Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-12-25

sari. and followed by two dogs, each
adorned with a huge necklet OF pink roses
and evil-smelllng marigolds, with thelF
tails between their legs, and painiully con-
scious Of their grOtesque appearance.
After putting of the evil moment as
long as possible l was at last forced 10
leave my room, and face the ordeal before
me. As crossed the threshold. the ayah
and the boy were in waiting; the
former poured attar-of-roses over my
luckless head, while the boy threw q
wreath Of white. strong-smslling cham-
pac flowers and tube roses round
nv neck. The cook followed with another
wreath-marigolds this time In one hand
while with the other he endeavored 10
still the struggles OF an excited hen,
gasplng out the while: 81 give misses
make plenty good p.lau." Thus adorned,
with the addition Of a bouquet
OF pink roses mounted on Sticks
the gift of the maty 0aole-ooy)'
escaped into the veranda--where IN
a secluded corner. the dogs were uoitis
their best to rid themselves or tho5e
obnoxious wreaths-but only to be con-
fronted by the three syces (groom9 their
wives, and children. who had sometimes
been employed TO pick up tennis-oalis inc
dog-boy. the bhisti (washerman). hdch
one of these hal his present; the dos-
BOYS had new-laid eggs, evidently plIlsrsu
from my own hen-house, while IL was
impossible to repress the suspicion that
the syccs' Gifts accounted for the abnor-
NAL quantity Of lines consumed Cd
In the kitchen during the past week. NJ
last the final salaam was made. the last
present accepted, and my rupee-baS ex-
hnusted. and / was free to eat my break-
fast. though uneasily conscious OF those
wreaths and OF the bazaar attdr-ot-roseS
trickling down my neck.
But nv troubles were not yet over;
for the tradespacple followed with cakes,
dried fruits. and crackers; and by church
time five cakes and four plates OF ngs
and ralsIns. ard four boxes OF crackers,
labelled Somebody's Luggage" were
spread out on the veranda table, all or
which were secretly dispatched 10 ana
much appreciated by the children or the
married soldiers of our garrison. hur-
ried visit to the stables revealed the fact
that the three little Pegu ponies were
celebrating the day with marigold wreaths
and pink rose ear-knots. and Furthermore
that they all desired an extra feed or
corn.
DIFFICULT TO REALIZE.
Although we all tried to feel Christ
massy," 10 was difficult TO realize-that 1t
was Christmas, under the cloudless. blue
sky, the mOnotonous creak OF the pun
kahs. and the decorations of palms, Gu
charts. lilies, and orange-colored wild
orchards from the adjacent jungle, and
"EIark, the Herald Angels Singi" hardly
sounded quite natural in the mouths Of
the Eurasian choir. After church came
the visit to the soldiers dinner in bar
racks. and there, though the fare was
"Christmassy" 10 a degree, the rooms as
full of "greenery" and tissue-paper deco
rations, the cheering as loud and hearty
as in any garrison town In England,
the white uniforms of the men, and the
aspect OF the sun-baked parade-ground
negatived any real suggestion of Christ
mas. Home again to find more dusky
forms squatting between the piles under
meath the house, each with his plate.
Among them was the Munshi. who pre-
scented his cake Tan excellent one. by
the way) with magnificent bow. after
ward coming UP TO the veranda 10 be
RECALLED with lemonade and news OF the
absent Sahib. The afternoon drive had
to be abandoned. as the syce was dis
covered in his "go-down" incapable and
stupefied with bhang. so / and the dogs
(rejoiclng at having disposed Of their
fowers) went for n walk along the lr-
rawaddy and through the bazaar. In
the town every one was keeping "Kisti-
muss" in a peaceable way by consuming
huge quantities of sweet lemonade and
betel nut, and anticipating the delights
of the evening. when a pwai on very
large scale was TO be given by wealthy
Burman. My evening began with big
dinner. I'm which the almost unattainable
luxury of a leg OF mutton figured as the
piece de resistance. where every one knew
and was on friendly terms with every
one else. but from which the spontaneous
mirth and ready jokes OF an American
Christmas dinner were absent. That was
followed by a "Quadrille party at the
serReants' mess Of the regiment-a func-
ton in which dancing was reduced to
a fine art. and large amount OF super
fiuous energy was necessary. When we
left. after most eXhausting Highland
schottische, the indefatigable dancers
were lust standing up for the Clrcassian
circle" and showed every sign OF con-
tlnuing till late the next day.
AS with the strains of Aud Lang
Syne" ringing in our ears we drove home
through the soft night air, with just lit
tie wind signing through the palms ana
bamboos. to the accompaniment or the
sonorous rushing OF the Irrawaddy, the
Southern Cross cleaning with exceptional
brightness amid all the glamour OF a
troplcal night. IL was impossible not TO
feel that such scenes could compensate
even for exile from ones native land az