| Show white ri m a U S e shaves shares vule 5 F at W ASHINGTON the holiday at mo sphere that grips america each december also finds its way to the white house home of our chief executives tor for nearly years and scene ot of many a colorful yuletide party in bygone years white house history is rich with anecdotes of such gatherings since the building was occupied by the count rys second chief executive john adams for his granddaughter four year old suzannah president adams gave the first christmas party ever held in the white house those were the days before the mansion was finished when mrs adams is said to have hung out her wash in the great east room Suzan party was a success but one of her guests broke a doll dish belonging to the little hostess suzannah retaliated by biting off the nose of the young guests new wax doll president adams had to resort to diplomacy jefferson played violin christmas has always aided chief executives in discarding their dignity for a brief return to the simplicity of their childhood days it was the widower president jefferson who played the violin for his young guests and the aged andrew jackson threw wide the white house doors to hundreds of orphans who listened to the president himself tell them wild tales of indian wars dolly madison most famous white house home hostess in history was in charge of president jeffersons P party arty in 1805 when nearly guests were present mrs madison also served ser ved as hostess at 13 other christmas mas s dinners dinu in the white house during the two terms each of jefferson and her own husband james madison once the matisons Madi sons had to i flee from the mansion when the british invaded washington in 1812 jacksons party for the orphans was inspired by his own sad boyhood at his party santa claus came to the white house as usual leaving many gifts for the homeless F entrance to the white house at washington as it appears each year during the christmas season youngsters jackson himself found a corncob pipe and warm carpet slippers in his bulging stocking jackson in snow fight old hickory is said to have participated in a snowball sno dball fight at the party aided by vice president martin van buren As his little guests scattered over the moonlit white house lawn he turned to a friend and said they remind me of the one who came to the knees of jesus and of whom he said suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them not for of such is the kingdom of heaven in modern times much more ceremony has been attached to official celebration of the yuletide each year the chief executive radios holiday greetings to american soldiers sailors marines and diplomatic representatives throughout the world his most important official duty is a christmas eve address to the nation a custom that has probably become permanent the nations official ch christmas tree in washington is lighted annually by the presidential finger who participates in colorful ceremonies broadcast throughout the country during the past decade and a half four presidents Fresi presidents dents have used the same switch box for this purpose last year a new silver plate was attached to the box bearing the names of these men another recent innovation at the ceremony is the use of if a four toned chime to signal the lighting of the tree the chimes ring out as the president presses the button lighting the tree broadcast as a signal to millions of Est listening ening americans |
