Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-23
EXCLUSIVELY
YOURS
Christmas as Celebrated
By Capital Cave Dwellers
By BETTY BEALE

OIlIlSILIldS WOulQ pc WdSIl-
ington's dullest season in the
year were this the transient
town most people regard it.
If Yuletide social activity
were dependent on the Gov
ernment's higher echelon, it
would go up in smoke. Homing
instincts what they are at this
time of the year, the exodus
of the cabinet, the little cab
met, and even the itsy-bitsy
cabinet deputy assistant Sec
retaries). is annually recorded
in the papers.
So who's left to celebrate
Christmas? Just the real
WashingtonianS, that's all.
Just the backbone of the city,
exclusive of the Federal Gov
eminent.
AS in any other town, we
have people whose roots are
deep. whose lives are unclut-
tered by the tinsel and tape of
officialdom, whose families
have been established here for
generations.
THE BRADLEY FAMILY is
such a one-Fred, Fontaine
and Tom and their families.
and their mother, Mrs. Thomas
Bradley.
Fred a lawyer. is a past
president and longtime board
member of the Chevy Chase
Club. His grandparents owned
what later became the Chevy
Chase Club and its extensive
acreage. They bought it in
1901 and lived in the frame
house that is now the mems
section of the club. It is still
called Bradley House.
The senior Mrs. Thomas
Bradley lives today in the
charming red brick house on
the corner of Twenty-eight
and @ streets, whence she first
moved as a little girl of 5 years.
Her sons, daughters-in-law and
grandchildren all live within a
few blocks of her, and on
Christmas Day the whole fam
lily moves from one house to
another wherever the excite
ment u.s." Tomorrow night
they will all gather at Fontaine
and Emily's house. :. The only
person missing will be "Punks"
Bradley Watkins. a talented
artist, who is spending the win
ter painting in India.
THE ROBERT WOODS
BLISSES across the street on
the southeast corner Of Twen-
ty-eighth and @ will receive in
their elegant Georgian house
on Christmas night. Mrs. Bliss
godson. william Tyler. and his
wife and children. Mr..
Tyler. the State Departments
French expert, has son who's
doing Harvard in three years.
and a daughter who rejoices
In the name of Eve and l hope
it isn't prophetic" says the
cultured Mrs. Bliss with a
twinkle.
They will have midday
Christmas dinner with Alice
Longworth. Just as they've done
for years and years. But to-
morrow night will be the first
time in l6 years that Mr.. and
Mrs. Bliss have not spent q
Washington Christmas Eve at
Decatur House.
The late Mrs. T1uxtun Beale
always had 80 or so for dinner
at her historic home on Laf-
ayette Square. There would be
a tree and a package for each
friend around 1t. to be opened
after dinner.
Mrs. Beale actually took over
this custom when the Blisses
gave their Georgetown resi-
dence, Dumbarton Oaks. to
Harvard University and moved
into the smaller house. Before
that, Dumbarton Oaks wits
ever the scene OF fascinating
parties on Christmas Eve when
one friend. a musician, would
give an impromptu concert, an
other would read a pertinent
tale. another tell stories Of far
of lands.
MRS. WILLIAM cORCoRAN
EUSTTS' yellow home directly
across Twenty-eight is one Of
the Capital dwellings still
marked by footmen-stafied
formality. Tomorrow night 1t
will be filed with Christmas
cheer when her family gathers
about her.
That includes her dlStingu-
ished son-in-law and daughter,
Mr.. and Mrs. David Finley.
and her daughter Anne. Mrs.
Eustis Emmett. and the latters
three children. sub-debutante
Anke. whoBat Foxeroft Jeremy