Evening star., 1939-12-23
Mrs. Roosevelt
Attends Chi|dren's
Christmas Parties
Days Schedule includes
Four Events for
Underprivi|eeed

Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt inau-
gurated the distribution of gifts to
the Capitals underprivileged chill
dren at $50 o'clock today when she
visited the Central Union Mission s
party in the Capitol Theater.
Homer Rodeheaver, New York
song leader and evangelist. played
Santa Claus for the benefit of the
more than 1900 youngsters who as
sembled in the theater to view a
Christmas film, hear music by the
United States Marine Band and
greet Mrs. Roosevelt.
Saying merry Christmas" on
behalf of the mission was Mrs. Jean
Bennett, superintendent of the mis-
sion. Mrs. William H. Ramsey.
president of the Women's Guild of
the mission, also was present on
the stage.
Greeting From President.
After extending her own best
wishes for happy holiday, Mrs.
Roosevelt told the children she also
brought greeting from the Presi-
dent At the suggestion of Mr..
Rodeheaver, the children shouted
in chorus, Thank you, Mr.. Roose-
velt-merry Christmas to you!'
Mrs. Roosevelt told the young
sters the Presidents two youngest
grandchildren cried when they saw
each other for the first time at the
White House last night.
She expressed the hope that the
pair, 17-month-old Franklin D.
Roosevelt, Sd, and 9-month-old
John Roosevelt Boettiger. son of
Mr.. and Mrs. John Boettiger of
Seattle, Wash, would get to know
each other better by Christmas Day.
MRS. Roosevelt presented bags of
gifts to the first children in line. a.
year-old Bobby Carter, and his two
sisters, Joan Margaret, 6, and Mary
Ellen, 5.
Mrs. Roosevelt left immediately
tor the Wilson Theater, Arlington
Va, where she looked in on the an
nual party sponsored by the Airing
ton Kiwanis Club for 500 under
privileged youngsters of the county.
Boys Band Plays.
Here Mrs. Roosevelt presented
dolls to Jane Laydon. S; Patsy Mes
sen. g. and Marjory Niessen, l3.
The 65-piece Kiwanis Boys Band
played.
Returning from Arlington, she
held "a press conference at which
she reviewed her Christmas plans
and talked about the four grand
children who will be with her for
the holiday.
Little John Boettiger. she said,
will be the first to get his stocking
from the Presidents mantlepiece
on Christmas morning. She said
he was now able to stand by him.
self though he can't walk yet, and
described him as blue-eyed and red
checked with light hair that is
kind Of fuzzy at the back"
His cousin. frankie. IL -year-old
son OF Franklin, jr., and the baby
are still little doubtful about
each other but she hopes they'll
get to be friends in time. OF tho
other two grandchildren who will
be here for the holiday, she said
they had changed good deal in
the last few years and now pre-.
terred to be called Eleanor and
Curtis Boettiger instead of "Sistie"
and "Buzzie."
Aids Basket Distribution.
AT l pm. Mrs. Roosevelt was ex-
pected to aid in the distribution of
500 baskets of food to needy families
at the annual Christmas party of
the Volunteers of America at the
Thomson School, Twelfth and L
streets NV.
From there she planned to 20 to
the Salvation Army party, COG E
street NV, where she was also to
help in giving out baskets.
She was to greet White House en-
ployes with the President in the
east room at $3.50 this afternoon.
Mrs. Anne Boettiger and John
Roosevelt were to aid in giving out
the presents at this annual White
House affair.
AT 5 pm. she was to make her
annual appearance at the alley tree
going this year to the tree
in Government court between L and
M streets at Twenty first street
NV.