The morning times., 1896-12-27
Poor Taken Care OF.


purchase OF Christmas presents, great
deal more than usual has been bestowed
upon the absolutely destitute classes
In addition to those already existing two
night refugees were opened on Christmas
Eve, while yesterday food ana clothing
were distributed TO hundreds of distressed
persons. ' r' -,--
The numbers of bazaars in behalf OF var
lous charities have also been increased
and house TO house collections To aid poor
children have been made. In consequence
Of this increase in charitable work there
were general Christmas treats Of dinners
at the asylums, prisons, asual wards. soup
kitchens, donations to hospitals etc, to
degree Of beneficencc beyond precedent
The donations exceeded all previous years
In respect Of abundance and the charities
10 which they were devoted We're much
wider in scope
me emper0rs two eldest sons, Crown
Prince William and Prince Eitel Frederick,
arrived at the New Palace at Potsda IN ON
Tuesday from Pioen College, where they
are pursuing their studies, for the purpose
OF enjoying the holidays with their parents.
On Christmas Eve. the imperial family
and the servants OF their household as
sembled in the ante-room OF the apart-
ments OF the empress where the empress
and the children presented the domestics
belonging to the household with gifts.
Enjoyed by Royalty.
The emperor and empress, with he whole
court,and Prince and Princess nf Sch 4um-
burg-Lppe then dined in the Marble Hall
OF the, Palace. At 3 oiclocil in the after
the presents displRytd in the grotto of the
saloon.
Conspicuous upon the emperor's table was
an immense silver goblet and a carved clock
five feet high, from the Grand Duchess of
Padon, the empTor's aunt
The imperial children ran about the
saloon in high glee, showing the members
Of the court the presents they had received.
The Empress Frederick is spending the
Christmas holidays with her son, Prince
Henry OF Prussia, and his wife, Princess
Irene, at Kiel.
There is high authority for stating that
the war office is undecided whether or not
TO present TO the Reichstag a bill asking
for very largely Increased credit for the
augmentation OF the artillery branch of
the army at the present session of the legis-
latIve bod y.
The government is anxious to secure an
enormous credit for the purpose Of carry
ing out its plans for the addition of new
artillery. but there is no certainty that the
present Reichstag will grant IL.
Gen. Won Gessier minister Of war. in the
course Of "A recent address to the budget
committee Of the ReiChstag in regard to q
new gun, which he described as being ST.
perior to the new French .'Canet" orJick-
firing gun, asked the members of the com
mission to observe the strictest secresy
concerning the gun.
Secret Leaked Out,
Some indiscrect members, however, dis
closed the whole plan of the gun, and the
budget committee has begun searching
inquiry with view of ascertainng which
of It's mem bers has shown him self unfit to
be trusted with the secrets Of the body.
Advices from st. Petersburg say that a
sensation has been created there by the
decision OF the holy synod to exec mmuni-
cate Count Lyof Tolstoi, the celebrated
Russian author, from the orthodox church
upon the ground that his works are cal
ctllated to and DO undermine the church
The synod was melted to this action by
NJ. PobedonostZoff, the procurer general
OF the synod, who proposes to summon
Count Tolstoi before the synod for trial,
which VIII involve his being deprived OF
his civil rights.
The marine cable has been completed
from En- den, Prussia, TO Vigo, Spain, and
links the German telegraphic system with
the South American and other systems.
Capital has been furnished by an Anglo
German syndicate for the construction of
the first section Of a submarine cable be-
tween Germany and the United States via
the Azores.