of the South American contingent of the
diplomatic circle and some Others We're
quests,