The sun., 1903-12-27
900 CHILDREN IN WHITE HOUSE
MRS. ROOSEVELT GIVES A PARTY
TO THE YOUNGSTERS.
Music ana Dancing, Then = March to the
Dining Room, where Refreshments
Were Seryed--The Room Gay with
Christmas COlOrs In Flowers and Foliage

WASHINGTON, Dec. 28.-Nearly five hun
dred youngsters attended the children's
party at the White House this afternoon.
After having their curls adjusted and their
sashes arranged for "the presentation
they were introduced by officers in uniform
to Mrs Roosevelt, who shook the hands of
the bigger ones and often stopped to hug
or kiss wee bit of a one. They were a
gay lot of children in white frocks and
pink, blue OF white sashes and hair ribbons.
The children were shown into the East
Room where they were seated for the con-
cert given by five boys, professionals. Most
of the songs and other numbers on the
programme were rendered in costume, much
to the delight of the children, and the con-
cert was closed by all hands singing MY
Country, 'Tis of Thee" accompanie ed by
the professionals. The entire north end of
the East Room was occupied with the mu-
sicians and their Instruments, the most IN
teresting one to the children being the organ
chimes which entered into the programme
When the hour of music, was over there
was a general march to the dining room,
where the children proceeded to devour
several hundred pink and white ice cream
Santa Clauses. Other refreshments, such
as cakes and CONNECTIONS and lemonaoe,
were served with the frozen Santas. The
of red and green red carnations and poin-
setta blossoms. with green foliage af1ord-
ing the table decorations, all glowing under
the light of red shaded candles: Holly
and red blossoms we're disposed about
the room, but the chief attraction was
miniature Christmas tree on one OF the
side tables, from which the souvenirs,
consisting of pretty cards, were taken.
Ethel, Theodore, Kermit, Archibald and
even the Presidents baby, Quentin, entered
into the spirit of the party with willing
zest and entertained as many CHILDREN
in bunch at once as possible.
After the refreshments, which were given
to the children standing-quite Diet triment
to many of their frocks-they disbanoed
in the various drawing rooms. The little
ones played old fashioned games, such
as every child knows. and the big ones
danced to the music of the Marine Band
in the East Room.
While many Of the children with old
fashioned ways waited about to bid Mrs.
Roosevelt Pood-by, others forgot their
manners and wandered about at will. in
vestipating and adniring the drawing
rooms and the big romping ground. Archi..
bald attempted TO rt several hundred
Of the children upstairs to see his toys,
but was intercepted, 1t was such big
party that some of the children became
some of Mrs. Roosevelts 8 assistants always
appeared and escorted them to the base
ment where about 200 nurses, governesses
or relatives Of the children were congre-
gated.
Mrs. Roosevelt received the children
alone, but had as assistants all Of the ladies
Of the Cabinet and the Misses Hitchcock,
the Misses Shaw, Miss Louise Jones and
Mrs. Loeb. Miss Roosevelt went to New
York in the afternoon before the arrival Of
the little guests. The guests for the chill
dren's party were chosen from official,
diplomatic and resident society.