Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-12-25
"UNDsR THE MISTLEToE."
A ALasy's Picture of Christmas In English
Homes.


Homes.
Don't be alarmed" said the DIS
PATCH man yesterday to bright lady
friend who was born IN Old England,
"but | am going TO interview you.
However, Ipromise not toput your name
in the paper If you are good about 1t, so
lust chat away as you would to aparty of
interested children.
My first recollections of Christmas,
said the lady, laughing merrily. "are as
sociated with big nursery in the fifth
story OF large London house, plenty
Of presents, mammoth turkey, the
English roast, q huge plum-pudding,
and hot lemon punch Well do L re-
member one turkey in particular. 1t
seems 10 me that II must have weighed
thirty pounds, and when it was cooked
the dish was dressed all round with
strings of sausages.
THE HOME DAY.
Christmas is the home day IN Eng
land-a day upon which every man IS
sure to be found at home unless he is
an old bachelor-a day that fosters the
homo feeling and there Is not in Eng
land 80 much of heart burning IA there
is here because of inability to give pre-
eents when one cannot afford 1t.
THR DINNER.
"The Christmas. dinne- is the feature
Of the day, consisting among other
things Of the roast, the inevitable tur-
hey the plum-pudding in a fame OF
hghted whIskey and ornamented with a
sprg Of holly stuck in the centre oil IT.,
and the dessert. The pudding is not
included in the dessert, the latter being
fruit. &c. The English dinner is late
meal aud usually the children are not
brought 10 the table until the dessert
comes on, but on Christmas-day they
SEE the pudding Lighted and unless
there is a good deel Of strange company
ere ut the whole dinner
STIRRING THE PUDDING.
"Stirring the pudding is great and
time-honored custom. The English
kitchen is always as clean as a penny,
aud ut Christmas tide is dressed with
holly. The large bowl containing the
ingredients OF the pudding is placed IN
the centre Of big deal-table, and when
the family have been assembled IN the
kitchen every one from the head of the
house TO the baby takes a STIR. The
reason for this is that there IL legend
that the pudding will not be good unless
oil the household have hand IN the
stirring.
rHE TRKE AND GAMES.
after dinner comes the Christmas'tree
and games, and all the family and the
guests join in 'blipd-man's blum - and
hunting the slipper. Then follows the
hunt for the candles. and the beaux take
the Quiet kiss under the mistletoe. The
mistleto is generally suspended In the
hall. and il is also the privilege OF the
host TO kiss his lady guests If he can get
them under II.
HAPPY LRE.
"Recurring 10 the life OF children IN
England, A" resumed the lady. There is
In this country great misapprehension
regarding IL. II is the happiest hio III
the world. An idea prevails here that
under the nursery system the English
children are repressed. The truth is
nothing would be more irksome
to them thau to be thrown CON
stautly with grown folks. In the
nursery they have every com,of.,
aud not only Stheir education, bnt their
moral and physical welfare are looked
after. Why. \ continued the lady, VINO
Is one Of tho Imost gifted musicians IN
the city. 81 c. Suld perform on the piano
before knewImy 4 b Ca At Christ
mas the children enjoy themselves
thoroughly. though there Is not 50 maen =.
attention paid 10 Kris krinkle ana osn.s
Claus rs therel Is in this country ana Inc
presents are n)pt 30 expensive.