The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-12-26
THE QUEENS CHRISTMAS,
The Way Victoria of England
Spends the 25th Day of December.


London. Dec. Is, 1887.
There is really but one day in the year
when Queen Victoria does absolutely nc
work at all. Even on Sundays she spends
an hour or two at her desk, pen in hand
or has one of her secretaries read any
papers, dispatches, or letters of import
ance aloud to her, but the 18th day OF
December is an absolute holiday for heI
No s;;s<ty. The only labors of that day
is the rather pleasant task of answering
kilograms of good wishes and greetings
that come to her from all parts of the
THE QUEENS TREES.
Long before the court leaves Balmoral
to go down to Osborne house on the
Isle of Wight where Christmas for the
last Is years has been passed, the queen
drives out to the Christmas tree grove
Here grows a famous clump of frs of
which two are selected. One to be sent
to Sandringham to the Prince of Wales.
The other goes to Osborne, and when
the trees are cut down two new, fine
iterally all the year round Queen Vic
to-. "a works at her Christmas list. There
are something like a thousand names
set down on it and nearly every year
In the spirit of generosity the queen
believes in remembering all her relatives
and dependents from her heir apparent to
her least scullery maid. In the spirit OF
ing either her domestic or royal kins-
people with extravagant gifts, so that
TO nearly every individual whose name
appears on her list some hand and home
made useful present goes.
SIMPLE GIFTS
Because she is an expert knitter, car
crochet admirably and embroider very
( well, she gives to her nearest and dear
est all manner of small comforts worked
herself. Silly little teacloths, dOilies, etc.
are not in her line. but royal duke is
likely to get pair of yarn golf stock
ings; to an empress niece often goes g
stout underskirt, knitted in red and blue
woods, and pair of good linen pillow
cases, marked boldly and plainly with the
letter A is apt to be found in the stock
! ing of the future queen of Great Britain
| AS for the others, the favorite cottagers
| the faithful servants, etc; the ladies il
waiting make their gifts, which are pre-
| Sented with the queens good wishes NJ
lady, for this reason, attends on the queer
who is not an expert needlewoman, and
Furthermore, faithful in the use of hel
| bright little tool.
A GERMAN CHRISTMAS.
Down at Osborne the royal high jink:
are conducted on a very decorous plan
+! The queen avoids garish, eXtravagan
| celebration such as the household a
! Sandringham have usually. The queen:
tree is not Illuminated with electricity
| the day made hideouS with a rattle o.
! firecrackerS and special pyrotechnicS, al
/ aldermanic feast and dance at night
| The whole ceremony is conducted on the
| German plan rather. and the older sht
grows the less noise and display the roya
| lady likes to have around her. Usually
| the AIbanyS the BattenbergS an(
Princess Christian only go down to Os
| borne, along with their boys and girls
and one single tree, eandle-lighted anC
! dressed by Princess Beatrice is enjoyed
| by the 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 almos
an aversion to receiving gifts, especially
! those that are big, expensive, and very
| like the thousand or more objects O.
| beauty or value that she has been re
ceiving all her life, and with which he
palaces are stored. Economical herself
| she strangely enough admires sensibl,
! frugaiity in others.
1t is no secret that Victoria looks will
| far more approval on the big hamper o
game and sweetmeats sent her ever,
| Christmas from her imperial grandson
William, in Berlin. than the jewels anC
! fur and priceless mosaics and enamel;
that come to her from her relatives il
ST. Petersburg. Most of all her, gift
! last year she enjoyed a little iced cak.
| that came in the German hamper. /
had been compounded and cooked. tina
! little cake, by Emperor Williams only
! daughter, and after it was formally Gu
| by the queen and passed around as tn,
cake of honor at the Christmas dinner
| a piece was sent the head cook of tn,
| palace. with request that he would pas.
officially and impartially on its merits
Besides this hamper, the Prince O.
wales always sends his mother he1
| Christmas mutton. and the king of Bel
GUM contributes some rare old wines
and the Duke of Norfolk sends wonder
| full holly and mistletoe from his forests
| Christmas day at Osborne goes as quiet
| ly as in any modest American household
| On the evening of the oath the tree is dis
! played, and the queen never sees it unit
every candle is bright. and then the
youngest grandchild present leads her il
! to big chair beside it. The family sing
songs German fashion, around the tree
band of singers waits outside. really tbs
capitalIy trained choir boys of Whipping
ham church, sing many oid-fashione6
carols and are given a fine supper fol
their pains, and the servants come in K
view the tree and greet their mistress.
SIMPLE CUSTOMS.
The servants in her majesty's employ
are not permitted to offer gifts to mem
bers of the royal family, so, in return fol