Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-25
SANTA CLAUS PAYS
WHITE HOUSE VISIT
WITH BAG OF TOYS
Hoover Grandchildren Wide
Eyed as He Comes Out
of Chimney.
PRESIDENT DROPS WORK
TO ENJOY DAY TO FULL
Capital Celebration Continues Fol-
lowing Christmas Eve Com
munity Tree Lighting.

The National Capital celebrated Christ
mas in an old-fashioned way today,
with the decorous corridors of the White
House resounding with the laughter Of
young children in unison with a chorus
that was city-wide.
Seldom has the historic house Of the
Presidents been the scene Of such
youthful merriment as marked the
advent today of another Yuletide at the
gaily-decorated domicile of the Hoovers-
big and little.
Santa Claus. in the flesh, actually
came out of the chimney at the White
House this morning, to the gasping de-
light of President and Mrs. Hoover's
grandchildren, Peggy Ann and Herbert
Hoover, Sd, children of Mr.. and Mrs.
Herbert Hoover, jr.
Santa Himself There.
Just as the children were excitedly
relating to their grandparents and
mother at the breakfast table how
Santa had during the night filled their
hanging stockings, and had left them
lots OF nice things, and were saying
how sorry they were. to have missed
seeing him, the Jolly old fellow himself
entered the room through the huge
fireplace
Nothing incident to the great Christ
mas these children are having at the
White House could compare in its eff
rect with this visit from Santa Claus,
They screamed with delight at the
nrst sight OF the kindly old gentleman.
he looked just about as they had pic.
tured him. He was dressed Just like
the many pictures they had seen. But
more enthralling, he called each by
and arose to his full height, despite the
heavy load on his back And that was
not all; he shook hands with them, and
after telling them he had heard that
tney had been good children, he walked
over to the big brilliantly lighted
CHRISTMAS tree in the corner of the
room, with Peggy Ann holding his hand
on one side and little Herbert on the
other, and after setting down his big
Dag ne brought out presents for them
Scared Some 1T First.
These two pop-eyed. flushed, smiling
children stood by, as all this was going
on. They didn't talk much. Their Elk
element was probably too great. They
seemed nonpluSSed. They were nervously
excited at first especially Herbert, who
is not quite 3 years old. Also it was
apparent that they were not less in
terested in old Santa himself than In
what he was taking from the bag.
OF course, they were happy to get
all these toys and things, but their
chief attention was for Santa. They
evidently realized that they could look
at and play with those toys any time.
but they knew Santa would soon be
gone and they wanted to be near him, to
touch him and to hear his jolly voice
and laughter.
Santa's visit was a long one-pos-
sibly 20 or 80 minutes. OF course
his visit was inspired by the presence
of the Presidents grandchildren, but
thoughtful old fellow he is, he had
things for the President and Mrs.
Hoover, too, as well as the others in
the family group including Allan, the
younger of the Hoover sons; Mrs. Her
bert Hoover, jr., mother Of the children;
Janet Large, Mrs. Hoover's niece, who
is not yet 10, and Mrs. Stark Nc
Mullin of Palo Alto, Calf, an old
friend of the family.
1t is easy to imagine the genuine fun
and pleasure the President and Mrs.
Hoover got out of this feature Of the
Christmas they arranged for the chill
dren. They were having nearly as much
fun as the youngsters. They stood
about listening and smiling as the chill
dren talked with Santa and received
their presents from his hands. It was
a Christmas morning they will cherish
In memory for years to come.
Herbert Regains Courage.
Herbert had mustered all OF his
bravery, but his voice wasn't any too
strong when he reached Santa's side
and responded to his CHEEKY good morn
genial old gentleman soon removed ali
of his fears, and it wasn't long before
Herbert felt perfectly at home and from
all outward appearances was as brave
as his big sister.
The boy demonstrated this restoration
of courage and confidence when poor
old Santa made the sad mistake Of
handing him doll from the bag which
was intended for Peggy Ann.
I'm not a girl. I don't want any
dolls" Herbert called out in very in
dignant tones.
Before Santa. could offer an apology
for his error, the boy had run to the
other side of the big tree, where the
baby carriage containing sleeping Joan
was standing, and deposited the doll
there.
Santa Then Disappears.
When Santa Claus had pulled the
last present from his big bag and had
grasped the hands OF the two excited
children he called out a greeting to all
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