The herald., 1897-01-28
ALL ABOUT WOMEN.

Although bit late. ths sccount Of II
| sle- fashioned Christmas Ia England !:
luaintly interesting.
IN the family of Holt, OF Aston. there
was a very singular and invariabie Christ
mas custom, which it will be interesting
| 20 note AS perhaps worthy of revival by the
new Baroret. As soon as supper WIS ovel
GU Christmas Eve, a table wac set In TIE
hall. which was furnished with a bcaTr
loaf. stuck all over vita threc-penny BITS
together witt tankard of ale. pipes end
tobacco. TIL, two elder servants were the!
iustalled as judges. and the steward
brc,;,h each o: the other domesticS, IN
turn. to the table completely covered with
sheot. save the right hand, which was
piaccd on tie bread.
The judsee had then to make three
raesses at :he name, and IL tae proper
name WIS hit upon. the eervans was leo
lack IN eiience, otherwise ne or sne re-
aeivet q coin, ana thus the game was coz
ticued until all the money was distrlouteo'
Then all the dolrestlcs were premitted TO
drink. da a-ce sins smoke and enjoy them
seiyes generally for the rest OF the evening
ard 10 70 20 bed wien they chose This
christmas pastime wa5. doubtless, an al
most solitary but perverted survlvai Oh Una
old custom OF 'lcrgesse Al the great les
tiyals when noblenen maintained tnelr
e.-n hcralds. the latter were accuo .omed 70
;o- their tabards on such orcasionc, aud 10
c,y Largesce' thrice, when money Was
similarly distributed among tie retainers
assembled in the hall. good old Ehsiisn
gentleman still living in Hampshire OF,
Christmas Day. has all his tenan's an anu
rn,ahbors in his hall by deybreak. The
,tTonr beer is broached, and the black
lacks go plentifully round about Win Win
toast. sugar, nutmeg and cheese. Inc
hackin "a great sausage) must be boiled oy
daybreak, and If it be net cooked. two young
men must take the maiden (the COON py
the arms and run her round the dinihs
hall till she is ashamed of her laziness'
X X
A well-dressed woman who had the ap-
pearsnce of being able to carry out her pref
erences in such matters. came into the mat
lnee The other day wearing purple clotn
gown trimmed elaborately with braid. Inc
edges Of the velvet revers on ner E.oh
Jacket were trimmed with narrow MINK
fur. and on her shoulders were buncnes Oh
mink heads and tails she carried MINK
muff with wide founces Of purple VeiVet'
These wrist lounces for muffs are an ex-
celent Idea, as they protect part OF Tue
arm that - extremely sensitive. ana also
20 much to keep the hands from cnapping'
They can be added to ones rnuh of sea,
son or two ego. The thrifty woman VIII
provide herself with several sets OF mum
Nounces to match her various gowns. Tney
are made of velvet, fur or even Aounces OF
accordion plating or lace. Sometimes all
four materials are used in one hounce, De-
ing finished of with ribbon.
.--X- x *
letter written by Prosper Meriree, the
well-known French author, during his nrst
visit TO England has just been published
Ae the Frenchnlan's view Of England does
lot differ greatly from that Of the gcod
Americans l reprint it. 1t gives US an
amusing glimpse of English country life;
~ go from place to place, and and ev-
erywhere amiable people. Sometimes i've
for week in princely castle OF scotlanu'
where | have to stop my ear6 with cotton
wool at dinner time to the disgust OF the
bellies misses. but | cannot no. cannot.
eat nv food with man promenadipg around
tn. table with a sword at his side and
bladder in his mouth making the most aw-
ful noise. Sometimes l am in simpler
but lovely mansion; sometimes in cottage
such as you never saw, except at tse opera
but everywhere the cooking Is excellent,
despite the calumnies spread in Paris, snd.
as the country does not produce mucn Ifalt,
the tables are always covered with the most
excellent specimens of them.
What I notice is that the English are
always studying appearances, Inc iord'
drive YOU all over their vast domains with
an assumed air Of noble Indifference; the
souires show you their h5thousos With
hidden pride. and every one is tres bon
enfant ill dinner time. But. es seen as
the gong has sounded great cAanSe comes, !,
every one sits in ana puts On the nobies,
continuance. the dresGcoat anG the white
tie are Of a solemn inlpecca5iliiy, and the
ice which has been broken ali the day long
Letween their good sclni English hearts
and my hight French cne grows again thick
or than ever, and when you eat an English
dinner you tcel as ii y0u rad 70 Keep up
the appcorance, at the fureral OF IN old
aunt.