Show OBSERVES CHRISTMAS washington dec 25 official washington celebrated christmas by a general suspension of government business only matters of urgent importance were considered no routine business being taken up all 0 the governments departments were closed but some of the cabinet officers were at their desks for a time attending to their mail and telegraph ad president roosevelt appeared at his office for only a brief time just long enough in fact to dispose of a few matters 0 importance which demanded his attention he did not attend church services remaining dm ing the morning hours with the niem bera of his family and intimate personal friends called at tho white house in the morning hours but tor the roost part no visitors were received during the morning there was a general gift giving at the white house this exchange of prents was confined principally to members of the family the presidents third son archie als usual had a christmas tree in his own room and from that he distributed his gifta to the family and the household people mrs cowles the presidents sister entertained the members of the family with a gift giving at her home during the forenoon the president and mra roosevelt went for a long ride A family dinner was given at the white house later in the day among the guests was representative Nicho lasworth tho flance of alsa roosevelt the president has notified the members of ats cabinet that during the present week ther will be no regular meetings of the cabinet he will take up during the week only matters of the most urgent importance and will receive no callen or visitors unless their business n am pe rathe it is bis purpose to make this truly a holiday week and ho will spend as little time as possible in the transaction of routine business the vice president and mrs fairbanks entertained a party of at their home today but it Is their purpose to spend the holiday recess si their home in indianapolis they c hect to leave tor indiana tonight tho members of the cabinet after disposing of such business in their departments as required immediate attention passed the day with their afif hies and friends at their homes throughout the city business generally was suspended and the daywan very like a sunday in the national capital |