Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-12-25
Capita|.Joins
Nation in YuIe
Celebration
Roosevelt Lights
rec at Ellipse
As 5000 Watch

washington To-Day joined peaceful
America in joyous celebration of
Christmas, an exemplary ray of
hope in world blotched with the
wounds of war.
President Roosevelt, who last
night thanked God for the inter-
Jude of Christmas" in his yuletide
message to the Nation, led the FAM
lily galety at the White House.
Homes throughout the city echoed
childish laughter and manifold ex-
preston of happiness identified
with the spirit of giving.
President Roosevelt attended to
the distribution of presents in the
family living room at the White
House this morning after the chill
dren's stockings had been happily
displayed to the adults spending
the holiday season in the first fam
lily circle.
1t was scene duplicated through
out Washington and the Nation. A
spirit of neighborliness-like that
to which the President referred
when he lighted the national Christ.
mas tree in the Ellipse-displaceo
the routine and hustle OF everyday
living
5000 Hear President.
Before a shivering throng of 5000
the President last night expressed
thanks for an interlude in
year ending with 1.-The horror of
another war adding it's toll of an
guish to a world already bowed
under the burden of suffering laid
upon it by mans inhumanity to
man.
President and Mrs. Roosevelt left
the merriment at the White House
at IL o'clock this morning to at
tend interdenominati onal Christ
mas services at the Covenant
Presbyterian Church and hear DR..
Oscar F. Blackwelder. pastor of the
Lutheran Church of the Reforma.
ton, preach on America Needs the
Manger"
Earlier, IS stockings bullying with
gifts, were taken from the Presi-
dents mantelpiece. The tiniest
stocking went to 9-month-old
Johnny" Boettiger of Seattle,
President Roosevelt's youngest
grandchild.
Also too young to appreciate the
meaning of it all. was Franklin D.
Roosevelt. 3rd, II months. but
Eleanor (Sistie) Dali. IL, and Curtis
'Buzzie) Dali, 9, children of Mrs.
Anna Roosevelt Boettiger. made up
in comprehending hilarity for what
the other youngsters lacked
The Presidents sc year = old
mother, Mrs. Sara Delano Roose-
welt, scarcely had time to look at
her own presents. with her four
great - grandchildren to watch
Others in the family group included
two sons, Franklin. jr., and John
Roosevelt ana their wives: Mrs. j.
r. Roosevelt, the Presidents sister,
in-law; John Boettiger, Seattle pub
Usher. and Maj. Harry Hooker. the
Presidents former law partner in
New York.
Diana Hopkins Invited.
Diana Hopkins. daughter of Sec
ss0rafF of Commerce Hopkins. had
her ,cftrissuas stocking at home this
morning. but ~a3.:slnvited to join
the White House chi1dfes. at lunch
later in the day.
Following the church services the
White House family dinner was
scheduled. Oysters. sherry Favored
bouillon and beaten biscuits we're
on the menu preceding the piece
de resistance-turkey stuffed with
chestnut dressing and garnished
with sausages and cranberry jelly.
Broccoli and candied sweet potatoes
were to be the vegetables. A grape
fruit and pineapple salad and
dessert of plum pudding with hard
sauce and cake and ice cream
topped off the menu.
During the. day President and
Mrs. Roosevelt arranged to tele-
phone absentee children-James in
Hollywood, his wife, Betsy, and
their children in New Haven, Conn.,,
with her recently widowed mother.
Mrs. Harvey Cushing, and Elliott
with his wife and their children in
Fort Worth, Tex.
There will be another Christmas
dinner at the White House at 1880
tonight, with number of close
friends of the Roosevelt family par
ticipating.
Greeting to Nation.
In his Christmas greeting to the
Nation President Roosevelt said:
This night is a night of joy ana
hope and happiness and promise Of
better things to come. And so IN
the happiness of this eve Of the
most blessed day in the year give
to all of my countrymen the old,
OLD greeting - merry Christmas -
merry Christmas"
I'm these days of strife and sad
ness in many other lands" the Pres
ident emphasized. let us in the
nations which still live at peace
forbear to give thanks only for our
good fortune in our peace.
Let us rather pray that We may
be given strength to live for others
to live more closely to the words
of the sermon on the mount and
to pray that peoples in the nations
which are at war may also read,
learn and inwardly digest these
deathless words"
Beatitudes Basis of Message.
He then quoted the Beatitudes
as my Christmas message" and ex-
pressed the hope that their i'm
port reach into the hearts Of all
men and of all nations"
A battery of newsreel cameramen
and newspaper photographers
flashed bulbs in front of the speak
ers' stand as the President stepped
up to press the button which set
aglow the multi-colored lights on
the Christmas tree on the grounds
of the Ellipse.
Just one more photograph-then
I press the button" President Roose-
welt TESTED good-naturedly with the
cameramen. Nov we are all ready
for tho seventh consec,1tiva tiyoe -