Christmas 1912 - 3

Aug 16

Chapter 48

The Letters - Part 3
Pride & Glory
Washington, DC

The arrival of the White House Christmas Tree has always been considered the official start of the holiday season in the Nation’s Capital.

This year was not an exception.

For southern-born Ellen Axson Wilson, it was a time of joyful exuberance.

She loved her role as First Lady and was determined to make the arrival of this year’s tree a truly special occasion. For the first time, since 1889 (when the first White House Christmas Tree was received by, Caroline Harrison) this year’s tree had been selected from the South. To be exact, the 19-foot Frazier Fir came from the Wilder’s Farm, Chinaberry, about 15 miles from Ellen’s former home in Savannah, GA.

She wanted to help bring recognition to the Southern timber industry and to a family in which she had fond memories. Ten years before, she had been presented in the same Savannah Season along with the Wilder’s daughter, Clatie.

The Savannah Debutante Cotillion had the distinction of being the oldest of its kind in the United States. Traditionally, the families of the debs host parties for the young women in the summer before they take their Christmastime bows to society. For Catie’s party, the Wilder’s decided to expand their annual Independence Day Gala, best known as “Going to the Fourth” to include hosting a ball the night before. It was complete with a sting orchestra and fireworks. It was a very large Season. Fifteen young women were presented. In order to accommodate the young ladies, their families, their sponsors, and guests for the events, the Wilder’s erected a small “city” of pavilions on the estate’s grounds. Mothers were wary that they would be “camping out.” However, given the commodious nature of the tents, and the attention to every detail to ensure comfort, it felt as if the guests were in a luxury hotel. The Savannah Weekly News society editor described the event as similar to what European royalty must have experienced when chambering “fete champetre.” One of the vivid memories Ellen carried with her from the event was the intoxicating aroma of the evergreens that permeated the still and tranquil morning air of the Georgia countryside.

Ellen was transported to her time at Chinaberry as she inhaled the aroma of evergreen boughs which were outlining the door and forming serpentine patterns on the columns of the White House’s North Portico.

Over 200 engraved inventions to the day’s ceremony had been issued. They were highly coveted and refusal was not to even be considered.

The guests for the ceremony had already started to gather. As they did, the White House footmen passed silently and unobtrusively among the guests carrying silver salvers of canapes and American Brilliant cut-glass punch cups of hot spiced tea accentuated with tones of fragrant citrus and spices.

Among the guests of honor were Franklin Wilder’s parents. They had accompanied the tree via train from Savannah. They were the model of Southern Elegance and decorum. Mr. Wilder was dressed in a heavy weight grey wool suit, overcoat, fedora, and black leather gloves. He sported a green cashmere scarf that his wife had bought for him as a memento to mark the event. Mrs. Wilder chose a fitted cerulean blue wool suit and a black overcoat with matching blue cutwork velvet. Her hat made a true Edwardian statement. It was enormous and championed a large brim. The ostrich feathers had been dyed to match her ensemble. Mr. Wilder quipped it took an extra railroad car just to transport the chapeaux! Her muff and coat were trimmed in black mink. She looked like a fashion plate from Vogue. After 35 years of marriage, she still had the same svelte figure she sported as a new bride.

Also in attendance were Sebastian’s parents, the Cuban Ambassador and his wife, Carlos and Maria de’Alba. As had been requested, by personal note by Ellen to Mrs. de’Alba, that their youngest son, Sebastian would be in attendance.

The de’Alba men were strikingly handsome. Both had strong jawlines, fine physiques, and pupils so large they appeared seamless with their brown irises. The elder de’Alba had a sprinkling of grey about his temples. In fact, it only enhanced his dignified and elegant persona. There would be no question as to how the younger man would look when he reached his father’s age. Senora De’Alba stood between her two men, with her hand gracefully placed on the sided of her husband’s arm. She possessed the type of beauty that time could never fully damage. Her jet-black hair had been brushed into a perfectly coiffed chignon. It was held in place by gold comb studded with Columbia emeralds. Her matching earrings and green and gold embroidered wool shawl accented the seasonal and curated look.

