The Russellville Democrat., 1881-03-17

l passed at Windsor have been signalized i by sorrow and anxiety, as when the 1 Prince of Wales was dangerously i'll in | 1871, and the Princess Alice died in 1878. | But the royal borough is not forgotten l during her absence. On New Years l day some G200 is distributed in gifts to ! l,20O poor of the parishes of Windsor
 and Clever, in the form of coals. meat | and bread, the amount varying accord l ing to the seize of the family of the recip- rents, who are recommended by the Dean and Vicar of Windsor and the Rec
 tor of the Holy Trinity. The distribu-
 ton by the Lord High Almoner, the | Dean of Windsor, in their presence and 1 that of the clerk of the kitchen, takes
 place at 9 o'clock in the morning in the Riding school of the Windsor castle. the l Queens Purveyor having been busily
 employed preparing the gifts some hours
 before. It is pretty sight which few l privileged visitors are permitted to see.
 On the tan flooring, all along the center of the school, are row of white covered
 tables with joints of beef varying from
 seven pounds to three pounds, enlivened
 by sprigs of holly. The recipients, young | and old, women and men, and some l young children, enter by ticket, carrying
 neatly folded cloths and bags, and pass out by the east entrance, underneath the
 room whence the Prince records he and
 the rest of the royal family were wont to witness the ceremony. In the Queens | absence she is represented by court off,
 cials. Last year Sl4 joints were given
 away weighing 3,22l pounds. Beside ] this, l, ,203 cwt. of coals, in portions of 3 cwt. and l cwt., are delivered at the ! hpranc nf tho ] makes liberal contributions to the Royal Clothing club. She also sends presents
 of game to the Windsor Infirmary, Uni
 versity College, and other hospitals, and
 great deal of linen from the palace which, however does not always arrive
 at Christmas time.
 l At Osborn, on Christmas Eve, her
 Majesty distributes gifts to all the chil 1 dren on the Osborne estates, for whom aChristmas tree is prepared in the serv-
 ants hall, with presents of books, toys, etc. Accompanied by the various mem- bers of her family, and the ladies and gentlemen of the household, she hands l these to each child, and, after the distri- l button they have all plum-pudding. On
 the evening of New Years day she pre- | sents gifts to the upper servants of the | household in the stewards room, where | there is Christmas tree. The Queen
 and the Princes and Princesses with her
 attend Divine service at Whippingham
 church on Christmas morning. Neither
 plum-pudding nor -porridge is omit ted from the royal menu, and the baron
 of beef is cut from a short-horn OK, bred
 on the Prince Consort's farm at Frog
 more. The servants indoors all dine to-
 getber, and the outdoor servants have an
 allowance of a few shillings each, accord
 ing to their status.
 Christmas is kept at Sandringham by l the Prince and Princess of Wales in
 thoroughly national style. On Christ
 mas Eve beef is distributed to the labor
 CTS and workmen on the royal estate
 prime joints, in proportion to the size of
 the family, reckoning two pounds to each
 adult, and one pound for each child It
 is given in the Royal News, in the pres
 ence of the Prince and Princess, their children and their household. On
 Christmas morning the choristers assem- ble on the terrace to sing carols and an- thems. The school children receive new clothing and each a Christmas card.
 There are generally large shooting par
 ties, and plenty of fun prevails.