Evening star., 1931-12-25
MRS. HOOVER AIDS
IN CHEER FOR POOR
Attends Christmas Parties at
Central Union Mission and
Salvation Army.

Children supplied the spirit of Christ
mas in the home and heart Of Mrs.
Herbert Hoover more than ever before
this season. as well as in the homes of
many cabinet members.
With a spontaneous enjoyment that
began with her own happy circle of
little ones at the White House. the
gracious First Lady" had a Merry
Christmas. everybody" for all shn mot
during strenuous "a hours during
which she helped spread cheer in the
lives Of many less fortunate people.
She said it to street crowds and to
the poor who gathered yesterday to re-
celVe Christmas bags and baskets and
she repeated it as heartily this morn
ing to her little grandchildren and
members of the White House staff.
Starting early yesterday morning she
had smile and Merry Christmas
for the l,600 little ones who gathered
at the childrens party of the Central
Union Mission; she repeated it at the
Salvation Army later in the day, when
she Joined her greeting with those of
Right Rev. James E. Freeman, Bishop
OF Washington. And she still had a
Merry Christmas" left for two big
Christmas eve parties
Dinners Distributed.
"1f all those who just happened not
to suffer this year would lust be friendly
and neighborly with all those who lust
happened to have bad luck. we'll all get
along together" Mrs Hoover said at
the Salvation Army headquarters, where
bushel baskets of dinners were diStri-
buted to the poor.
Mrs. Hoover likes these parties for the
attended them constantly during her
years in Washington. After a day of
spreading cheer, she returned to the
White House to make ready for Wash
1ngton's community tree celebration.
And then followed the happieSt of
Christmas eve parties at the White
House itself, the traditional Official
family party for the President and his
secretaries.
There was poinSetta decorated table
set in U shape. with a little table in
its center for the children-Peggy and
Peter Hoover-Who played host and
hostess to Suzanne Boone, the little
daughter of the Presidents physician.
and Bobbie Joslin, younger son of
Theodore Joslin, the Presidents secre-
tary
Big Christmas trees in both the state
their Yuletide luster upon the merry
family party A band of pretty Girl
Scout carolers, the traditional bell
ringing, carrying march to Ma
flne Orchestra music, and gifts for
every one made up this old-fashioned
Christmas party.
This evening there will be another
Christmas affair at the White House. a
bit more formal perhaps. when the
President and Mrs. Hoover entertain
members of the cabinet and their fami-
lies at dinner
Christmas was busy time too. at the
homes of members of the cabinet, and
their children all enjoyed parties at
home.
Stimson Plays Santa.
Secretary of State Stimson played
Santa Claus to couple of youngsters
who kept hlm-happy-from other pur-
suits yesterday and today. They we're
Daisy, 9, and David, II, Wro came from
New Haven, Conn. with their mother,
Mrs. D. L. Daggett She is Mrs. Stim-
sons niece. There are other guests in
the big house of the Secretary of State,
but Woodley is the childrens Christmas
kingdom. A giant spruce, towering
higher than the house itself and visible
!ol ploCkS around, is ablaZe with white
lights at night.
Not content with real live Santa
Claus for their own grandniece. 3-vear-
old Jane Cricher the Secretary of LABOR
ana Mrs. Doak invited Gene Whorral.
4, daughter of one of the veteran as
slstants at the department. to spend the
day at their home on the Potomac
PahSades. There was such a confusion
OF preparations, Mrs Doak couldn't re-
can all that waited to go into the stock
lngs. But there were dolls, of course, a
little piano and complete doll wardrobes
Secretary of War Hurley acted Santa
Claus for the four youngsters who
waited .excitedly for his appearance and
every time the front door bell rang.
Some of the officials children. true,
were grown boys and girls, like Secre
tary Adams son, home from college. and
scorned playing with Santa. But thev
Joined heartily in the scheme of things
that go into making an old-fashioned
home Christmas.