Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-25
DIPLOMATS AND CHRISTMAS.
Most of Them Observe the Day In
Their Homes.


Christmas is supposed to be the great
Christian feast, but the Christians have no
monopoly of its enjoyment or celebration.
The Turks, the Chinese, the japanese and
the Coreans in our diplomatic corps take as
deep an interest in its celebration as the
most orthodox Christian family.
The envoy of the hermit kingdom last
Christmas almost had q mutiny in his
household. His little son, eight years of
age, who has been attending the Washing
ton public schools for the past two years,
in adopting the American costume has adopt
ed American habits, customs and tradi-
tons. He came home last Christmas eve
and informed his mother that he wanted
his stocking hung up by the fireplace. Ma
dame Ee was much surprised and sought
an explanation. It's for Santa Claus" he
said; all the boys in my school hang up
their stockings"
The Corean minister mildly suggested
that these boys were Americans, but that
Coreans did not believe in Santa Claus or
In the celebration of Christmas whereupon
the youth waXed wroth and said: IF Corea
does not have any Santa Claus I want to
be an American. Any way, l am going to
hang up my stocking and Santa C. aus Will
not know that l am not an American
am going to get things like tho other boys"
This dire threat compelled the Corean
minister, Pax Ye to hustle around Christ
tlLttS V'S last cal anu get MS young son a
Christmas tree and all the paraphernalia.
when he went out to buy toys he did not
Know about the trees, but the salespeopIe
enlightened him, and he had a regular
Christmas last year, and will have one this
The Chinese minister has a young son
who is not quite so radical as little PAX
1e, but he is deeply interested in Christmas
festivities. He does not exactly believe in
Santa Claus. but he naively Acknowledges
that he likes to get the presents The chill
dren of Commander Clover's family live
right across the street from him. and the
young celestial remarks: '"They believe in
Santa Claus and they have lots of fun too
l saw the letters they wrote to old Santa
Claus, and l am waiting to see If they get
what they wanted If they do, 1 will write
MIN letter next year" Another Chris
t!an procivity OF this young Chinaman,
VINO VIII one day be a strong man in his
country, IS wish to go to Sunday school,
AT the Turkish and Japanese legations
there are no children, but the ministers and
secretaries observe the day with all the
solemnity OF ministers from the Catholic
kingdoms. They have the Regulation
Christmas dinner-turkey, etc-to which
they always invite many guests besides the
staff of the legations. They give their
servants presents and send contributions to
the poor of the city, The police authori-
ties will bear witness that they are among
the most generous contributors to the funds
| Tor the Christmas of the door,
These gentlemen are not the only ones
VINO contribute largely to the public Christ
mas dinner funds. Count Cassini, whose
official Christmas comes twelve lays later
| than the American feast, always reDlem-
bers that the day of love aud charity In
the United States is the 25th of December.
His contribution TO the public funds for the
entertainment of the poor IS always the
| substantial sum of 500. This Is probably
| the largest amount usually given. Other
diplomats contribute in generous sums.
These contributions go to The police fund
They are distributed without ostentation
l just as they are gathered, and many fam.
| lilies are made glad because of the chart
| table kindness Of the stranger within our
gates,