Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-01-27
QUEEN yICTORIA'S HOLIDAYS.

] ahC'@ ol NUTl-tlllaS ucgcncTutcd but
for some of the interest it now assumes,
wc have to thank the Prince Consort.
who held 1t at most sacred time.
Peculiarly Y happy in his domestic life
means Of drawing still closer the ties
of family affections he saw his happy
boyhood reflected in the merry faces
OF his children. Writing to his grand
mother, the Dowagcr Duchess of Go.
burg, with whom he spent most Of his
early Christmase-, lac says: These
! pleasant festivities always bring me
doubly in contact in spirit with your
loved ones in the homeland, where YOU
were ever 50 dear TO me" He it was
who instituted that general interchange
of gifts, continued now in any of the
royal homes in which Her Majesty or
dains to spend Christmas. 1t is still
her custom TO give presents to all her
attendants, both ladies and gentlemen,
and also to the drc.scrs and maid SER
wants. There is perhaps throughout
Great Britain no other home where
more kindly surprises are planned aud
more gentle thought for other. eyilccd,
than in the highc.t household III the
land.
The first Christmas of their mar.
ricd life, Just after the birth Of the
Princes Royal was spent by the
Queen aud her husband at Windsor
Castle; and We read in the Life Of
the Prince Cou-ort' how Christmas
trees were set up in the Queen aud
Princes rooms, custom which was
continued in future year, when they
were also set mp in another room for
the young princes, princcs.es, aud in
the Oak Room for the household.
The ladlc, and gentlemen in waiting
were summoned to the corridor on
Christmas Eve, and the Queen and
Prince, accompanied by the royal
family, pointed out the presents in.
tended for each. inviting them after
ward to 60 through the different rooms
to see what they themselves had mu.
tually given and received. Present.
giving has always been a special dc.
light to our royal family. The inter
change Of gifts on birthdays, New
Years and other anniversaries extends
to very large number of relatives.
Since her bereavement, Her Majesty
has generally spent Christmas ut o.
borne. These seasons exceptionally
passed at Windsor, have been signal.
lied by sorrow and anxiety, as when
the Prince of Wales was dangerously
i'll in 1871. and the Princes Alice
died in 1873. But the royal borough
is not forgotten in her absence. On
New Years day, some goo is dis.
tributed in gifts to ! 200 poor Of the
parishes of Windsor and Clever, in
the form of Goals. meat and bread, the
amount varying according to the size
of the family Of the recipients. who
are recommended by the Dean aud
Vicar of Windsor and the Rector of
Holy Trinity. The distribution by
the Lord High Almoner, the Dean of
Windsor, in their presence and that of
the Clerk of the Kitchen, takes place
at 9 o'clock in the morning in the
Riding School of Windsor Castle, the
Queens Purveyor having been busily
employed preparing the gifts some
hours before. 1t is a pretty sight,
which few privileged visitors are
permitted to see.
On the tan flooring, all along the
centre of the school, are row of
white covered tables, with joints of
beef varying from Z pounds to 3
pounds, enlivened by springs of holly.
The recipients, young and old, women
and men, and some 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.
officials. Last year Sl4 Joints were
given away weighing 3,22T pounds.
Besides this, 1908 cwt. Of Goals, in
portions of cwt, and ! cwt., are de-
livered at the homes Of the poor; and
Her Majesty makes liberal contribu.
tions to the Royal Clothing Club.
She also sends presents of game to the
Windsor Infirinatory. University col.
lege, and other hospitals, and great
deal of old linen from the palaces,
which, however, does not always ar
rive at Christmas time.
At Osborne, on Christmas Eve, Her
Majesty distributes gifts to all the
children on the Osborne estates, for
whom Christmas tree is prepared in
the servants ball, with presents of
books, toys, etc. Accompanied by the
various members of her family, and
the ladies and gentlemen Of the house
hold, she hands these to each child.