Evening star., 1939-12-18
White House Busy
With Plans for
Christmas
Family to Be on Hand
For Usual Roosevelt
Holiday Merriment
Rx ]. RUSSELL YOUNG.

BY ]. RUSSELL YOUNG.
The White House tomorrow or
next day will begin to take on the
yuletide atmosphere as the work Of
decorating the historic mansion be-
gins.
Christmas decorations inside and
outside the mansion will be virtually
the same as on former Christmases
in the Roosevelt administration.
Wreaths will be hung inside and at
the various windows, not only Of
the mansion, but of the executive
Offices. Over the front door will be
q huge wreath, possibly feet in
diameter. In addition, there will be
score or more small Christmas
trees used for decorative purposes,
and in the East Room on the first
floor will be large tree trimmed
with white streams and white
lights, covered with imitation snow,
which will be on public view during
the holiday season. The Roosevelt
family Christmas tree will be placed
as usual at the west end of the
sitting room on the second floor, and
its trimming will be put off until
Christmas Eve, when Mrs. Roosevelt
will superintendent the work per-
sonally, with the President and
other members of the White House
family giving aid and suggestions.
Half of Family on Hand.
More than half the Roosevelt fam
lily will be on hand for the holidays,
among them the Presidents mother,
Mrs. Sara Delano Roosevelt, and at
least four of the many grandchil-
dren of the President and Mrs.
Roosevelt. For these children there
will be well-filled stockings and a
childrens party the day after
Christmas. There are no indications
1T this time of New Year Eve party
at the White House.
President Roosevelt, as usual, no
doubt will be the leader of the mer-
riment. But to Mrs. Roosevelt will
fall the lot of being general super
visor. In addition to these many
Christmas chores as we'll as being
hostess at a large holiday house
party, she will as usual, take part
in number of festivities arranged
by local charitable organizations.
Sunday afternoon the President and
Mrs. Roosevelt and members of the
family will take part in the lighting
Of the community Christmas tree
and afterwards the family will
gather in the sitting room, when the
President, as has been his custom
for years, will read aloud Charles
Dickens christmas Carol"
At the White House Christmas
house party this year will be the
President and Mrs. Roosevelt's SON.
in-law and daughter, Mr.. and Mrs.
John Boettiger, and their infant
grandson, John Roosevelt Boettiger,
as well as Mrs. Boettiger's daughter
and son, Eleanor and Curtis Dali,
who, when they were younger and
living at the White House, were
popularity known as "Sistie" and
"Buzzie."
To Open Gifts in Morning. =
Mr.. and Mrs. Franklin Roosevelt,
IT,, VINO are living IN CnarlOtteSv1lle,
Va, where the former is studying
law, and Franklin Delano Roosevelt,
3d., and Mr.. and Mrs. John Roose-
welt, who are living in Boston, are
expected to be in the family group
during the holidays.
AS has been the Roosevelt custom,
the members of the family will not
open their Christmas gifts until
after breafast on Christmas morning
It is expected also that the President
and Mrs. Roosevelt will as usual
60 to Christmas church services. The
Christmas dinner will not be until
Z o'clock in the evening, when a
tremendous turkey gobbler, with all
that goes with Christmas dinner,
will be served. Besides the members
Of the immediate family, some
visitors and close friends will be
present at this feast.
The President and Mrs. Roosevelt
will, as has been their custom, re-
ceive members of the executive Office
staff and the household staff and
will give each guest a Christmas
remembrance. The Office staff will
be received sometime Friday, at an
hour not yet set, and the household
staff will be received at $3.50 pm.
Saturday.