The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-26
LONDONS CHRISTMAS LETTER.
PHOTOS OF THEMSELVES IN ROBES
DE MUTT NOW GIVEN BY WOMEN.


ImmOdest Than Pictures in BAH
COstume-The Holiday Spent by the
Royal Family in the Usual Way.
JacISsOn's Plans for His Trip to the
Arctic-The Scare in Regard to the
situation in the Far East Looked
Upon as Premature.
Special London Gable Letter. Copyrighted,
1897 by the Associated Press.
London, Dec. 25.-The temperature is
seasonable, the yellow fogs in the middle
of the week having given away to com
parative brightness. The week has been
the coolest of the season, 20 degrees of
frost being registered and skating has
commenced. All who could do so have
gone to the country, where Christmas
house parties are more numerous than us
ual.
OF the United States embassy, the United
States ambassador, Col. John Hay and
Mrs Hay alone remain in town. Denby
White, secretary of the United States en-
bassy, and Mrs. White spent the first
Marquis of Salisbury has been entertain
ing a large shooting party Thence Mr..
and Mrs. White went to Blenheim, where
they participated in the Christmas re1oic-
ings, which included two balls and the
presentation of two playlets in which the
Duke and Duchess of Marlborough and
Lady Randolph Churchill had parts.
Joseph Garter, second secretary of the
American embassy, and Mrs. Carter have
gone to Biaritz, and Lieut.. Col. J. C. Col
well, military attache of the United States
embassy and Mrs. Colwell, are in Paris.
Queen Victoria has a merry party at
Osborne. There will be a grand Christ
mas tree loaded with presents for the
royal children, the members of the house
hold and the servants. The party includes
the Battenburgs, the Connaughts, Lornes
and Albanys. A royal quarter of beef cut
from a Devon OK which was killed at OK
ford and roasted by cooks sent by Lon
don caterer, was forwarded to Oxford Fri
day, with the boar's head and woodcock
which traditionalIy occupy the queens
sideboard at Christmas. This years boar's
head is a genuine Hure de Sanglier from
the Coburgs' preserves in the Thuringian
forests.
The Prince and Princess of Wales early
in the week purchased presents as custo-
mary from the royal tradesmen, who dis
played the wares in an apartment of
marlborough house, which the royalties
selected. The Prince and Princess of
Wales, Princess Victoria of Wales. the
Duke and Duchess of York, Prince and
Princess Charles of Denmark, and the
Duke and Duchess of Fife all assembled
al Sandringham for Christmas, where the
usual festivities took place
The Earl and Countess of Craven (form-
erly Miss Cornela Martin, daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Bradley MARTINI, are en-
tertaining house party at Combe Abbey.
They gave their tenants a ball on Christ
mas eve.
Lord William Beresford and Lady Beres-
ford Qormerly Mrs. Louis Hammersly.
and later wife Of the eighth Duke of Marl-
borough, who died in 1922 are also enter
tanning at Depedene.
Lord Fred Rothschild made his usual
distribution of 5000 presents to the omni-
bus drivers and conductors. every bus
man getting brace of birds.
According to the newspapers, the ladies
of the uppertendom, married and single.
are tired of the hackneyed Christmas
cards and are sending their favorite friends
photographs of themselves as attred for
bed. The Chronicle thinks that although
such souvenirs are suggestive of a good
deal, nlghtdress pictures are less improper
than presentments of the same figures in
ball dress
AS soon as Jackson, the explorer, com
pleteS the work connected with his Franz
Joseph land expedition, he win start for
the north pole. He informed representa-
tive of the Associated Press that his orig
inal plans were identical with those of
Lieut.. Peary, except that he intended TO
take the east coast of the island, instead
OF the west, mapping out undiscovered
land en- route. But since he heard the
Peary lectures Jackson has changed his
plans, considering the American explorers
claims. jackson now proposes to proceed
via the Davis straits and Baffins bay up
the west coast of Ellsmere land and Grin
nell land, and thence across to the farthest
point reached by Aldrich in 1876, whence
he will push north, making in the direc-
ton of any land visible from the coast.
The date of his departure is unsettled.
Jackson has only one companion outside
of his crew.
Talking of his plans, he said: II hope to
push my ship considerably beyond the CO.
burg island at the entrance of Jones'
sound, and at the farthest naVigabIe point
/ shall establish a base and then push on
with sledges, dogs and ponies and with one
companion. l expect to be absent two
years.
In well informed circles the general i'm
preston prevails that the scare in the
newspapers end among the public in re-
gard to the far east is at least premature
While the members of the government are
reticent they are evidently sincere in dis
claiming the least alarm. The impression
gathered in ministerial quarters is that
Great Britain has been carefully watching
events, biding her time and she certainly
will not fail to act promptly and yigor-
ously at the proper moment It is intimat
ed in quarters usually posted on such mai
ters that Germany either has or wishes
TO have an understanding on the subject
with Great Britain. This view is strongly
supported by Prince Henrys visit to Queen
Victoria al Osborne; by his subsequent
trip to London. by the autograph letter
which the prince is said to have taken to
her majesty from Emperor William, etc.
of which confirmation is forthcoming. The
cmperor's letter TO the queen Is regarded
as being a distinctly conciliatory step upon
the part of Germany. But there is no doubt
Great Britain is quietly preparing for all
eventualities. Should il become clear that
Germany and Russia have really COM
menced a game of grab, Great Britain will
be prepared to assert her claims for a di-
vision Of the spoils.