Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-12-26
Has Very Quiet Christmas
with His Own Family.
They Attend Church and Pass
Rest Of Day al Home.
Incidents Of Interest Occurring
About the Presidents Home.

Washington, Dec. 25.-Christmas in
Washington was the eptome of quiet.
President and Mrs. Tart and their
family spent the day at home. except
for attendance at church in the morn
ing. The President went alone to the
All Souls Unitarian church, while Mrs.
Taft, accompanied by Helen Taft and
Charley Taft, went to the fashionable
st. Luke's Episcopal church. A few
friends dropped in at the White House
during the afternoon to exchange
Christmas greetings.
Most of official Washington, joined
the quiet celebration Of the day.
Members of the two Houses. for the
most part, had gone to their home
states.
Washington. Dec. 24.-President Taft
is an early riser. No matter how late
the hour at which he rctires he is al
ways about the next morning in time
for an s o'clock breakfast. That is
one of the Presidents habits. One of
the Presidents fadS is alarm clocks.
He likes 10 hear the merry jingle Of
the little alarm bcll-hc delights in the
mechanism of the machine.
Now there may be no connection be-
tween these facts ana an additional one
that has cropped out, but It is more or
less significant that Mr.. Taft has been
purchasing presumably as Christmas
gifts, several alarm clocks.
These particular clocks are not the
strident toned monsters that arouse ones
luminosity when, after a complete. we'll
,;srl,t lIe
mind the sleeper that the morn has an
rived. Not so. The alarm clocks the
President bought are gold, leather boxed
time pieces, which make the morning. call
sound like a gentle appeal to duty.
But they are alarm clocks all the same.
and one of the present problems in
Washington is, who has been over
sleeping and keeping the President wait
ing? Who will be the recipient of an
alarm clock on Sunday with the signit-
cant compliments of William II. Taft?
Washington, Dec. 2i.-Gambling in the
White House today was broken up by
President Taft, who later rewarded the
gamblers The gamesters were David,
Samuel and Benny April. newsboys who
for months past have delivered papers
to the White House and the executive
officers. When they called today they
asked to see the President to wish him
a Merry Christmas" They We're told
to wait in the anteroom until Mr. Taft
was disengaged.
Want to match cigarette pictures?"
inquired Samuel of his brothers, produc
ing q package of soiled and grmy cards.
"Betcher life,'' said David and Benny.
promptly producing similar packs. David
had accumulated the majority of the
cards, when he looked up to find the
President standing in the doorway of the
office, smiling down on them.
The trio showed signs of stampeding
but only for Il moment. The President
took them into his office where he shook
hands with each and gave then. presents
and his best wishes for a Merry Christ
mas and Il Happy New Year.
Later Mr.. Taft accompanied by Can
tain Archie Butt. his military aide, joined
other bclatcd Christmas shoppers and
made 4 number of purchases that he had
overlooked. As hitherto, the President
Went afoot and mingled with the throngs