The news & observer., 1905-12-27
TO KR|SS KR|NGLE
Gift Giving in the Nation
al Capital.
The President and MOsl OF ihe Cabinet
Alike Pass the Day With
Their Families and
Friends.
(By the Associated Press. }

washington, Dec. Z5.-CAflStfldS
was observed at the national capital
by the closing of all government de-
partments as well as private business
places, and the day was much like a
Sunday here. All government Offices
were closed and the President and the
members OF the Cabinet alike passed
most of the day with family and
friends. President Roosevelt remained
in his office only long enough to dis
pose of a few urgent matters and
with his family received a few intimate
personal friends He and Mrs. RooSe-
| welt took q long ride during the after
moon and at the family dinner when
! followed at the White House Represen-
Itative LongWorth, of Ohio, who is to
wed Miss Roosevelt, was among the
guests.
There was a general giving of pres
ents at the White House this morning,
confined practically to the members OF
the family. The Presidents third son.
! Archie, as usual, had a Christmas tree
| in his own room and from that he
distributed his gifts to the family and
the household people. Mrs. CoWies,
| the Presidents sister, entertained the
members of the family with gift
| giving at her home.
| The President has notified the mem
bers of his Cabinet that during the
present week there will be no regular
meeting of the Cabinet. He Will take
/ up during the week only matters OF
the most urgent importance and will
receive no callers or visitors unless
their business is imperative. 1t is his
| purpose to make this truly holiday
week.
| banks entertained a party of friends
at their home today but leaves for
| Indiana tonight.
Dewcy's Christmas Greeting.
Admiral Dewey's Christmas greeting
| to the officers and men of the navy,
| bespeaking a united stand for the good
of the country and the service was
communicated today to the officers
and men aboard the vessels through
out the world wherever they could
| be reached by telegraph. TO the men
| of tho navy along the Atlantic coast
there was also sent u Christmas greet
! ing by means of wireless telegraphy
which incidentally served as an elabo-
rate and practical test of this auxiliary
| of the naval service The wireless mes
! Sages were sent by the direction OF
| Admiral Manney, Chief of the Bureau
| of Equipment and the results were
| most satisfactory TO him. The mes
sages containing the greetings were
sent out last night from the wireless
! lstation at the Washington Navy Yard
and were reayed from place TO place.
| Early responses came from the Off
GERS nearest Washington, but before
midnight many of the stations had re-
jpled. including New Orleans and Colon
| and San Juan, the Colon reply coming
| by way of Guantanamo.
| Only necessary work was done on
| the ships everywhere. Liberal shore
jleayes had been granted TO the officers
| and men while the dinner served
aboard ship was under the usual GUS
| tom characteristic of the Christmas
! season. On many of the vessels the
| captains joined with officers in the
ward room in celebration of the day
where the A. and N. c.. Co. and the
| Southern hang together and where
they cut loose. Sometimes man liv-
! inc on the aforementioned road can
| get all the rates and accommodations
! over the Southern he desires: at other
! times he has to whistle and saw wood.
| Tuesday morning there was an in
stance of irregularity which was verv
| provoking to those who were delayed
| by it. Thirty-five passengers Wer1
| delayed in Goldsboro on account Of
/ either one of the railroads refusing
| 10 make connections: either the con-
ductor of the Southern train would
! not wire to hold the A. and n. G.
| train, or the latter refused TO wait;
/ at any rate there were lot of indig-
nant people because of this unneccs-
Sary delay