The Washington times., 1923-12-25
Christmas Marked
By OLd-FaShiOned
Customs
BY JEAN EITOT.

marks the observance at the
White House. At the various EN-.
bassies and legations the attaches
are being entertained at dinner
en- famille--or were similarly en-.
tertalned on Christmas Eve
with only the occasional observ.
ance OF a picturesque foreign
Yuletlde custom to mark the diff.
ference from any American fam.
lily. And the festival is being eel.
ebrated by family gatherings In
most or the Cabinet homes.
IN the evening there will be q
measure of social activity, with
the ball for the Children's Coun-
try Home given at Rauschers
and Mrs. Leigh c. Palmer's dance
at the Chevy Chase Club. at
which her debutante daughter.
Miss Bessie McKeldIn, will have
her formal presentation to society.
Then, too, there is the afternoon
mop at the Willard, with the mem
bers Of the Junior Service Asso-
cation as hosts; and Baron di
Giura, >of the Italian embassy. is
giving a gay little Christmas
party at the White Peacock at
which many pretty italian Christ.
mas customs will be observed.
The President and Mrs. Cool
idge,. with. their boys, John and
Calvin Coolidge, jr., and Mr.. and
Mrs. Frank w. Stearns, guests at
the White House, went to the
First Congregational Church this
morning for the union service
held under the-auspices OF the
Federation of Churches: and the
rest OF the day is being spent tust
as thousands Of private families
are spending Christmas.
Contrary to expectation-for the
Cooltdges have never before had a
Christmas tree--a graceful Nor.
way spruce was set up in the
Blue Room last night and has
blossomed forth today In glitter
ing panoply.
Roses from the White House
conservatory, with compliments
OF Mrs. Coolidge, were sent to
more than fifty employees Of one
or the large Washington stores
where Mrs. Coolidge buys many
OF her clothes. A note In the
handwriting Of the First Lady of
the. Land, addressed to the fore
woman of the shop, expressed
Mrs. Coolidge's appreciation of
the care which the girls had be.
slowed upon her White House
rousseau"
THOUGH most Of the Cab
"A met are spending Christmas
in Washington, Secretary Mellon
and his daughter. are at their
home in Pittsburgh, the Secre-
tary of War and Mrs. Weeks
are in Boston with their son. and
the Secretary of the Interior and
Mrs. Work in Evanston, Ill, with
a daughter, Mrs. Albert Bissell.
but the rest are here. Many OF
the Congressional contingent have
taken advantage of the recess to
go home for the holidays. Senator
and Mrs. Couzens are in Detroit
and will remain until January /.
Senator and Mrs. George Whar-
ton Pepper are entertaining q
family house party at their home
near Philadelphia, and Senator
and Mrs. David A. Reed are at
their Pittsburgh home for Christ
mas.
The Peppers, by the way, COM
mute constantly between Wash
ington and Philadelphia and keep
their home in the latter city open
all winter, maintaining their
Washington residence at the
Powhatan Hotel. The Reeds
were also at a hotel last winter,
but this year they have taken a
charming house in Eighteenth
.Atreet, where they have set up
their household gods.
Senator and Mrs. Royal Cope
land are at their New York home
for Christmas and Mrs. Cope
land does not expect to return
until the second week in jan
uary. Senator Henrik Shipstead
started for his home in st. Paul,
Mimi, as soon as Congress ad-
journed because his wife was i'll.
Senator and Mrs. Walter Edge
are also out of town for Christ
mas, but are doing their holiday
making at Hot Springs, Va,
where they will remain until New
Year Eve
=
MIR. AND MRS. EDWARD
AVA Beale Mclean are passing
Christmas at their place in
Florida, where they went the end
Of last week to remain for several
weeks. The Secretary Of the
Smithsonian Institution and Mrs.
Charles d. Walcott have slipped
away for a brief holiday and will
not return to Washington until
January l. Col. and Mrs. Stephen
LII. Slocum and Col and Mrs.
Herbert ]. Slocum have gone TO
New York and are staying with
Mr.. and Mrs. Sherman Flint at
the Ambassador. Mr.. and Mrs.
Fl. p. Wilson are at Pinshurst,
N. c., for a few days, but will re.
turn to Holm Hall, their country
home in Virginia the last of this
week and will be at home on sun