Evening star., 1896-12-26

orally finishing up the festival at the
palace Of one Of his numerous kinsmen. In
former times he was wont to dine on the
1st Of January with his brother, Archduke
Charles Louis; but the latter died last
spring.
The Day In Rome.
At Rome the 1st of January assumes
additional Importance from the fact that II
Is the day on which King Humbert and
Queen Marguerite present annual gifts to
their relatives and to the members of their
household; and inasmuch as they are both
OF them very generous. and seem to know
by Intuition just what will give most pleas
ure to the recipients, the festival at the
court OF the Quirinal is characterized by
an appearance Of infinitely greater enjoy
ment and happiness than obtains either at
vienna or at Berlin. The king and queen
stand on the, dias under the canopy In front
OF their chair of state in tine throne room
to receive with due formality the various
ra,rn,amentary; s,n,s. military. judicial and ad-
lay at the feet Of their majesties the good
Wlshes OF the various bodies which they
represent. But as soon as this is over the
King begins to stroll about the various
apartments, ard a good deal of freedom
ana abandon prevails until the supper hour
Is announced. The royal party then march
IN procession to small supper room. and.
with the ambassadors and their wives take
their places at tables adorned with that
magnificent golden plate for which the
house of Savoy Is so famous, while the re.
Lander OF the guests rush pen NELL and in
a very undignified fashion to the buffets
wnlch are literally taken by storm and
quickly devastated, rs far as everything in
the nature Of food or drink is concerned.
At the Spanish Court.
New Year day is made happy and
merry festival in the gloomy old Royal
Faiace at Madrid. The queen regent takes
care that all, down to the humblest of the
servants, get share in the so-called
"Aguinaldos," or New Year bounties, to
enable them to have their rejoicings and
ieastings. 1t Is on New Year eve, however
that the young king and his sisters receive
their presents beneath a huge Christmas
tee, the tables loaded with gifts being ar
ranged by the queens own hands, while
eacn one OF the gentlemen and ladies in
waiting ard the palace dignitaries present
are remembered with some costly token Of
the regents appreciation Of their services
New Year day itself begins with high mass
ceieorated with all the pomp and solemnity
characteristic of the Catholic Church. AS
soon as that Is over goodly portion of the
DAY is devoted to the reception of an inter-
mlnable procession of d.gnitaries, ambassa-
oGrs ana representatives of the great ad-
m1n1strative and political elements of the
klngoom, who arrive from all parts of
spain in order to offer to the little king and
MS MS estimable mother their good wishes.
lnis nttle King, who wears the uniform Of
the Royal School Of Cadets, with the order
OF the Golden Fleece around his neck, gets
very tired OF the ceremony long before it
Is al over. and In past years his mother
useo 10 experience the greatest difficulty In
preventing him from relieving what appear
ed 10 him the dreary monotony of the oc-
casion by tweaking the queue of the Chi
nese ambassador or from seating himself
astride OF the great gold lions that consti-
tute so notable an ornament of his throne.
At Paris.
AT Paris, In spite of the overthrow Of
the monarchy, the principal features of the
ancient celebration of the New Year have
peen retained. True, there is no divine
service, since President Faure does not
cialm 10 De the anointed of the Lord"
out ne compromises the matter by receiv-
ing nrst and foremost the papal nuncio,
who, at the head Of the diplomatic corpa.
presents the congratulations and good
wishes OF the latter in a formal address
TO which the president makes an equally
ceremonious response
AS soon as the foreign enyoys all of
departure, the presidents of the senate and
OF the chamber of deputies arrive their
cSrrlag IS escorted by squadrons of cav
airy. hen follow the heads of the iudic-
,ary. ID tne principal officers Of the army and
navy' a'n delegations from the academy
I from tns clergy, and from all the variOus
Dranchfs OF the political and adminisrra.
i've system. AS soon as this is over. the
PRESIDENT. who has been in full evening
osess or ever since the early morning. drives
on with the military officers of his houss'
mold to return the calls of the presidents
OF the senate chamber and Of the Chamber
or deputies. these being the only two visits
tnat ne Is called upon to pay to members
Of his own nationality throughout the en-
tire year. '
AT the courts where what is known as
the orthodox Greek faith is professed, and
where, consequently, the old calendar is
fortnight later. No attention whatever is
paid to the 1st day of January in England
the only member of the royal family who
ever dreams of attending divine service on
Iy New rear morn being the venerable Queen
victoria F. CUNLIFFE OWEN.