The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1910-12-22
At
WHITE HOUSE
Nowhere is Simpler EXPIRES
sion of Good Will and
Merriment.

dents the obligation to celebrate the
holidays in a manner to emphasize
the best traditions of American do
nestle life, the families of the presi-
dent and the ex-president have more
than met their obligations, Nowhere
is Christmas a simpler expression of
goodwill and merriment and the gen.
uine sentiment. of the season than it
is within the walls of the White
House. Every Christmas, when
Roosevelt was president. the doors
opened wide at holiday time to wei
come home from college the sons
and daughters and their friends in
vited 60 spend the Yuletide at the
gay social hub of the nations CAPT
tai, and the same doors have swung
wide 10 admit the Taft brood and
their many friends.
The Tafts look forward to the holt
days with particular pleasure be-
cause often in the past circumstances
did not permit Of a complete. family
reunion at Christmas time. Some
times it was the father who was alb
sent, during the period when Taft
was governor of the Philippines, or
engaged in his extensive travels:
often it was one of the children,
when they were attending widely
separated schools in the United
States Then, toe, the Tafts lived a
great deal in hotels and rented
houses. so that Christmas in the
White House has the added joy of
being, so TO speak, under their own
roof tree.
In a few days the children Will
begin TO return from college for two
weeks of festivities. Robert, the
eldest, will come from Yale, Miss
Helen from Philadelphia. where she
attends Bryn Mawr. and Charlie, the
youngest of the family, from Con-
necticut, where he is pupil in his
uncle's school. If the Christmas
Qualifications assume any formal tone
it is safe to say that Cheerful Char
lie," as he is called. may be. counted
upon to infuse enthusiasm and spon
taneity into all proceedings. He is
great favQrite about the executive
mansion but is quite lnspoiled.
Mrs. Moore, Mrs. ats sister. who
has been at the White House almost
constantly during the present ad
ministration. will no doubt be one of
the large family to sit down TO the
Christmas dinner in the big dining
room. The Taft family are noted
for the strong ties of affection that
exist among every branch of the fam
lily. The four brothers with their
families have made il point for
many years to spend the summer va
cations together at Murray Bay on
the ST. Lawrence river, so that the
Taft family will probably be repre-
scented by a large number at the
Christmas festivities. Then there is
the presidents private secretary, who
is always considered one of the home
as we'll as of the official family. Mon
leo Lopez Lare, the Filipino boy. who
for about six years has been Mr..
Tafts valet and general utility man.
is sure to come in for his share CT
the holiday good will and cheer
Full-fedged Christmas trees have
not been used at the White House in
recent years, though Quentin Roose-
welt and Archie used to surprise the
| family with miniature one they had
trimmed on Christmas morning. The
gifts are distributed in the large cir
cular room on the second floor, which
is a sort of family sitting room, and
the contest room in the house.
Mrs Taft is one woman in the
country who need give no thought
whatever to the holiday larder. From
farmers, fruit growers, poultrymen,
dairymen and bakers all over the
country comes the best their stock
affords. The president never knows
who sends these things, but the sec
rotary dispatches official thanks to
the senders. Only one among the
participants in the Christmas dona-
ton party is known. For 40 years
Henry Vose, who raises poultry in
Rhode Island, has sent a prize Christ
mas turkey to the White House, and
it is his bird that is served on that
day. Some of the chestnut fed COB
blers have weighed as much as 36
pounds.
Christmas dinner is served on the
Colonial china which Mrs. Roosevelt
had made to order, decorated in
gold. 1t was made from an exclu-
sive design, which is patented and
copyrighted, so that no other drum
stick in the land will rest upon the
same sort of gilt-edged dish.