The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-28
PARTY AT WHITE HOUSE.
Mrs. Roosevelt Entertains About Five
Hundred Children.

Washington, Dec. 2S.-FTive hundred
children. youthful sons and daughters
of members of the cabinet, senators.
representatives., army and navy Off
assistant secretaries of departments
and Washington newspaper cores
pondents were the guests between
and $3.50 o'clock Saturday afternoon OF
Mrs. Roosevelt at the White House.
The reception began at o'clock. Mrs.
Roosevelt being assisted by the ladies
of the cabinet circle and Mrs. Loeb.
Mrs. Cowles and Miss Hagner.
The White House had been decorated
beautifully for this Christmas party.
Great palms and Christmas green's
adorned the reception hall and parlors.
the green being enliVened here and
there with splashes of the flaming red
OF poinsetta blossoms and American
Beauty roses. The scene was rendered
brilliant by hundreds of electric lights.
The children were formed in line in
the east terrace. Thence they marched
up the main staircase and across the
reception hall to the entrance of the
green room, where they were received
by their hostess quite as if they were
grownups. Each child was introduced
to Mrs. Roosevelt by Major Charles
McCawley. of the marine corps, and by
her given q cordial greeting. Each was
then presented with a programme and
a souvenir of the party in the form OIL
a badge-favor bearing Mrs. RooseVelt's
compliments and good wishes for the
season. The little guests were con-
Quoted through the green room to the
east room by officers of the army, navy
and marine corps in full uniform anu
there seated.
The entertainment began with
msical programme rendered by the
"Roneys Boys" Concert company, OF
Chicago. with Henry B. Roney as d.
rector. This part of the programme
consumed nearly an hour, the children
being enthusiastic in their manifesto
ton.
Just before the first number on the
musical programme was rendered, Pres
ing an inconspicuouS seat near the
green room entrance. He entered thor
oughly into the spirit of the occasion
and enjoyed every minute of the enter
tainment. The idea of the party, how
ever, was wholly that of Mrs. Roosevelt
and she worked out all of the details.
Scores of the children were afforded an
opportunity to greet the president ana
At the conclusion of the concert, the
Youthful guests were escorted to the
state dining room to the music OF the
Marine band, which was stationed in
the reception hall. The dining room
was handsomely decorated. On a table
at the north end was beautiful CHRIST
mas tree, loded with faVors and nghted
by scores of Parti-colored electric lights.
The great dining table was decorated
with poinsetta blossoms and holly, and
lighted by silver candelabra capped
with Christmas red shades. 1t was
heaped with all such Christmas goodies
as appeal particularly to the heart OF a
child.
The ice cream was nodded into the
form of Santa Claus and pretty favors
were provided for each guest.
After the refreshments had been
served. the young people returned to the
east room. There the older among them
danced to the music of the Marine
band while the younger ones played
games in the parlors. The attentions
Shown the children by Mrs Roosevelt
and her assistants and by the numerous
attendants were so delicate and grace
full that the joy of not a single one was
narred and all left the White House
praising their thoughtful and consider
ate hostess.