New-York tribune., 1891-12-27
TOMMY ATKINSS" DINNER.
THE BRITISH SOLDIER LIKES A BIG ONE AND
HE GETS 1T.

THE BRITISH SOLDIER LIKES A BIG ONE AMI
HE GETS 1T.
@Tommy Atadnsn the English soldier always
looks forward to Christmas day. Discipline Is re-
laxed and he knows there will be dinner such as
his soul loves The dinner is the great feature OF
the day. Each private as rule subscrDes TWO si-
uncs and the noncommssioned officers tile more.
each according to his rank. To this sum is added
the subscription OF the company officers which
amounts generally to E10 and over, and perhaps
similar sum from the canteen fund. All these
amounts make a handsome total Each company
has its own dinner and the men vie with one another
to have the best table.
The day opens with reveille, the band falling in
nt that hour and serenading all round the barracHs
and the officers quarters. There Is little tme
wasted in making up the BEDS and as soon as break
fast is over preparations begin 1or oeeora''hs 'no
tables II in England holly and mistletoc are chiefly
used. but abroad palms. crotons or whatever Is
indigenous TO the country is brought into equsiuon
The most important man on Christmas DAY Is inc
company's cook. The color-sergeant allows MN as
many helps" rs he wants and 1t Is mighty ouSy
time in the kitchen. The succulent sucking Pig
without whom no Christmas dinner would be COM
plete in Tommy's eyes, have been cooked tho day
before and locked up in the aEn chest SO have the
sovIs and movbe a turkey or two. There are, how
over the roast beef and the vegetables to be cooked
and the plum puddings to be warmed up. ohe
O'Clock is the hour for dinner, and when the quarter
bugle which almost says Come to the cooh-houso
door oh come TO the cook house door,, blows there
are no lack OF Orderlies to bring the good Things
across tho barrack-room. on the approach OF l
O'Clock the officers troop to the barnehs, each
captain with his lleutenants going TO his own COM
many barrack- -room The men are soon seated, each
with his knife fork and spoon and white plate and
bowl and also with q good sized mug OF beer AT me
end Of the table, where the coor-scrgeant presdes.
are a bottle Of sherry and some wine glasses This
wine is for the officers, who drink "Ncrry Christ
mas" to the men. Tho colonel. with his stan, goes
from company 10 company, and as soon as he de-
parts followed by the company officers, the feast
begins The married women OF the regiment and
their little looked nj cr by the wives OF tue
officers. and the day Is red-letter one for them.
Christmas is not neglected by the officers eith"r.
II is the one day In the year when the wives and
daughters OF the o3cers are Invited 10 mess. In
England the dinner is not usually much fun rs Ehf
at least OF the officers are absent on leave, but
.brOgd Il IS always mos. enjoyable. Not only are
the resimental ladies' invited, but also the women
folk OF the department officers. The scene is always
pre:.y one the scarlet jackets Of the ncn setting
of the pretty GOWNS OF the women. The colonel
take, his piacc at the centre of the tacle, wllie
the les. sit aound much as they
nIcase except that at each end Of the table sit the
president and vice president. Behind the president
who IS responsible for order. the colors Of tho
regiment unfulled that the names OF the various
battles in which the corps has from time to lmo
fought can be read by ALL some regiments have
wonderful list, from OudeDasdc down 10 Tcle habir
Behind the vcepresldent Is always the picture OF tho
Queen.
The dinner IS a merry enc. Every one knows
every one else and all have come with firm deter
mlnation 10 enjoy themselves. The dinner Is the
best ttat can be go: and The wine rrerroaehable.
When the cloth Is removed, an Important ceremony at
every dinner tic PRESIDENT and vieeprc dent send TIC
dccanters dOwn the table, each man Filing hla own
glass first. When every onc has filled his glass with
The wine he wishes there are generally TWO sorts OF
sherry claret and champagne passed arOund), the
uresident rises AMI gives the toast Mr.. Vice, the
Queen God bless her" The "vice' rises as well as
every BODY at the table, and answers Ladies and
gentlemen tho Queen-Ciod bless her. outside the
hand plays the National anthem and each man drains
his glass There are no heel-taps allowed The
senior lady gives the signal for departure into the
ante room and the men soon follow. There Is gen
eIry some music after dinner. and then some young
ster suggests dance. The mess table IS wheeled TO
ore side the piano dragged Into the mess-room ana
whosyer Of tho. present can play takes his turn
at the piano II is the early hours OF the morning
before the party breaks up and the regiment has spent
another Merry Christmas