Evening star., 1915-12-26
Gossip Of Society.

Miss Margaret Wilson played santa
Claus for the
Plays Santa Claus. youngsters o +
the family, who had right merry time
in the old historic mansion, whose walls
have r,,ng with childish laughter many
times in it's history.
Little Josephine Cothran, the Presi-
dents grandniece. and until the birth OF
Master Francis Sayre, jr., 1.-The White
House baby" SO called. is a guest at the
White House now with her mother, Mrs.
Annie Cothran. and her grandmother, Mrs.
Anne Howe, the Presidents sister. So,
100, is little Master Sayre. These Two
youngsters, like all juveniles in high
places or humble, were awake long before
their customary hour for waking.
Being on the spot, they were a little
ahead of little Ellen McAdoo, who was
brought later by her parents for the fam
lily gathering. Being much younger than
they, she was bissfuily unconscious OF any
advantage on their parts and cooed her
pleasure in the Christmas tree in a man
ner to delight all the Erown-upS cluS-
tered about her.
The last Christmas that Miss Helen
Taft spent in the White House she. too.
played Santa Claus for her younger
brother, Charlie. and some OF his ana her
young friends the former President and
Mrs Taft being away in Panama.
Since then the Christmas celebration
yesterday was the first real children
Christmas that has taken place IN tne
Executive Mansion.
The tree. laden with its gifts, candles
and silver tinsel and parti-colored orlla-
ulents Is resplendent in all Its glory IN
the library on the second floor, wnere tne
children can throughout the week 10 come
enjoy II all to themselves without a peep
from any stranger from the outside world.
Last night a family dinner was served,
all the members of the Presidents fam
lily now here meeting around the nos
pitable table in the state dining room.
where quantities of holly and other greens
gave a festive touch to the stately room.
The big turkey which at the White
House as at other homes throughout
the land, was the piece de resistance
was served to merry group lnclud-
ing the Secretary of the Treasury and
Mrs. McAdoo. Mr.. and Mrs. Francis b.
Sayre, Mrs. Howe, Miss woodrow
Bones, Miss Wilson and Mrs. Cothran
with a few additional friends.
Red-capped candles, with poinsettia
blossoms, carried out the colors OF the
Christmas festival, and the lights
dows of the White House proclaimed
to the passing world that it was gala
occasion there.
In the cabinet homes where there are
children, such as the family circles of
the Secretary
Christine. in %b. of the Navy
and Mrs. Dan
Capiuet hVIneS. iels, the Secre
tary of Agriculture and Mrs. Houston
and that of the Attorney General and
Mrs. Gregory, a very merry time was
had yesterday, with all the usual features
Of the feast Little Miss Nancy Lane,
the daughter of the Secretary of the
Interior and Mrs. Lane, also passed a
happy day, and the two young lady
daughters of the Postmaster General
and Mrs. Burleson did not find them
selves too grown up TO get great deal
OF fun and frolic from the day and its
festivities.
* =
In the diplomatic corps conditions
have naturally changed SO in the last
two years that
Family Gatherings any holiday be-
r comes, In place
~' 0 of a merrymak-
ing occasion, merely a family gather
ing, just to mark the day. The two
sturdy youngsters of the British am
bassador and Lady Spring Rice had
tiny tree all to themselves, and, of
a
have not yet been saddened by the
troubles overseas.
At the French embassy, according to
their usual custom, the Ambassador and
Mime. Jusserand gathered about them
all the members of their stats and the
ladies of their families, into quiet,
intimate group. whose interests are In
common and whose hearts are across
the ocean in their own country.
Among the group were the military
attache and Nine Vignal. who have
recently returned to this country after
an absence of some years. When here
before tney had an attractive little
home on street near Dupont Circle,
and were frequent dinner hosts, en-
tertaining in delightful manner. Now
they have taken, at Florence Court, the
apartment Of Re Admiral and Mrs
Beatty and are living in the utmost
quiet.
From their drawing room windows
they can look over much of the new
part or the city-in fact. over the park
10 the heights where the new Episco-
lal cathedral is to be built-and Nine
Nignal is much impressed with the
growth OF the city and the beauty it
las acquired since they were here some
ten or more years ago. for the fine
mansions that surround her now did not
then exist.
Their. apartment is a pretty, home
like place with attractive rugs and
lanSings and old prints and colonial
3HAnogany, but only a few friends see
j.. for Nine. Vignai is in mourning for
handsome young nephew who lost
DIS iile III one of the recent mjlits ry
engag geTacEts. She spends much OF her
TINE with Nine. Jusserand and often
drives with her when the ambassador
is detained on important matters When
crFIng. the ambassador or Nine. Jus
serand always stop their carriage no
s"a.ter where they are. at a crossing
Or l.: the middle OF the block. to buy
lac extra or an evening paper. or
aAr
throwing the traffic on 10Th street quite
Az the German embassy there was no
eoeciai marking of the day. as the am
passaooT. Count Won Bernstorff. is ont
or town. and so what observance OF tbe
east was made was made personaIIv
~ tho members Of the embassy star
~ course. where there are children.
LIS hringle was duly honored today
The Russian Christmas does nor come
io' tWclve more days, and SO there wa =