Evening star., 1914-12-20
Long Ago and Now.

President Harrison and his wif'
greatly enjoyed the White House part!
10 celebrate the fourth birthday ami
versary OF their grandson. Benjamin
Harrison Mckee. who had donned tha
day a black velvet short jacket ane
knickerbockers and was not rightfullN
longer TO be called BABY" Mckee. TIL.
President and Mrs. Harrison stood he
bind. their grandson and sranddsugh.
ter. Mary Lodge Mckee. a bride of last
year, when the youngsters all i'll high
chairs were having good things to eat
and Mrs. Harrison danced up and dow
the corridor with the children, who
= were all about the age of the honor
guest. Christmas tree parties for
these Youngsters and The President
other grandchildreu We're features OF
The Harrison term.
The Roosevelt children had merry
holiday parties also a. the White
House. continuing in Tins respect all
The customs of their former homes.
The fancy dress holiday parties
which marked the carly years of Ed
ward Beale Mclean have been eclipsed
IN some ways by the modern celebra-
Trons of the birthday of his son, Vim
son Mclean. But the late Mrs. John
X Mclean had the art of ma king chill
dren happy and the Christmas tree
parties she arranged for her son Were
the wonders of that period. The ball
room of the Mclean residence at that
time was not big the one now in
Use. but II was Il great sight Al these
events. One year there was Il single
tree. but another time the ballroom
was dotted over with a gayly bedecked
forest of them and the children took
part in pageant winding i'll and out
Iill gift distributing time came, when
the room was cleared for dancing and
games
Of
1Iinckley impersonated Red Riding
Hood. although she was only eight
months old. Miss Isabel May and her
brother. Mr.; Henry May. Were a tiny
Ter. now Lady Suffolk. But
7erf1y. and Beale Bloomer and his sis
fer, Pansy Bloomer, made d lovely Di-
rectoire bride and groom. katherine
Mckee was Prince. Katherine Davis
Brown was white violet and Cha Iin-
cey Hackett a King OF Hearts.
When Mr.. Elkins was Secretary of
his little daughter Katherine had an
Easter week party. The invitations
were on fanciful paper with a picture
of 4 small boy handing a card over a
renee to small girl and this inquiry:
VIII you please come to my party? -?
Under this was the engraved form.
Katherine Elkins' mother would be
pleased TO see you Tuesday. April 10,
10 o. A monster egg with presents
was feature of the decoration of the
nall. the drawing room being given
over to dances and games
Master Ninson McIean's birthday
parties have been and continue regular
fetes. His birthday cakes-lofty struc-
tureS-are as grand as wedding cakes
and decidedly larger and more fanci-
full The dozen SO children asked to
enjoy the party with him represent big
fortune owners of the future. though
not as great as the little boy himself
Will be reCkoped. Some years his
mother makes duplicate celebrations
of his birthday by having in convenient
places regular jollificat tions for orphans
and others to enjoy her bounty in her
boys name. and these have been mighty
happy days. too Master Mclean does
Strong men go with him since he has
vorite afternoon pleasures is to go
likes. He makes his own selections and
Then goes to present his gift. Like
most boys his taste goes to mechanical
toys--things that have action as well
rs looks.
The father of the present King of
Belgium gave Baby Mclean the won
derful crib in which his baby hours
were spent. The gift marked the
friendship between the king and the
late Thomas +. Walsh the baby's
grandfather. and their mutual bust
ness interests In faraway possessions
of Belgium