Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-25
By ALICE ROGERS HAGER.

TIME great lawn, loved by the
squirrels in the long Summer
days. is covered with a mantle
a OF snow. Icy festoons hang
suspended from every glitter.
Ing tree. The windows of the heauti
ful old house are warm with the light
ana color of gay wreaths and vel.
coming candles. Pedestrians along
the Avenue pause instinctively to
gaze moment and smile at the
gracious scene. Even the bronze fig.
ures of warriors in the stored square
across the wa, seem through their
ICY garments to stir to life under its
reuectton. Christmas has come once
more with its glamour and its mNS
terry, and here, at the heart of the
Nation, has taken the most famous
nome or all into its magical embrace.
For more than n century aud
quarter now has the White House
known Christmas. and in its varying
pageantry all the changing moods of
american custom have found their
place. President has followed PrrSi-
dent, each with his own ideas of the
ways OF living; each one bringing
from his own section OF the country
something that has uniquely repre-.
sented that section. The stately
rooms and corridors have echoed to
NisS pV1SIEEpuS tPFi OF Cfibuittl lNt
whom the whole earth has played
Saint Nick, and they have hushed to
the rustic of the gowns of gentle and
lovely ladies. Surely il ghosts are
happy, Christmas in such a place
must bring a gathering beyond de-
scription.
People remember that ii is only a
rev years since President and Mrs.
Coolidge first had carols sung on the
f.,-
choir. with the Marine Band accom-
panying. and any Of Washington who
would come were welcome at the
happy service. So has grown to full
stature one of the thrilling moments
OF the year.
THERE are many "reminiscences of
the present occupants of the
White House at Christmas time.
There was Mrs. Coolidce's gesture,
during her first year. when she sent
messengers with armfuls of La France
roses from the executive Conserva.
tories to the girls" who had. she
said, put such beautiful care into the
preparation OF her official rousseau"
in one of the select shops Of the city.
That same Christmas Mr.. Coolidge
sent a message to the Macmillan eN-
petition, il degrees from the North
Pole. using amateur operators TO relay
the story over 1000 miles of space, he
cause the ''Bowdoin." ship of the eXpe.
dition, carried only an amateur radio
set And / think il was last year,
when Cal" the dignified, was caught
in the role of the perennial small boy
that Is inside even Senators and Presi.
dents, and rather shamefacedly ad-
mitted that he had been 'peeking"
into some OF his packages.
II is stories like these that bring
back the older tales OF other days in
the Executive Mansion. and Of other
Christmases it has known.
Imagine, il you please, that you are
living in the year 1900 A. n. in the
City Of WaShington-"city" by grace
of name only. The new home of the
Presidents has been building for some
time. and although ii is still unfin-
ished. is being made ready to receive
its first residents. 1t is not altogether
a pleasant place in which TO take up
that residence. Huge. unheated, some
of its bedrooms h ing ieaky ceilings.
not enough servants available, no
bells, no frewood, surrounded by dis
NAL, swampy land and raw, incom-
plete settlement. the Presidents Pal
ace" is grand in name only. But the
splendid spiii of Mrs. John Adams. it's
new mistress, gIories in the overcom-
ing OF such handicaps. by New
Year day. 1901, she has succeeded in
having half a dozen rooms put into
sufficient order to enable her Ia hold
the first reception Of a long line,
thereby setting the precedent.
Needless 10 say. the week preceding
that eventfui moment the first White
House child 1.-THE house really wasn't
white" you remember. until after the
British had done their worstI. Suzanna
Adams, a little orphan GRANDPA lighter.
had found that Santa could make his
way TO this strange place as well as
to her former home in more settled
Massachusetts,. 1t is this same SUI
zznna who almost Immediately makes
herself famous for her 4-year-old abil-
tty in caring for her possessions.
Visited by small girl named Smith
one afternoon, a tea party was begun.
But the small Smith was evidently
overcome with malice. for she smashed
Suzznma'E precious tea set. undoubt-
ed.y the new one that had craced that
first white House Christmas. SuZanna.
with swiftness and dispatch, bit off
the head Of the Smiths respondent
wax doll and boasted about il In her
adult wears az one of the great salts.
factions Of her life.
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