Evening star., 1934-12-25
RO0SEVELTS HAVE
0LDEN CHRISTMAS
Grandchildren Rise With
Dawn and Bound Into
Presidents Room.
BY J. RUSSELL YOUNG.

-Four generations of Roosevelts. led
by the President, today observed an
old-fashioned Christmas at the White
House.
Although it was past midnight when
Mr.. Roosevelt retired, he was awak-
ened early today. 1t was barely light
outside when his three young grand
children bounded into his bed room,
shouting a gleeful merry Christmas,
and got their stockings which had
been hung alongside those of the
President and the other grown-ups
of the family above the fireplace in
his bed room
Upon the heels of the youngsters
came Mrs. Roosevelt and Mrs. Sara
Delano Roosevelt, the 8O-year -oid
mother of the President. and other
members of the family The children
were soon absorbed in examining what
the stockings contained in the form
of goodies" and little toys.
After a short time the children
tree at the east end of the wide hail.
way on the second floor and were
given their other presents.
Attend Church Services.
Soon after breakfast the President
with Mrs. Roosevelt and others of the
family, went to st. Thomas Episcopal
Church and attended special Christ
mas services, after which the family
motored back to the White House.
After l o'clock luncheon the fam
lily were to resume opening many
Christmas presents which have come
to the White House, not only from
relatives and intimate friends, but
from admirers all over the country.
The day will draw to an end with
the Christmas dinner at 7:45 pm. to
be featured by 40-pound turkey
with all the trimmings. Besides the
members of the household, there will
be half a dozen or so relatives of the
family, but no outsiders around the
table.
Just what gifts the President and
Mrs. Roosevelt gave each other was
not made known, but it is under
stood that among the things that
Mrs. Roosevelt gave to her husband
were half dozen neckties which, ac-
cording to her, "are Just the kind
Franklin likes" The presents ex-
changed were not expensive ones.
Toys Varied.
The grandchildren received all sorts
OF toys and interesting things. They
had been busy for some time writing
notes to Santa Claus. Dolls predomi-
mated in the list scribbled off by
''Ststie" Dali, 6-year-old daughter of
Mrs. Anna Roosevelt Dali. "Sistie"
and "Buzzie" also asked for musical
instruments. Little 3-year-old Sara
Roosevelt, the only child of James
Roosevelt, wanted dolls and doll
things.
With the exception of Elliott Roose-
welt, who is visiting in Texas with his
wife and infant daughter. all the
members Of the immediate family were
on hand today.
The White House seems to have
caught the spirit of the occasion.
Throughout the house there are Yule
decorations. Besides the family tree
on the second floor there is a huge
spruce at the South end of the East
Room, for public inspection. It is
trimmed with white electric lights and
a star at its top and icicles hanging
from the sprays
Outside on the front portico there
are four other trimmed trees. A pretty
Yuletlde welcome greets one as he
looks upon the doorway at the huge
holly and laurel wreath, tied with a
broad, red satin ribbon and centered
by an electrically lighted candle.
Within the main lobby there are small
evergreen trees, pots Of poinsettia.
sprays of holly and other evidences
OF Christmas. On the sidewalks are
hung large holly and laurel wreaths.
And from the chandelier is hung a
large spray of mistletoe with lots of
white berries upon it.
Reads to Family.
Following the custom of manv
years, the President last night observed
Christmas eve by gathering the mem
bers Of the family about him in his
cozy study on the second floor and
reading aloud Charles Dickens "A
Christmas Carol" little later the
family adjourned to the east room
and enjoyed program of Christmas
carols by the male chorus of the In
terstate Commerce Commission, under
the direction of Commissioner Clyde
Aitchison.
Friday afternoon there will be a
large children's party for the grand
children, for which Mrs. Roosevelt
has arranged all sorts of fun and en-
tertainment. Saturday evening there
will be dance for the younger set.
Franklin, jr, and John, who are
home from Harvard University, have
invited more than a score of their
Harvard friends. On New Year eve
the White House will be the scene
OF another party for the younger
set. and this will be followed by a
dance while the New Year is being
ushered in.
The President and Mrs. Roosevelt
will follow the custom adopted by
them last year, when the New Year
%a