The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-12-26
CHRISTMAS CAROLS FOR TAFT
CHOfR BOYs INVADE THE
WHITE HOSE GROUNDS.
q Was After Midnight and the Prcsisirns
Was Pleased when rhear Nsaer>
Greeted nis Ears stood in hath
rsss while Nsanxsters sang tn Hin,.

rssss while Nsunxsters sang tn Him
WASHINGTON. Dec 70 In his travels
about the world Presid,,nt Taft has had
much music. which h., njoys to the utmost
but nothing that pleased him more than
the Christmas carols sung On the White
HOUSE grounds at midnight last night.
President Taft was just about Ia re-
tire He heard nnov ernent in the White
House grounds. Fastening To th. win
dow he saw that IL was all about. MIR
Taft's portly form was envelopsd in u
blue bathrobe and stood out in bold
relief in the white light.
Ii WAS after midnight that a process
sion uf ~ ats the real old English waits.
with lanterns and troinbones and hymn
books. invaded the White House grounds.
The theatres had emptied their crow DIS
into the restaurants and the city's homes
and only the lone policeman who stands
before the White House all night long
saw the invasion OF the -waits' with ths ir
dim burning lanterns. their sheets OF
music and their instruments. They were
choir boys from st .Paul's Catholic Church.
a dozen u them all told. But duty is
duty and the sleep OF u Prssdsn. lie sacred.
Go back" said the policeman. You
cant make any noise here
A little persuasion and the Christmas
spirit prevailed. the uplifted arm Of the
law dropped and the waits marched
onward until they were under the win
dow OF the Presidents bedroom. The
policeman trailed along. Interested. anx-
| ious. but smiling.
The boys struck up the Christmas
carol -Adests Fidelis.' and a. its strains
grew louder and louder IN the still cold
| air big figure attired in a blue bathrobe
appeared at the open window above.
That's the President. whispered the
boys who weren't singing Hit her up
Merry Christmas" shouted the Presi-
dent waving his hand. Then the win
| dow went down. hut the waits" saw the
blue clad figure while they sang two more
glees The last glee. 10 Holy Angels,
Was sung so well that the window went
up once more and the President leaned
| far ont to wave his hand.
Thank you very much. boys. Merry
Christmas said he.
shouted the waits" AZ they gathered up
their lanterns and departed.
That was the unusual beginning OF
homelike Christmas for the President.
His Christmas was a strictly family AZ
fair. There were NO guests at the din
ner tonight. In the morning the Presi-
dent went to church at AL Souls Uni
tartan. and Mrs Taft with Miss Helen
and Charlie went to 81 Johns Episcopal
In the afternoon with Mrs. Taft the
President took long motor ride around
the city and out to the countrywide.
The White House Christmas dinner
was served at o'clock this evening and
the turkey OF Horace vose and the pre-
serves Of Aunt Della met the fate which
IL reserved for such things ON holidays.
Every one was astir early at the White
House. Gifts were presented by AIrr.
Taft. For several weeks presents have
been arriv ing for the Tafts by mail a MI ex-
press None Of them was opened until to-
day however. Someof the gifts came from
the Philippines and other parts Of the world.
There was no tree. however. Charlie.
the youngest member Of the Taft family.
regarded himself as too old for such
Juvenile amusement He hung mp his
stocking. however. and it, contents this
morning pleased him nightly.
The Vice President and Mrs sherman
are in their Utica home for Christmas
having family reunion On their re-
turn here on December ~ they will bring
their sons and daughtsrs-in- law with
| them for the festivities attending New
Years Day.
The Secretary Of State and Mrs Knox
are having a family reunion at their
farm at Valley Forge. Pa. where they
| went Friday. They will return here
Wednesday Secretary and Mrs Knox
will entertain IN. members Of tn. Diplo-
| mms.dIately following the reception at
| the Whit. Hotis. Although still III deep
| mourning for her second brother. who
| died early IN December. Mrs Knox will
take her place a. an official not-~- az all
state functions. both at the White House
and IN her own hom.
| The Secretary 81 the Treasury and Mrs
| MaCNsagh dIn'-d alone to-day and do NOT
expect their ION fam-- MacN sagh IL
Chicago to JOIN them here until D-c'.rn-
Der ~
The Secretary of War and Mrs Dick
| in-on. who ar. IN mourning. had never
| ihelesS a little t.-tIvity to-day for their
| granddaughter Martha Dickinson. who
has made her home with them sine" the
| death Of her mother j NJ Dickinson.
Jr "A Yale student. joined his parent :
est .rCiav for the Christmas HOLIDAYS
| They had thr.- tmas tTs. Tor the nttl.
people and family dinner this evening
Secretary "f tn. Navy Meyer and his
son are OF ON "A hunting trip in North
Carolina Mr. Meyer and their daugh-
'erS have a. their hou-. guests for tn.
HOLIDAYS Miss Ellis. Anes. daughter ~
Mr. and Mrs Oliver Am-~ Of Boston: Miss
Lillian Sears, Mr. Cutter. Mr. jacques
and Mr. Harding. all of Boston. and Mr.
| R.s,le of New York
| The Secretary OF the Interior and Mrs
Ia lling.r went 20 Virginia TO spend Christ
| mas with friends and will return fha mid
| die Of the week
| Tn. Attorney GENERAL and Mr.. Wicker
1 sham are entertaining house party ~
| relatives. their son-in-law and daughter
J Mr. and Mrs Robert Akin of New York:
4 Mis-. Corn.lia Wickaraham their daug ht.r
who returned from school few DAVIS ago
| for her holiday visit and MIR. Wickersham
Of New York their only SON.
| Po-sma-ter- GENERAL Hitchcock ~ in
| Boston spending the day with his sister
and other relatives He will return in a
few days.