The Washington herald., 1907-12-25

Christmas in Washington win be the |
usual. care free. happy time it is through !
out the whole world From the White |
House TO the humblest household merry !
making, the exchange Of gifts and happy
greetings. and a spirit OF kindness and
good viii Will 70 all men pervades.
Since the coming 20 Washington Of the
President. and Mrs. Roosevelt their
family of children nave almost ceased 10
be children, and their celebration OF Christ
mas now partakes OF the nature Of the
growE up holiday. However. the Christ 7
mas time creates the same happy spirit
in all whether IL comes 10 young or old.
The President and Mrs. Roosevelt have
never favored having a tree at the
White House. but the soy 10 be expert
enced only in beholding a generously
laden tree brightly illuminated, has rot
been denied the Roosevelt children as
each year a number OF trees are given
them by relatives and thoughtful friends.
Mrs Cowles. sister Of the President, has
always entertained them Christmas day
at luncheon and in the afternoon a tree
is enjoyed. Another good fairy sees 20 the
I
too and this is the wife Of the German
Ambassador. Baron Speck Won Sternburs
Some ambassadors may play tennis
with the President. some compare notes
with him on the writing Of books. but
none there are whose families POSSESSES
such intimate and cordial relations as
/ those existing between the German Am
bassador and the Baroness Won Sternburg
and the President and Mrs. Roosevelt and
their whole family Of children.
Christmas would not be Christmas with
out a tree at the German Embassy. and
( every year the dainty chatelaine Of the
! embassy invited the children % enjoy the
treate Of a real genuine German tree. OF
course the tree itself is a native American.
4 like the mistress of the embassy. but in
Its decorations IL is typically German.
dressed In the style Of those OF the father
/ land
/ This Christmas function at the embassy
occurs on Christmas eve and yesterday
the ambassador and the baroness were
hosts 70 the Presidents sons and daugh-
/ ter. Miss Ethel Mrs. Longworth being
still too much of an invalid TO attend
/ They were first entertained at luncheon.
where the decorations Of the handsome
room and the table carried out the sugges-
/ ton OF The yuletide season, and then they
were ushered upstairs 10 the baroness
private sitting-room. where stupendous
! tree, decked with every sort Of German
/ trinket and decoration met their delighted
eyes
/ a great mass OF cotton imbedded In the
/ branches Of the tree gave the impression
\ OF snow-laden bOughs. and suspended
from every twig and branch were yards
and yards Of silver ribbon. glistening in
the light Of the myriad tiny candles Ike
so many icicles.
/ Besides the decorations 0f white and
silver are all sorts OF beautiful orna-
ments. and so handsome Is the tree that
it stands throughout the Christmas week
and is the delight OF several other chill
dren. who are invited in 70 see IT,
/ Through the week several other parties
viii be given
Christmas Day will see the Roosevelt
family. as usual. AZ the home Of their
aunt and Capt Cowles In y street.
for luncheon. after which the President
and Siss.- Roosevelt Will doubtless take a
/ holiday ride together over the winding
bride paths In the suburbs OF the city.
/ and at half-past seven all the family
and a few additional intimate friends
] viii meet together round the table IN
the great state dining room, where the
President and his children will eat tur-
key and plum pudding, Ike every one
else blessed by good fortune and an
equally good appetite
/ Vice President and Mrs Fairbanks will
have some q their children home. among
them Mr Robert Fairbanks. who is the
only son still at college. and Mr. Rich
ard Fairbanks, together with Mrs. n A.
Fairbanks the Vice Presidents mother.
Mrs. Timmons. who makes her home with
her parents while Lieut. Timmons is at
| sea, viii. OF course be here tomorrow
to help the family celebrate
The Secretary of State and Mrs. Root
viii have a quiet family party, their
only still unattached son. Edward. being
the only one 10 share II with them. The
elder son. Elihu. jr. has just taken unto
himself a wife. and therefore. cannot
come. and the daughter. a bride. Will
spend her Christmas with her bride
Grant, at Governors Island. Later Lieut..
l. s. Grant and his bride Will come here.
Secretary OF Commerce and Labor and
Mrs. Straus are spending Christmas with
their daughters Mrs Hochstadter and
Mrs. Schaeffer. They viii return Inurs-
day 10 their home here.
Secretary of War and Mrs. Taft have
just arrived here in time TO enjoy the
holiday at their home in X street Miss
Helen Taft who is a student at Bryn
Mawr. has Joined the family for a re-
union and merrymaking.
The Austro-Hugarian Embassy was the
setting yesterday afternoon for a pretty
scene, when little Mia. the young daugh-
ter Of the Ambassador and the Baroness
Hengelmuller enjoyed her usual Christ
mas Eve party and Christmas tree. The