The Marine Corp band was on hand to play seasonal music. Known as “The President’s Own” it was established in 1798 and was not only the oldest military band in the United States but also the nation’s oldest professional musical organization. The brass players had been keeping their instruments warm by blowing warm air in their horns. However, with the arrival of the First Lady, they began to play. They performed Christmas music of the era that included Oh, Little Town of Bethlehem, Silent Night, and Christmas Fantasia.

In the early course of events, Ellen was standing near the Wilder family, which included their son, Franklin. She could sense that beneath his perfectly controlled demeanor he was nervous. She also could tell the younger Wilder was about to approach Sebastian and the de ’Albas and make introductions. Ellen, seeing what was about to happen (as in a precision tactical movement) took Franklin by the arm and stated she would consider it a pleasure to make the introductions. She knew the boys were close and had written to the young men that she would make the introductions between the two families. She felt her role would help smooth a potential awkward set of questions. It did.

With courtly grace, the Ambassador bowed to Mrs. Wilder and gave a firm handshake to her husband. In return, the ladies presented genuine smiles and nodded their heads. As Mrs. Wilson was starting to make further conversation, her secretary approached and stood at a respectable yet unavoidable distance. Mrs. Wilson turned to the young woman. She stated it was time for the festivities to commence. “Excellent”, Ellen declared as the Marnie Corp band began to play “Oh, Tannenbaum.” (As a side note, due to the future events of WWI, the familiar Christmas melody would only be hence forth referred to by its English title, “Oh Christmas Tree”).

It was then that all eyes became transfixed on the wagon transporting the tree from Chinaberry Farms making its way up the drive to the White House. The band was performing fortissimo, but you could still hear the silver harness bells that Franklin Roosevelt had commissioned from Tiffany cutting through the air. To Franklin’s great surprise and ultimate delight, the magnificent horses drawing the carriage were two of his own, Pride and Glory. His mother took his hand. With excitement, she had been anticipating his reaction. She was not disappointed. He was ecstatic. The pair had been transported on the same train as the tree and his parents.

As by tradition, the driver pulled the tree under the portico and doffed his top hat to the First Lady. By custom, he did not ascend just in case she refused the tree. That being the case, he would have been obliged to spirt it away. Never in the previous years of the trees’ arrival had that happened. However, it made for a charming aside. Mrs. Wilson took Mr. Wilder’s arm, Franklin his mother’s and all went to make a pass around the wagon and inspect the tree. Mrs. Wilson quipped to her escort; the whole process seemed a bit silly. However, it did give her an opportunity to tell him how proud she was to have his family in attendance and how delighted that the tree was from his farm. As Franklin passed in front of the blindered horses, they whinnied, and raised their heads to nuzzled him. It was at the exact moment a footman appeared with a silver tray of carrots in order for Franklin to give his old friends a treat. Such was the detail in Mrs. Wilson’s planning.

After the “inspection” The First Lady nodded to the driver that all was to her satisfaction and led the 400 guests to the Yellow Oval Room.

The splendid salon had originally been decorated by Dolley Madison. However, it had been carefully recreated to correct the damage of the unpleasantness in 1814. It featured a yellow silk wall covering featuring gilded stars. The red silk upholstery on the English Hepplewhite and gilded Louis XVI furniture added to the festive color of the season. Special care had to be given when the tree would later be brought in, erected and decorated. The doors would have to be removed to get it into the room. However, the most precarious part of the installation would be the removal of the 18th Century bronze dore and rock crystal chandelier. However, those were details handled by the very capable White House staff to whom nothing seemed impossible to make happen. Fir boughs were employed on the mantel to compliment the tree.

As all were going in, Ellen turned to Franklin, “wouldn’t you and Sebastian enjoy a ride along the Ellipse on your horses? The grooms are preparing them with saddles as we speak. I will finish speaking with your parents and by the time I finish, I promise they will become the warmest of friends.”

She gave each young man a kiss of the cheek. Truly, it would a Christmas memory of a lifetime.