The Washington times., 1935-12-04
NOW
A Story on Gifts
To- President
WIDE CHOICE
BY HELEN ESSARY

are shipped from the White House
In the boxes are some of the
hundreds of presents sent to Presi-
dent Roosevelt from all parts Of
the United states. Many OF the
gifts Mr.. Roosevelt receives are
kept for personal use. Others are
stored in big closets on the third
floor of the White House.
But the majority of the pres
entS, though lovingly made and
presented, are too big or too ex-
traordinary for the President to
keep close at hand.
These he sends to the museum.
If you've been to Warm Springs
you've probably looked inside the
big white cottage that is the mu,
scum and marveled to see what
Americans think the President of
the United States ought to have.
One of the most formidable OF
the gifts is an eagle five feet high,
with papier mache plumage un-
wilted by the Supreme Court de-
cision or the weather.
A gold key six feet high on
which are engraved the signatures
of political leaders of several
States, dozens of handmade bed
spreads, rugs and patchwork quilts
representing every craft in Amer
lea, handmade pillows, tufted AMI
embroidered for the President s
head, are only a few of the as
sorted offerings.
Mittens, socks and scarfS, knit
ted by patient fingers, have tables
of their own in the display. There
are dozens and dozens of shirts OF
varying sizes-seldom one that is
the right size.
A smoking jacket, sent from a
tailor in Kentucky, skillfully made
of many kinds of materials, is
lined with bright green satin. Evil
IDENTIFY in the Roosevelt admins
tration a coat for loafing is con-
Sidered museum piece.
The President has received walk
ing sticks which, if laid in a
straight line, would more than
reach to the next Democratic con-
vention city. About 1000 of the
sticks are in the Museum. OF
many types and designs. some of
them are of real value with beads
of solid gold or skillfully carved
ivory, wood or bone.
Since the President is a Gig
arctic smoker, it isn't surprising
that he has received cigarette
holders The number of such Of
ferings is a slight shock. There
are hundreds and hundreds OF
them, plus cigar holders, in ma
terials varying from bone and
ivory with gold and silver mount
ings to meerSchaum.
One cigar company sent a
cigar a yard long. The cigar is as
thick through as the dollar is
round. The Presidents name is
emblazoned in gold on its en-
circling band.
A woman in Chicago made a
gigantic scrap book of the news
paper and magazine articles on
the Presidents first Birthday
Ball. This gift delighted the Presi'
dent, according to Mrs. Ben
Purse, of Georgia, who, for a
while, was Curator" of the Warm
Springs Museum Mr.. Purse was
for six years auditor of the Warm
Springs Foundation.
The Birthday Book is indeXed
as to space and subindexed as to
cities. Visitors can quickly turn
to clippings from their home
papers and see stories and pic
lures concerning themselves.
Foreign countries often send
gifts to the White House. From
China came a picture OF Mr..
Roosevelt done in inlaid silk IN
pleasing coloring.
Howard Chandler Christy S
painting for the first Birthday
Ball also hangs in the museum.
Another picture of the President
in inlaid wood rests on an easel.
This leaves visible both sides Of
the plaque which are alike.
Enough toys for Santa Claus
entire pack have been sent to Sis
tie" and ''Buzzie" Dali. Many Of
these are in the museum.
AS the gifts are received they
are ticketed, indexed and labeled
A record is kept from whom and
when they were received. The
articles are valued for insurance
records.
When the museum was first
opened an admission charge of 10
cents was made. The proceeds
went toward a fund for building
@ larger museum.
No one is in charge of the
museum now. The bellboys from
the Warm Springs Hotel unlock
the door for visitors.
If the President we're to change
his cuff links every day until the
next Fourth of March he couldn't
wear each of the pairs that have
been sent to him. Many such
pieces of jewelry have come with
a note saying that they have beer
in the family for generations anc
would Mr.. Roosevelt accept then
in memory of some long departed
ancestor.
The jewelry and most of the