The Morning News

CLEVELAND'S CHRISTMAS.

How the Day Will Be Passed at the White House.

Two Little Ones to Hang Up Their Stockings for the Visit From Santa Claus—The Whole Day in the Mansion to Be Given Up to the Children.

Washington, Dec. 22.—On the first Christmas after the white house was occupied by a President the day was not observed at all. John Adams was President, and neither he nor Mrs. Adams was accustomed to pay any attention to what has since become a day of universal joy and religious observance. The first real Christmas dinner in the white house was in 1805, when President Jefferson's daughter, Mrs. Randolph, was visiting him. The table was presided over by Mrs. Madison, who afterwards took the children to her own house to a party.

During Madison's presidency the day was observed, except in that disastrous year when the white house and capitol were blackened ruins mutely testifying to the civilized mode of warfare the British practiced. The Monroes paid no attention to the day, Mrs. Monroe being a New Yorker. Mrs. John Quincy Adams was a Maryland woman and made the day a household holiday. Jackson enjoyed the day. Van Buren cared nothing for it. The Tylers celebrated it in good old-fashioned Virginia style. After their time the day fell into a state of desuetude until Buchanan came in with the beautiful Harriet Lane as hostess. Christmas was not a gala day during the war, but the big mansion was enlivened by the children of President Lincoln, as it was by the grandchildren of President Johnson. During President Grant's time the Christmas tree in the east room bloomed in great glory. President Hayes observed the day, as did President Harrison. President Arthur paid little attention to it, and President Cleveland, up to the date of his marriage, hardly knew there was such a day. Now it is different.

TWO LITTLE STOCKINGS.

Since Mr. Cleveland's first term he has been drawn near the hearts of women and children if not to that of the nation, and especially will the great heart of the public feel this on Christmas when it thinks upon the fact that for the first time in years there will be hung two little stockings from the great carved mantelpiece in the white house nursery. Children from north to south, east to west, will stop among their toys for a moment and wonder what little Ruth is doing, and ask each other if she is happier for her great big white house and great papa. Mothers' minds will turn to Mrs. Cleveland and fancy following faster they will probably think of the woman whom a nation loves, wondering if in her grandeur she is happy. To all such, then, let it be known that a simpler Christmas in all the land will not be spent than at the house of the President of the United States.

The big oak doors will be closed to callers, the scent of cedars and holly will taint the atmosphere, and the voice of the officeseeker and the mumblings of politicians will not disturb the serenity of the scene on this old familiar family day. Following her invariable custom, Mrs. Cleveland will attend service at the old Court church on Christmas eve. As her own church is not open on this festival, she attends the Episcopal and chooses as her place of worship St. John's, the quaintest old structure in Washington, standing opposite the white house, and which has numbered as its members more than half the presidents of this country in its history. Whenever she attends this church, she has always occupied the pew which was set aside for President Arthur when he was a member. Just over his pew there has been erected a memorial window, said to be the most beautiful piece of stained glass ever brought to this country. Mrs. Lamont is the authority for the statement that Mrs. Cleveland's Christmas will vary in no way from that of the humblest woman in the land, and certainly Mrs. Lamont ought to know, for she is called the Lady Churchill of this administration. She will be the only caller received at the white house on Christmas day, but even her eyes will not be permitted to pervade the glow on Mrs. Cleveland's face as she points out to Esther for the first time a stocking filled with sugar plums and toys.

PLANS FOR THE DAY.

President Cleveland has been especially fortunate in keeping the public eye from his private matters, but Washington, in no less degree than the rest of the country, wants to know what will happen on Christmas at the white house. At first he contemplated spending the season at Lakewood, but on the request of Mrs. Cleveland decided to let Esther enjoy her first Christmas at the white house. To many it is not generally known that Mrs. Cleveland is romantic and is always laying up memories for her children to think upon in the future. And as she wanted Esther to be born at the white house, so she wants her family to spend this season amid its old white walls. She has determined that her surroundings shall make no difference to the day but that it shall be one of the many which she remembers from her girlhood. Following out his Medes and Persians' ruling, Mr. Cleveland will accept no presents either for himself or children, except from relatives and most intimate friends. If any come anonymously to Ruth or Esther, as is usually the case, they will be laid aside and form no part of the children's playthings, at least for years to come. Both the President and his wife wish to keep the tastes of their children simple and prevent the spirit of avarice which mars the merriment of so many children of the wealthy at the present day. Mrs. Cleveland and Mrs. Lamont will exchange souvenirs of the day, and notes of good wishes and a happy Christmas will come from the cabinet circle. But this is all.

THE WHITE HOUSE NURSERY.

To properly realize Christmas at the white house one must remember the location of the nursery. It adjoins the apartments of Mr. Cleveland, and is the only room furnished for the administration. There is a tiny bed and a cradle on one side of the big room for the two little heiresses, and a large bedstead on the other for the nurse. In spite of the innovation of steam heat the big fireplace has been left intact to kindle a blaze when the warmth of the day is sufficient for other members of the household. Over this, from a large old-fashioned mantelpiece, will the stockings be hung filling them for the unconscious children while the ubiquitous nurse watches the first signs of awakening. On the morning following Mrs. Cleveland, together with her husband, probably in a spacious dressing gown, will teach to Ruth her first lesson to be learned from the season. So much of this sweet scene is conjecture, but the Christmas tree has been ordered already and blazing red and white candles, laden with fruits and tinware, will be the kindergarten teaching of the day. Mrs. Lamont, Mrs. Cleveland's "dear friend," will be the Lady Bountiful, and rob the tree of its toys. The servants that will get is all peep into this sanctuary mother, was expected, but will not come. The rest of the day will be spent as Sunday. The President and Mrs. Cleveland will go to church, and, after a drive or a sleigh ride, if the weather necessitates, return home to the conventional Christmas turkey and plum pudding, with Secretary and Mrs. Lamont as guests.

