The times., 1899-02-07
WITH THE CURZoNS.
Indy Curzon's Christmas Party on
the Arabia.
From the New York world-)


Christmas on the Arabia will long be re-
membered by all those who were fellow
passengers OF Lady Curzon during her tri-
umphai voyage to India. Such Christmas
as it has been, Even to Santa Claus and
a Christmas tree which her eXcel!ency's
thoughtfulness had provided.
When Lord Curzon's baggage was put on
board at Plymouth sailors and deekhInds
marveled at a gigantic tree that came with
1t. Many guesses were made as to its fl-
ture use, but not until Christmas eve did
the astounded sailors learn that the mys-
terious tree was a Christmas tree La
Curzon Tau thought from home in order
that her children and all the other chill
dren on board might have merry Christ
mas. Such a tree as 1t wSsi Actual
lade. with ornaments and gifts. while from
its highest branches Santa c avs hiInse
beamed down upon thirty happy chi dreu.
for that was the number OF young fry Oh
board. The day before Christmas eve the
passengers found a notice paced at the
extreme end of the salon, which read IS
follows:
Lady Curzon invites all the children to
tea at p. IN. Saturday, December 81.
and to a Christmas tree afterward. Her
Excellency hopes that the passengers will
come to the tree at about 4:30 p. m
Nor was the frst-class salon the only one
ond and third class children were also in
cluded. They are all children said Lady
Curzon, no matter where they are tray-
cling. and they shall all enjoy the tree.
So no distinctions we're made and all the
babies were invited
Trimming the tree was mighty affair.
and was accomplished by Lady Curzon's
own es-de-camp, under Lady CurZon's
personal supervision. The tree was placed
in ha mid of ha dtn5n
of the Arabia. II was so tall that its top
! branches stretched up into the music salon
| above. To trim these top branches IL was
necessary to lower sort OF trapeZe from
| mast Of the steamer, and upon this ira
/ peze the Hon. A. V. Meade, one of the
younger aides -de-camp. decorated the high
/ branches of the gigantic tree. Everything
| imaginable in the way OF balls and candles
/ and ornaments was strung upon this mon
| ster evergreen. together with boxes Of bon
! bons and toys, without number. To make
| il even more like Christmas. cotton was
| placed everywhere to resemble snow. and
| to make the whole brilliant spectacle the
| commander of the Arabia kindly allowed
I electric lights to be strung in and out Of
the branches. Never on land was more
beautiful tree seen. and certainly never on
sea was such tree beheld- On the Red
Sea. close to Alden, thirty happy children
| spent a merry Christmas. owing TO the
| generous bounty and kind thoughtfulness
| OF the American vicereine-
4 The tea given by Her Ladyship was a
charming affair. At four long tables the
| children gathered. and there was an album
iant good cheer for them-sandwiches and
lemonade tea and cakes. ices, bonbons and
I! fruit. more than they could eat or even
! carry away. The children We're of all ages
| and sizes. Four of them were the game
! age as Her Majesty. baby Curzon. and
many of them were the age of bsaut fUl
| little Irene CurZon, who. with her mother.
| presided at the celebration. After the tea
the boat bells were rung, the candies 5
| lighted and the children came in eager
| haste TO see the tree. When they had
| feasted on its beauties, Mr.. Lawrence.
| Lord Curzon's first secretary, invited each
little child 10 draw a number
! This the Earl of Suffolk, enc of His EX-
| cellencys aides-de-camp took from the
| tiny tot and passed on to Captain Marker.
| another aide e-de-camp, who in turn passed
the little one on TO Lady Curzon, who Sc
| lected a handsome surprise present which
| cOrresponded with the childs number.
| When the present was found Lady Curzon
| gave it to little Irene Curzon, who handed
it to the little girl or boy with the number.
| Then Lieutenant Colonel Sandbach and the
| Hon. 4. V. Meade, two other members of
the viceroy's military household, conducted
| the child back to its parents or nurse.
All was as well organized as a state
| ball. and these sons OF noblemen helped
Lady Curzon carry out her Christmas
| pleasures. When all the presents had
| been distributed. the tree was stripped
| and the bonbons and ornaments divided
| among the children. Lord Curzon was
an interested spectator of the scene. and
when one small boy dropped his box OF
chocolates His Excellency himself stopped
and helped him pick it up. He also pulled
| crackers with the little girls and helped
| them arrange their paper caps.
Don't hurry. old man. said the Earl
| of Suffolk to the most impatient of the
| boys. There is enough for all The
| girls received dolls and games and toys
| guns. trumpets. and books were for tine
| boys-while the four wee babies each re-
! Ceived a rubber horse that delighted their
| small hearts. Little Irene Curzon, in her
handsome white dress and pink sash and
/ shoes. looked as if she had stepped out of
| a picture frame. Even the baby sister
! took part and was held by her nurse be
| hind her mother. where she crowed and
kicked and waved her little hands. de-
| lighted as anyone.
Enur,.'s