The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1899-12-28
rNGLANDs GRACIOUS QUEEN.
UU Christmas Tr'e Party the Mtr-
rleat Evr Given IN Windsor
CaNle.

NEW YORK. Dec. 2l-A dispatch
~ the World from Windsor. says
Ou@cn Victnril's Christmas tree
pnrty for the wives and children Of
iuarism,n nov IN South Africa a,
WmdsH Castle. was scene Of uncon.
strained enjoyment
Tho guests arrived In royal equip.
pages at AS .. M. and were mar.
shallod IN the wa.erloo chamber By
ne mayor u Windsor. There, during
he a. minu; ~ of waiting FOR the
~ IN 20 appra-. they Omped and
played round games and rolled On the
-ich. sofl carpets TO their hearts con-
tent
a o'clock ST. G,urgs 3 hall was
-hrawn opbu. Womn and children
dressed IN TO hni the queen in her
wheel chair waiting spr her guests
beside towering Christmas tree.
-l.ttrHng with electric lights and
hris;llng with toys
Princess Christian was thc queen
tight and Princess Beatrice with her
children. ON her left Maids Of honor
We're grouped around The queen was
irrsscd In bnck with black lace
shawl across ,hrr shoulders and with
peaked widows cap and she wore a
gold framed miniature on her breast
She smiled somewhat sadly when a
hush fell on the throng as they
rtuchcd her pnas nee and The little
chi!aryn glzvd ~uriously AZ her. She
nai told the vourt officials We must
have plenty of light ari brightness for
tn lit,lc ones"
The gurgroI. magniGcence of The
surroundings struck the children with
delighted awe.
The queen he 'ame radiandy smiling
a. nhrh mother brought forward her
children
An appropriate vtft was taken from
The tire. by the princesses and the
maids of honor and passed to the
ourcn She handed 1t with charming
motherlncss to she little recipients.
Some of the uhildran nervouSlv
clung to their mothers skirts The
oucea bent forward tncJuagtngly and
watched their bright eyes glisten as
site pressed some handsome present
intu their little hands Others were
bold beyond the limits Of courtship,
advanced conSdcnuy and scrutinized
tha toys with critical eye.
The queen was gracious and afrable
allke 10 all. and fully alive to the
humor Of the situation. one over
anxious mother told her Mttle tive year
ole toddler Row, Jimmy, bow"
The boy confused. turned back and
made his obeisanee IN the opposite
direction, whereat the queen with
a lace handkerchief TO her face almost
laughed outright
The mother pulled the little chan
around sharply The Queeu gently in
te,posed never mind my little tel'
low and patted him on the head.
Another lad gave correct military
salute. but the succeeding one beat
him by gravely 5alu1ng with both
hands, The queen gave each an ad-
diuonal toy,
One cheerful old lady went up toI
her majesty. leaned her hand famiL-
airy on the qu sens resting un the side
OF her chair. and said: This is the
greatest honor of hour lives, your
majesty" The queen answered; Il
have not enjoyed party more for ~
years. II gladdens my hdart to give
pleasure to the families Of my gallant
soldiers"
The children now were creating a
tremendous din, a perfect babble OF
squeaky Instruments, humping Of
drums. joyous laughter and childish |
clatter ran through the historic hall |
sacred to stately functions. Then |
came the tea at two long tables.
The guests were waited ON by the
two pMncesses, the Dake Of Con-
naught and Lord Loren, who saw that
the little ones wanted for nothing,
Some children would stand on the
seats. all became boisterously happy,
while the queen wheeled around the
tables, addressing some here. some
there, telling them; BE happy, my
l want % see you enjoy
The queen remained in the hall for
IN hour and quarter She then
withdrew waving adieu to tho rarity
Is she went out the door. She show
Vi far greater interest in the boys
han In the girls She asked the
lanes Of a few particularly pretty
" sturdy youngsters. The entertain
mont was an unqualified success. The
children left reluctantly to be driven
o their homes after the merriest
,arty ever held within Windsor cas-
les storled halls. u