Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-12-24

Tho tree caused the modern American
house 10 assume quite the air Of feudal
age and dignity. Mr.. Beninger did 81.
Nicholas with distinguished effect.
This season Is regarded as essentially
the ch1ldren's time. and all the resources
Of the house so 10 making them a hoh-
GAY. Except among close ana intimate
friends and relatives little or no exchange
~ presents is made by "grown-up peo-
pie.
when a man Is under great obligations
ms to hospitality accepted. II there are
children in the house. he has his oppor-
tlnlty 20 display liberality TO n large ex-
tent. and his generosity can take any
form. according TO his means, from Il
cood-sized bond TO the merest trlhe'
But an exchange OF gifts, unless De
tween nancees, is not considered good
form. Flowers are always permlsslDle'
and. as IA France. the new year sees
the florist reap untold gains from the
large quantities OF flowers and plants
ordered for gifts.
THE BIGGEST AND LONGEST
STOCKINGS.
7 know OF more thar one country house
whore the Christmas tree IL given almost
entirely for the pleasure and entertain
ment 81 the children OF servants and de-
pendents about the place. II is made
quite "A feature of the holiday festivities
al "plaisance," Mr.. James Waterbury,
beautiful home and the Waterbury chill
dren themselves derive nc end OF run
and excitement i'm arranging TO make
the yearly spree n success.
Purely fin de steele are these youngsters
IN many respects and fun OF mucs
worldly wisdom: with II all they insist
upon having their own Christmas gifts
IN the old orthodox fashion. and secure
the biggest and longest stockings that
can be borrowed or begged, which they
hang by the big. open fireplace IN me
play-room. and the gray or dawn sees
them eagerly investigating their contents
THE VANDERBILT CHRISTMAS At
SEA.
Mr.. Willie =. Vanderbilt has always
made a great feature Of the entertainment
side OF Christmas. His country house. on
LONG Island. has been the scene OF much
lavish holiday hospitality.
Mrs. Vanderbilt. like all women OF taste.
does not believe In making Xmas glfts OF
great value. Her idea is that presents
ON such an occasion should be valuable
rather 10y association than intrinsicaliy.
This season the W. ii. Vanderbilts VIII
pass their Christmas at sea-or perhaps III
Madeira. However, the festivities on
board the Valiant promise to be as )oily
az n the roof-tree of the Oakdale house
and the winter sky OF Long Island was
aLave their. Jest before the ship Sai'ed
certain large boxes and crates markeu
with significant names came on board
and the co0ps fun OF live fowls gave an
assurance that the good cheer OF CHRIST
mas would not be wanting.
MRS. CORNELIUS VANDERBILT.
Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt believes In old
customs. She says: are thoroughly
old-fashioned and orthodox In our Christ
mas ideas. We believe in stockings.
Christmas-trees, turkey, and plum-pud-
ding. Possibly my Puritan ancestors
would have considered the plum-pudding
slnfully symbolic, but we have outgrown
that sentiment.
ITO my mind the essence Of the day
should be peace and goodwill and uni
versal kindness.
so far ns gifts are concerned i Incline
towards simplicity. Always a moderate
gift, II chosen In the line OF a persons
mental life. Is better than an expensive
one not In such accord.
For instance. one OF my brothers-in-
law would be more pleased with an obse-
lete. last-century edition OF some rare old
book than II you were TO give him a
tteam-yacht or a railway"
The best and most appreciated present
IL the one into whose production the most
personality has entered. i value more a
poor picture painted for me by a friend
than a good one bought In a shop"
A RAILwAY-MAGNATE.
Occasionally people give gifts In a very
eccentric fashion. Last year a railway
magnate. wishing 10 add his contribution
20 the general hilarity. and yet not In
elined 70 favor one member of his family
more than another. expended much time
and money IN collecting a sufficient num-
Der OF matched solitaire diamonds. These
he took out OF his pocket at the Christi
mas breakfast, poured them on a plate.
ard had them passed around the table.
You can easily imagine the novel method
ana the superb gifts combined brought
Gown vigorous applause from the delighted
recipients.
CHRISTMAS SPORTS.
To-day, as / nave intimated. the more
od-fashioned and moderate a Christmas
can De made the more effective II y. I
Know OF a very jolly house-party invited
70 a great country place on Long Island
ens year. and all sorts OF fun 10 In anti
epation.
As It Is a riding country some rare sport
mas been arranged for the morning enter
~1pment. The pleasant old game OF
vantaia' has been revived. wherein. II
~ fioer hits the mark fairly with his
vvs' ~ gets a pure, while II he misses
~ae Is banged on the hack with Q bag
NJ noer. There win probably b. more
s,ss. ,hsn hts. 10 the amusement OF he
va Christmas eve the dippBnR for al ,,es
~ % played. .rhls - properly q Hal
1900, game. but on thts occasion ii Il
chn.eto as q means Of d1Desi5utipR the
tensIens gifts. and the fun v11l be m
con,asn W the fast that zach appas Win
sonyen,, place o. he core some 5eweistd
horss-p,ay aasstors were rather given 3
ms esapeetea Win : 1872 $3.50
Soto,s.n s ,seh = very Joyful sport n -
rSts" acsn stairs o. 8 dlnnss-fray.
1als ps< snsasn1as 81 4 e,rtSi;