The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1903-01-22

| INNNW0 The executive mansion
IisVSEN In the past, has witnessed
M notable celebrations Of the
WA annual festival, held un.
der the auspices Of many
presidents and their families.
Last year, however, the hrst Christ
mas passed by President Roosevelt ir
the white house, signalized the return
after some years Of absence, OF one ol
the most essential features Of any true
Christmas celebration--the presence Of
children.
From the end Of President Cleve.
lands second term, up to the first 25tt
of December which found Roosevelt
president, the white house had beer
destitute of children. Mr.. and Mrs. Nc.
Kinley had no family, and for that rea.
son their Christmas-keeping lackct
some Of the peculiarly characteristic
features of the seasons merry-making
OF course there could be no tree. ne
juvenile games or joyous ebullitions.
Lest Christmas all this was changed
with the advent of the Roosovelt's
What was done then is fair forecast
Of how the president and his family
will pass the holiday this year-alway,
provided that our energetic president
may not possibly take It into his head
at the last moment, to go for Christmas
to his private home at Oyster Bay. l.
I. II Is quite probable, though. that
the Roosevelts will consider . Christ.
mas at Washington this year to be the
most desirable thing. not only because
Of tradition, but on account Of the com
fort and novelty they will be able tt
enjoy IN their occupation Of the i'm.
proved and remodeled edition OF tht
historic mansion.
While last Christmas was real one
at the white house, with the indispen.
sable adjuncts OF juvenility and jollity
one great thing was, nevertheless. lack.
ing-the Christmas tree. This may
seem very much like playing Hamlet
with the title role omitted. but there
was q reason for II which will not
exist this year. There was no room
then for the tree. but now that the
mansion has been converted into 0
dwelling house exclusively, and the Of.
ficial staff accommodated In other quar-.
ters, the Christmas tree can dominate
and dazzle without feeling in the least
crowded.
Last year the Roosevelt children hat
their tree, but II was held at the near.
by home Of their relative, Commander
Cowles.
II is amusing to recall that younger
Roosevelt children-Kermit, Archie
Etohel and Quentin, got up conspiracy
with their fathers messenger, Pinck.
ney, to pilot them out to the country
and help them to bring home tree
Finally the Cowles arrangement salts
fed ell concerned.
The first Roosevelt Christmas at the
white house cannot very easily have
differed much In Its program from that
to be carried out this year.
Before breakfast the president and
his family met in the library. Over
night II had been agreed that every one
in the house-including servants
should hang up a stocking. and next
morning, when lie stockings were OK.
amined, no one was disappointed. On
Christmas eve, at Commander Cowles
house, the president astounded the fam
lily gathering there by appearing as
Santa Claus In rough riders uniform
But he had the genuine white beard
and the legendary hecks Of frost ant
snow on him. and II subsequently de
veloped that he had also the presents
The morning meeting In the white
house library was followed by the IN
spection OF the contents OF the stock
ings, which hung In the sitting room
Then came breakfast and after tha
church. Miss Alice Roosevelt received
her girl friends on the landing OF thu
broad staircase at the west end Of thu
building, where, in an imprOvised re
ception room. she gave them tea. Ont
Of the funny incidents which enlivenet
| tVu xSHN an 81 lae Aoxr vro
the discovery that Archie. the irrepres
sible, had anticipated the surprise o
the stockings by a strategic recon
noitering movement over night.
The Christmas tree at the Cowles
residence was set In real lake will
messy banks. upon the waters Of whicl
played the reflections of q marvellous
arrangement of electric lights repre-
senting a variety Of brilliant devices
including hrefies, etc, these beinI
strung together by q master mechanica
hand, and having been originally con
structed for former Roosevelt tree.
Christmas evening at the Roose
velts dined en- famille at the whit
houe. Sheffield Cowles and Baby Quen
tin seated In high chairs, being tn
, guests of honor. After dinner ther
| were Ttai Oiu SuTiutuub Bouicb III tu
long corridor. Later came the cakewall
, in the great east room, led by the presi
dent himself, whose whole-souled an
really talented impersonation OF tn
, eventful cake e-winner. danced to the Np
, propriate accompaniment of"W nistlin
Rufus" lent to the jovial proceeding
, an indescribable vim. vigor. pictures
, queness, and--it II. perhaps. not inap
, propriate to add-color.
: At noon ON Christmas day busines
, had been suspended In the official cir
, c!es OF the white house.
Outside Of the celebration of Christ
mas at the executive mansion, there ar
J always seasonable festivities at the va
y rious legations in Washington. Eve
, the Chinese, japanese and Corean EN-
! bassies have In recent years entered In
) to the spirit Of 'h", joyful time A
. the British embassy IL always the ides
: observance OF Christmastide.
D For years President Roosevelt ma
{ been used TO play the part Of SAINT
. Claus at Oyster Bay.
THOMAS DONNELLY.