Evening star., 1924-12-25
COO[|DGES MARK
/ HOLIDAY QUIETLY
Numerous Gifts Received at
! White House-30- Pound
Turkey for Dinner.

Christmas Is being observed quietly
by the White House family. This day
a. year ago Young Calvin Coolidge,
who died last July. was with his par
ents, and. with his older brother John.
contributed much to the joy and mer-
urally has cast a shadow on the
celebration Of the day at the White
House.
However, despite the tender MEM
ories of other years before their little
family group had been broken by
death, President Coolidge and Mrs.
Coolidge and their son John gave
evidence that they had determined to
radiate. as much as possible, the true
Yuletide spirit.
With the exception that there is no
Christmas tree in the White House.
the scene there this morning was
about the same as that in an aver
age American home where there are
no little children. Christmas green's
hang in the various rooms. and in the
windows handsome holly wreaths
have been hung. In several of the
rooms on the second floor three are
numerous piles of packages of all
sizes-presents for the family from
relatives, friends and admirers in all
parts of the country, and the greet
ings of good cheer these conveyed
greatly impressed the Executive and
Mrs. Coolidge.
Only Two House Guests.
Other than Mr.. and Mrs. Frank W.
Stearns of Boston, old friends of the
Coolidges, who have spent much time
at the White House since Mr.. Cool
idge became President, there were no
house guests. They Joined the Presi-
dent and Mrs. Coolidge during the
exchange of personal gifts, and later
were with them during the opening
of the many other gifts.
The President arose at his customary
early hour. This was in spite of the
fact that he retired considerably later
than usual last night. His schedule
for retiring was broken last night by
participation in the carol singing at
the White House Following this pic
tuFcSQue and Impressive festivity he
and Mrs. Coolidge entertained the choir
and chorus from the First Congrega-
tiona. Church at a buffet lunch in the
state dining room OF the White House.
The President did not take his Gus
tomary morning stroll. He went to
the executive Office at 9 o'clock, and
after attending to a few matters on
his desk, ne went into the correspond
ence room, which was deserted, and
for half an hour personally went
through the mail. which formed a pile
foot high.
Greets Those on Duty.
After this the Executive returned
TO his desk. but, evidently finding lit
tie to occupy his attention or else
not being in the mood for applying
himself to routine tolls, he made a
tour OF the executive Offices, bowling
and wishing Merry Christmas" to the
policemen ana Secret Service men on
duty at the time. While passfng g
through the main lobby at the en-
b trance to the main building he no.
ticed a bundle of out-of-town news
papers laying upon the table, and
taking chair near the table, he
looked through these papers for
nearly a half hour.
He then returned to the White
House and made ready to accompany
his family to the special Christmas
services at the First Congregational
Church on G street. The President
has no engagements this afternoon.
although It is thought likely that
he and Mrs. Coolidge and probably
others OF the household may take a
short auto ride later in the evening.
The White House Christmas dinner
Is to be most inviting and bounti-
full one, and will be served at the
usual hour at o'clock. It is under
stood that other than Mr.. and Mrs.
6tearns, there vii be no guests at
this meal. The 30-pound turkey
sent TO the White House from an ad-
nirer of the President will be the fea-
ture Of the meal.