The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-01-12
From Other Lands Than This

Christmas day and night. 1t is the
custom of this family to give, every
year, an entertainment to the inmates
of the Union or wOrkhouse OF the
county, and as the members of the FAM
lily and their party were all possessed
of some talent, We managed to give
them a pretty good time. We COM
menced with small concert, one play
ing a piano solo; another, violin; an
other, the young son of the family,
only this week returned from long
trip of 'seeing the states,' ana VINO
brought back with him the college clas-
sic, Listen to My Tale of Woe! sang
that interesting song. sang Two
songs, which pleased them nightly,
after which one irrepressible ola Wo-
man demanded Ann Corr" Just ike
Pins brother of Dickens creation. Ihe
colonel made them a speech during
which they interrupted with replies,
for they lust love him and all his fami-
ly. who are so good to them. They are
worthy old men and women, all dressed
alike in white caps, ana req manner
shoulder shawls and grey dresses ana
looked very odd and pitiable, thought.
Some of them are perfectly infirm, 100.
They filled % very large mastering nan,
there were so many of them. ana they
were the oldest audience l think ever
saw.
After the concert We gave them an
amateur performance of Mrs. Jarley's
wax works, which was screaming run
for them and for us, too. How ala
enjoy that work ouse" experience! l
shall never forget 1t. The matron and
nurses told US afterward that the In
mates hadn't laughed so for years ana
years. Some of the make-ups were
simply wonderful, and as some OF the
men We're very clever at amateur act
ing, we did beautifully.
An English Xmas Dinner.
Home we went after that and
dressed for dinner. which was as En-
glish as it could be, for my special
benefit. The last course was. OF course
the Christmas plum pudding, which
was brought in on a big salVer with
brandy around II. this brandy lit and
burning away, all blue and silver. 1t
was cut and sent around and / had the
happiness of getting the little silver
thrippeny bit in 1t, which is a sign of
good luck. During dessert, each lady
and her partner cracked bonbons,
which go off with report, and which
contain bells, whistles, candy, toys, and
notices for the fiirtatiously inclined. /
passed my dinner hour in exchanging
| pleasantries with the recent traveller
in America. He gave me his views OF
America, and / repaid in kind with
views of England.
After dessert the Christmas tree,
which was upon the dinner table, was
| unloaded of its gifts by daughter of
| the house. and each one got something
| funny and pretty. Just at the height
| of the fun a little carol broke upon our
| ears, sung by number of school child
rem out in the big hall. 1t was beauti-
| full: then at the suggestion OF their
| leader and our hostess | ran into the
| drawing room and sang them little
| Christmas carol in return. The sweet
| little things thanked me and wished me
a merry Christmas in England, and
| then trooped out, each taking a bag
of goodies given to them by the host
| ess The Christmas tree was a beauty,
/
| and laden with cute little things and
our presents. and, altogether. we had
| the loveliest Christmas l ever expert
| enced. We played and sang, and so
forth, until the next day, when We all
trooped upstairs to bed, l with my
heart full of blessings for the dear host
and hostess Of the party, who had done
SO much to help me have 'merrie
English Christmas"
| The next day after Christmas Is
called Boxing Day." because of the
universal custom of sending the trades
people and ones friends Christmas
boxes. The postman, the lamplighter,
butcher, baker, milkman, candlestick-
maker, grocer, and beggarman. all call
for their Christmas boxes on this day.
1t Is holiday all over the land, and
the football teams and their followers
send up a mighty roar from all the
fields in England, where they play the
Boxing Day game, just as we have a
Thanksgiving Day match.
| Sadie +. Kaiser.
|