The times., 1897-12-20
THE QUEENS CHRISTMAS
The Way Victoria of England
Spends the 25.h Of December.
She Has Scolch Tree. English Mint.
ton. Beiaian Wine, German
Cake, and Congratulations.


but one day in the year when Queen
Victoria does absolutely no work at ALI
Even Oh Sundays she spends an hour or two
al her desk, pen in hand, or has one of her
secretaries reaG any papers, dispatches or
letters of Importance aloud to her. but the
25th day Of December is an absolute holi-
day Tor her majesty. The only Ialors of
that day is the rather pleasant task Of
answering iele.rams oI good wishes and
greetings that come TO her rrom all parts of
the glcbe.
Long pefore the court leaves Balmoral
TO go down To osborne house on the Isle
of Wight, " here Christmas for the Hast Iif.
teen years has Teen passed the Queen
drives out 10 the Christmas tree grove.
here grows a famous clunip of hrs of
which two are selected, one TO be sent
10 Sanaringilain 10 the Prince OF Wales.
The other goes TO Osborne, ana when the
trees are cut down two new, fine speci-
mems arc put in their place.
Literally ali the year round Queen
Victoria WORKS al her Christmas list. There
are something liS" thousand names set
down rn il, and nearly every year adds
a grand or -rea erandchi.d or Two.
In the spirit OF generosity, the Queen
believes in remembering all her rela-
tiveS and dependents, from the heir ap-
parent to her last scullery maid. In the
spirit of economy, she also heieveS IN
not pampering either her domestics or royal
kmspeople WITH extra VACANT gifts, so that
TO nearly every individual whose name
appears on her list some hand and
homemade useful present goes.
Because She is an expert knitter, can
crochet admirably and embruider very
Well she gives to her nearest and
dearest ali manner of small comforts
worked herself. Silly little teacloths
doyles, etc. are not in her line. hut 4
royal duke is likely to get pair of yarI
golf stockings; to an empress niece often
goes stout underskirt, knitted in red
and blue wools, and pair of good linen
pillow eases, marked boldly ana plainly,
and the letter A is apt to be found in
the stockings Of the future Queen If Great
Britain.
As for tine Others, the favorite cottagers,
the faithful servants, etc, the ladies in
waiting make their gifts which are pre-
lady for this reason, attends ON the Queen
who is lot an expert needlewoman, and,
Furthermore, faithful In the use OF her
bright little tool.
Down "a Osborne the royal high jinks are
conducted on a very decorous plan. The
Queen avoids garish, extraragant ceIe-
bralion. such rs the household at Sandring-
ham lean toward. The Queens tree is not
n ri. na ha 10
hideous With rattle OF firecrackers and
special pyIuteclnics an aldernanic feast
and a dance at night. The whole cere-
mony is copnected on the German plan
rather, ana the older SHE grows the less
noise and display the royal lady likes TO
have around her. Usually the Alhanys,
the Bettenburgs and Princess Christian only
go down 10 Osborne. along with their boys
and girls, and one single tree, candle
lighted and dressed hy Princess Beatrice, is
enjoyed hy tie entire household, servants
and all.
Fond as she is of giving her little, and
it must be confessed, rather ugly, hand
wrought presents, the Queen has almost
an aversion To receiving gifts, especially
those that are big, expensive, and very
like the thousand or more obiect of beauty
her life, and with which all her palaces
are stored. Economical herself. she strange
Iy enough adniires sensible frusality in
others.
IL is no secret that Victoria looks with
far more approval on the big hamper Of
game and sweeJneats sent her every Christ
mas from her imperial grandson william.
in Berlin, than the jewels and fur aud
arfr
TO her from her relatives in st. Petersburg.
Most of all her gifts last year she enjoyed
4 little iced cake that came in the Ger
nan hamper. II had been compounded
and cooked, that little cake, by Emperor
Williams only daughter, and after it was
formally cut 10y the queen and passed
around as the cake of honor ar the Christ
mas dinner. piece was sent the head
cook of the palace, with a request that
he would pass officially and imparliauy
Or its merits.
Besides this hamper. the Prince Of Wales
always sends his neither her Christmas
mutton, snd tie king Of Belgium CON
tributes some rere old wines, and t:Ie duke
of Norfolk sends wonderful holly and mis-
Lletoe from hls forests. Christmas day 81
Osborne goes as quietly as in any riodesi
AIh'EiGhh flfluSbltDEu- tb TIE evening ,Df
thh 24rh the tree is displayed. and the
Queen never sees it until every candle il
bright, anu then the youngest grandclild
p-cSent leads her in to big chair hes;t.e
it. The family sing songs, German fash
ion, around the tree, a hand or singers
waits outside. really the capitally trained
choir boys Of whippingham church, sing
many old-fashioned carols, and are given
q fine supper for their pains, and The
seryaHts come in TO view the tree and
greet their mistress.
The servants in her ma jesty's employ
are not permitted i1 offer gifts to mem
bers Of the royal family; 50. in return for
the substantial tips and warm socks or
petticoEts, they receive, one OF their num-
ber is usually selected to make the Queen
q little speech, and on special occasI sIons.
suoh rs the Christmas Of her liamond iuhi.
lee year, their tribute of good wishes and
gratitude is enCrossed on an Illuminated
scroll, 10 be given her Christmas eve, as on
the occasion Q I the golden Jubilee.
According To- the sensible German custom,
the small boys and girls Of the royal family
are never loaded with eXtravae CANT toys OF
French lonhoiis- A bag OF simple sweets
is pat in every stocking, for none but little
sugar topped cakes are presented on The
tree. ana the toys invariably chosen and
glyei, by the Queen would astound pam.
pered American child-inexpensise 'sorns
and balls 10y watches, andthe least luxnri-
Gus whips, tops and china headed dolls
danRle ffon the boughs
But IL the Queen is rather severe in this
respect She is absolutely iudulccnt in an
other. No amount OF Wholesome noise and