The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-12-21
ny JOHN nlr,nErn w.rKI>s.

'h3n II long century BACK us elegantly
appointed apartments. its richly frcs-
coed corridors have repeatedly echoed
and rc-echoed the cries Of delight w
tered BY tiny tots thrilled by Christ
mas surprises excited by Yulctid.
romps.
Chrtstmns Was Not Celebrated.
our first President. that grand old
man. George Washington. enjoyed no
White House christnaseS. for tie very
gout reason that he never lived In ;he
White House Nor did he ha"e 3hN
children OF his own to enjoy Christmas
DAY with him at the presidential man
sions in New York and Philadelphia.
wherr he lived while he was tie ,;hief
magistrate OF the land. yet. before
becoming President. the father or his
country had adopted his wifes grand
children. George and Nellie GUSTS WHO
were eight and ten years old when
;hcy were brought, along with their
grandmothcr. on her triunphai journey
from Mount Vernon. In Virginia. 10 the
temporary presidential ''palacc' In
New York. which city was the capital
~ the Union during but one Christmas
under the Washington administrations
'rho other seven Yuletides occurring
during the regime Of the Immortal
,;core" were spent in the nauon'a
second capital. philadelphia. 20 which
I-nclc sam moved. bau aud baggage. In
1870
Although celebrated IN The Prcsi-
dcnts house. according TO TN" GOOD Ola
Virginia custom, Christmas was Then
dullor day in Philadelphia than in most
any other city Of All Chrirtcndom.
This was because the piOus Quakcrs.
opposed 10 all holidays. refused TO Oh
serv" Christmas IN particular. as then
did the prcsbyterinns and other rlE'h
protcstauts Of the capital Indeed, siN
rcars before the Presidents removal to
lee ri
had passed an act forOiddinG one OF
tho old customs OF IT'S peoplc--that OF
cuding Christmas week with fireworks
and fusillad.s Of small arms.
First white House children.
In tho winter az 1900 the White
House. In Washington. was as yet UNI
finished. when its nrst tenant Presi
dent John Adams moved in He came
along with the rest OF Uncle Sans
moving from Philadelphia. and brought
with him :. little girl of four. Susanna.
Tic orphan Of his son Charles II is
related that e now get OF dishes. which
santa claus brought to this little girl
AZ the White Hous" WAS smashed TO
pieces by a playmate. vino had been
overcome with envy a. the sight OF such
pretty toys. and mat susanna got her
revenge by biting off tho head Of the
naughty little girls new wa* doll which
opened and shut ~ Dyes. This Su
sauna Adams little cousins. tho Smith
children. some timcs visited her iu the
th"n cold and draughty Whit" House.
whose unfinished east room--;il. scene
OF most of the later Christmas fes
its,tics-,vas then used for driving TIA.
family liucn. one o. these cousins.
Master John Smith. used 10 drive his
grandfather about tn" White House
corridors in strenuous game OF
horse,' during which the President of
: 20 Tr4 f.4H &rs.T al
slashod with a willow switch
Dolly MADISON Cut the Christmas Pie.
The Christmas"s Of the next Prcsi-
don't, Thomas jefferson were also
made marry by grandchildren for his
own children. Ike those OF John
auguratcd. A. he was widowcr, he
chose Mrs. Dolly Madison. tho wife
of his secretary or state. 10 preside 81
all az his social entertainments. and
at ono OF Ia" happicst of the carly
Christmas parties is tho old mansion
this popular hostess cut thc steanins
Inince pic for six little grandchildren
OF tho President.
Indeed Mrs Madison WAS the mis-
tress OF The Presidents house for six
teen years-eight during the ad
ininistra,ion OF Thomas Jefferson and /
eight during that OF his successor.
James Madison. her husband But dur
ing the Las; half OF her reign there
were no children TO make Christmas 7
merry in her official nome, for she ana
President Madison had me- little ones.
and her own son. by former mar
riapc. was a grown youth-one whose .
habits caused her tar more tears than
smiles Although born and bred
Quaker. Mrs Madison en-
tered into All holiday gaycties with
spirit. and made many people happy by
hcr generous distribution OF Christ
mas gifts
& Romantic Nuictide.
Presidents had governed us FOR a
:, cncration before we had with
children OF his own Young enough TO
ENJOY all the thrills OF the holiday of
II olidays. This was James Monroe. our
nrst chief executive to present to Of
fetal society Il maria geable daughter
Miss Maria Hester Monroe. the ear
liest OF the many White House bellies"
Few little American girls had seen
more Of the world Than had this for
lunatc child. who had been born In
France during her fathers mission
A broad. She was IN her very early
teens when brought To the White
House. and in her time girls were al
lowed to have love affairs before reach
ing what their parents now realize 10
be years OF discretion.
So Maria Monroe's third Christmas
IN the White House was q very ro-
mantle holiday. She had jus, fallen In
love with her first cousin. Samuel
;ouveneur. OF New York. who for Il
line served as her fathers private
secretary And although only sweet
sixteen" when the nuptiai knot was
led, she was married before that win
Ter had passed. She was the first
,hild OF Il President ever married in
he White House.
Santa Claus was not very busy in
,ur presidents palace" it was
hen called--During the reign OF our
lcxt President, the stiff and dignifed
Iohn Quincy adams. He brought with
him family OF sons. all Of whom
we're grown at the time of his in
,uguration.
SNOWFALL Battle In East Room
But during the years Immediately
'oilowinG the big house suited good
81. Nick full well. for 1t rang with the
aughter of merry group of babies.
"ho gladdencd the heart of the child
oss and now widowed Andrew Jack
'on. These were the children OF that
residents adopted son, Andrew Jack
'on. Jr., and Of his private secretary,
\ndrew Donaldson; also his grand
Icphcws and grandnieces
About the earliest OF these grand
christmas froiics held In the stately
clos,