Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-12-21

t4Y P nents ,,s ricblv
frescoed corridors have repeatedly echoed
and re-echoed the cries of delight uttered
nv tiny tots thrilled by Christmas sur
prises. excited by Yuletide romps,
Our first President. that grand old
man, George Washington, enjoyed no
White House Christmases for the very
good reason that he never lived in the
White House Nor did he have any
children Of his own to enjoy Christmas
day with him at the presidential man
sions in New York and Philadelphia,
where he lived while he was the chief
magistrate of the land. Yet, before
becoming President. the father of his
country had adopted his wife's grand
children. George and Nellie CuStis who
We're eight and ten years old when
they were brought along with their
grandmother on her triumphal journey
from Mount Vernon in Virginia to the
temporary presidential palace in
New York, which city was the capltai
of the Union during but one Christmas
under the Washington administrations.
The other seven Yuletides occurring
curing the regime of the immortal George
were spent IL the nations second capl-
tai. Philadelphia. to which Uncle Sam
moved, bag and baggage, in 1890
Although celebrated in the Presidents
house. according TO the good old Nir-
t,itsia custom Christmas was then a
duller day in Philadelphia than in most
any other city of all Chris tendom. This
was because the pious Quakers. OPP
posed To all holidays, refused to OBJ
serve Christmas in particular, as then
did the Presbyterians and other rigid
Protestants of the ca pital. Indeed, six
net No
that quiet Quaker city it's government
had passed act forbidding one of
the old customs OF its people-that of
ending Christmas week with fireworks
and fusillades of small arms
In the winter of 1880 the White
House was as Vet unfinished, when
its first tenant. President John Adams.
moved in. He came along with
the rest OF Uncle Sans moving from
Philadelphia. and brought with him lit
tie girl of -four. Susanna the orphan of
his son Charles. 1t is related that a new
set of dishes which Santa Claus brought
to this little girl at the White House was
smashed to pieces by playmate, who
had been overcome with envy at the
sight of such pretty toys, and that SUI
sauna got her revenge by biting off the
head of this naughty little girls new wax
doll. which opened and shut its eyes.
This Susanna Adams little cousins. the
smith children, sometimes visited ner in
the then cold and draughty White House.
whose unfinished east room-the scene of
most of the later Christmas festivities
was then used for drying the family
linen. One of these cousins Master John
smith. used to drive his grandfather
about the White House corridors in a
strenuous game of horse during which
the President of the United States was
numerically slashed with a willow
switch.
The Christmases of the next President,
Thomas jefferson, were also made merry
10y grandchildren. for his own children.
like those of John Adams, We're grown
when he was inaugurated. AS he was
1idower, he chose Mrs Dolly Madison,
the wife of his Secretary of State to pre-
side at all of his social entertainments.
and at one of the happiest of the early
Christmas parties in the old mansion this
popular hostess cut the steaming mince
Tie for the six little grandchildren of the
President.
Indeed. Mrs. Madison was the mistress
u the Presidents house for sixteen years
eight during the administration of
Thomas Jefferson and eight during that
Of his successor. James Madison, her hus-
band. But during the last half of her
reign there were no children to make
Christmas merry in her official home, for
she and President Madison had no little
ones, and her own son, by former mar
riage, was a grown youth-one whose
habits caused her far more tears than
smiles Although born and bred Phila-
deiphia Quaker. Mrs. Madison entered
into all holiday gayeties with split and
made many people happy BY her gener-
Gus distribution of Christmas gifts.
Presidents had governed us for a gen
Grafton before We had one with children
Of his own young enough to enjoy all the
thrills of the holiday of holidays. This
was James Monroe. our first chief execu-
tive 10 present 10 official society a mar
riaseable daughter- Miss Maria Hester
Monroe, the earliest of the many ..S hitp
House bellies.
Few little American girls mad seen more
OF the world than had this fortunate
child. who had been born il France dur
ing her fathers mission abroad She
was in her very early teens when brought
TO the White House and in her time
girls were allowed 10 have love affairs
before reaching what their parents now
realize to be years of discretion
So Maria Monroes third Christmas in
the White House was a very romantic
Holiday She had just fallen in love
with her first cousin. Samuel GouverntlIr
of New York, who for u time served as
her fathers private secretary. And al
though only sweet sixteen" when the
nuptiai knot was tied. she was married
before that winter had passed. She was
the first child OF a President ever mar
ried in the White House
Santa Claus was not very busy III our
cailed-during the reign of our next
President, the stiff and dignified John
Quincy Adams. He brought with him a
family OF sons. all of whom were grown
AT the time of his inauguration
But during the years Immediately fol-
lowing the big house suited good St
Nick full well, for it rang with the
laughter of a merry group of babies who
Sladdened the heart of the chldless and
, now widowed Andrew Jackson. These
Were the children of that President S
adopted son. Andrew Jackson, jr., and of
his private secretary. Andrew Donald
son. also his grandnephews and grand
nieces-
About the earliest of these grand
Christmas frolics held in the stately
mansion was the party which old Hick-
ory''-as President Jackson was called
arranged for those lucky youngsters
One OF the happiest moments of that
jolly Presidents career was when he
saw those happy tots march into the
dining room. to the music of THE Pres
idents March,, and seat themselves at
the big table. there to enjoy the feast
upon which Vivart, the. White House