The white lot, in the rear of the mansion, will be thrown open to the public for fireworks at night. From the big windows little Ruth will get some idea of what she will have to endure, at least for one day in every year.

SECRETS OF THE NURSERY.

Some insight into the white house nursery secrets may prove interesting here. In the first place, there are three nurses to Ruth and Esther, two white women and one colored mammy. The colored member of this trinity is the most valued of Mrs. Cleveland's minions. She belonged originally to a Virginia family, but has been doing what is known as "help" work at the north since the war. At one time she was employed in Mrs. Folsom's household. While she ranks third as nurse, she is practically general manager of the babies' bureau and bottles. She knows from experience, and a little more from instinct, just when the bottle is needed and just how long and how late the children should stay out for their "airing." Rebecca is her cognomen, but "Aunt Beckie" is the name she goes by in the President's family circle. She never lets the clothing of either child go through the regular routine of cleansing, but washes each piece herself. She harps upon the fact that more "chilluns" have been killed by half-aired clothing than by croup or measles. She is the domestic tyrant of the white house, and rumor has it that she once refused to allow Mr. Cleveland to hold his own child because he had scolded it for crying on a former occasion. How these little stories leak out is never known, but Madam Grundy has an ear always turned to the white house and sleeps with one eye open. The two white nurses in their French caps and filigree aprons keep constant watch of the children during the day, but to "Aunt Beckie" belongs the task of watching over their slumbers by night. These three will be important factors at the white house on Christmas ranking importance even Lady Churchill Lamont.

A CONTRAST WITH NEW YEAR'S.

Christmas at the mansion will be in strong contrast to New Year's, with its gay glitter of foreign grandees and supercilious attaches. The quietude of the one will almost be forgotten in the toil and the tumult of the other. On New Year's the most important social functions of the season occur. There are rejoicing and heart burnings, envy, jealousy and good nature. It is on this day that the rank of the legations is settled for the ensuing year. There is on this day more of the grandeur of a foreign court than the simplicity of American government. This occasion this winter will be of special importance, for it will be the first time that ambassadors will bow before the President with official insignia upon their breasts. Additional importance will be given the occasion from the fact that Sir Julian Pauncefote will act as the dean of the diplomatic corps. Heretofore, when there were no ambassadors, only ministers plenipotentiary and envoys extraordinary, the oldest member of the corps in point of service was, by precedent the dean. But now all that is changed. In order to give the American legation the proper standing, the chief functionary was created ambassador. England was the first to return the compliment, and so by right Sir Julian Pauncefote displaces old Romero, of Mexico. Patenotre, of France, presented his credentials second, and so stands in order to Sir Julian. It has always been the custom on New Year's day for the President and his wife, assisted by the cabinet officers and their wives, to receive the diplomatic corps, the army and navy and the supreme bench. The latter, though named last, come first in the order of their presentation. Then file in with all pomposity imaginable the haughty and aristocratic members of the diplomatic corps. Finally the army and naval officers, with their wives, are presented according to their respective rank.

ONLY CHILDREN'S VOICES.

But on Christmas only the sound of children's voices will find an echo about the white house. Even Private Secretary Thurber's discordant tones will be confined to the business end of the building. As on all other holidays he will present himself, and if Mr. Cleveland so wills, he will be received in the presidential presence long enough to pass the civilities of the day, and inquire if there are urgent communications to be answered, or any members of the cabinet to be summoned. After this mere formality, Mr. Thurber will possibly be allowed to extend his greetings of the day to Mrs. Cleveland, and smile that smile which has more than once, it is said, sent Baby Ruth into mental exile. Ruth's only companion in dolls is the two-and-a-half-year old daughter of Mrs. Bissell. They are the playmates of the cabinet circle. Secretary Smith has a small boy, but the only time he was ever sent to call on Miss Ruth, he snubbed that young lady and refused to play with her, because she was not a boy. So he will scarcely enter into the joys of the day at the white house. But little Miss Bissell will spend the hours with Ruth while Mrs. Cleveland is at church. At the dolls fair held here last week these little women were the most conspicuous figures in the hall. They passed from stall to stall gazing jealously at the rows of dolls while Mrs. Cleveland and Mrs. Bissell received the guests assisted by Lady Pauncefote.

RUTH VERY FOND OF DOLLS.

So they will be on Christmas in the big nursery, dressing and undressing their dolls and wondering why Esther sleeps all day and why she can't play dolls, for Ruth is very fond of dolls. In fact, she wouldn't be the ideal little girl if she weren't. She is never seen about the white house grounds without she is cuddling in her arms some member of the doll family. When Mr. Gibson, of Georgia, the only officeseeker on record who had the temerity to stoop and kiss the child, was one day on the point of passing on, Ruth held her doll up to him and, much to his confusion, he was forced to pay homage to the sawdust lady also. He is now a consul in Syria, but is remembered here for his daring osculatory feat. Ruth has in all forty dolls of different sizes, shapes and colors. They represent several birthdays, Christmases, and the admiration of unknown friends. They are arranged into families, and each family has its own apartment in the nursery doll house. So, in this room, around the miniature home of this tribe of mimic people, will Ruth's fourth and Esther's first Christmas be spent.

All who pass out Pennsylvania avenue or loiter about Lafayette park on that day will look wonderingly at the big white pillars and curtained windows, gazing but little guessing what a simple life the first family in the land can lead. So will the peace of Christmas tide be passed within the white house. The dull routine of nursery rhymes will once more begin and Esther will be one Christmas old.