The daily sentinel., 1908-12-24
CHRISTMAS IN WHITE HOUSE.

Washington. Dec 24.-Scores OF
big. fat turkeys were distributed tc
the White House servants, policemen
messengers, ushers, gardeners and
stablemen today as Christmas gifts
IRON President and Mrs Roosevelt
zach big bird had on it a Christmas
card signed by the President and
these are highly treasured by the re-
clpients. The White House steward
was i'll charge of the distribution,
which was among the largest in
years
The usual busy scenes were wit
messed at the White House today. a
constant stream of express wagons.
nlall carriers and special messengers
gearing gifts to the President and
members of his family. The collec-
non OF gifts is the queerest imagin-
able, ranging from a pair of carpet
slippers sent by an old lady admirer
OF the President and jug of corn
whiskey from a Southern colonel to
presents of great beauty and intrin-
sic worth
The arrival of Christmas eve will
ind the President and Mrs Roosevelt
and the children fully prepared for
the happy morrow There will be no
Christmas tree, unless one of the
Roosevelt youngsters should succeed
IN smuggling one in, as Archie did
Two or three years ago.
For weeks the most elaborate at
tiention has been paid to all the de-
tails for a happy holiday. and before
the President and Mrs. Roosevelt
pillow their heads to sleep the large
library on the second floor will be
converted into beautiful treasure
shop.
For weeks Mrs. Roosevelt has de-
voted herself to preparing for Christ
mas, not only for her own children,
but for dozens of others. The bar
rels of candy sent to the Cove School
at Oyster Bay and a present for each
school child represents much care
and thought on her part. Every day
she has gone to the toy departments
in various stores and carefully Sc
lected gifts. The servants at Oyster
Bay as well as those at the White
House and old people, and poor peo-
pie in various parts of the country
have come in for a part of her time
as well as her money.
1t is the custom of the President to
give to each of his children suffic-
lent amount of money to buy their
own gifts. This year the list has
materially grown from that first sad
year of the President in the White
House, after Mr.. McK-inleys death,
when everybody felt afraid really to
enjoy life. Then there were just
young Phil Knox, the Cortelyou chill
dren in the executive family, with
young Sheffield Cowles to buy for
This year it takes several sheets of
paper for just the cabinet family and
others
There is almost every kind of an
automatic toy manufactured now
resting in the Presidents library,
waiting to be claimed in the morn
ing. Every big manufacturer in the
country knows the name and age of
each OF the Presidents children. and
each has sent something representing
the finest workmanship of his fac
tory.
The program for tomorrow in
cludes ride through the country
after the distribution of gifts, if the
weather permits, and a family dinner
at home. The entire week the Presi-
dent has planned to spend in recrea-
tion. The young friends of the Presi-
dents children will come and go.
but there will be no formal enter
tainments of any kind, except for
Miss Ethel Roosevelt's coming-out
ball.
To show the joyful spirit which OBJ
tains upstairs in the White House,
and which has spread TO the servants
below, there is music and laughter,
and the old-fashioned Southern
greeting. Christmas gift" Every
body there is merry