The evening times., 1899-02-07
HECHT 4 COMPANY, 5l3=5l5 Seventh St.
WITH THE CURZoNS.
Lady Curzon's Christmas Party on
the Arabia.
(From the New York WORLDLY

(From the New York WOTld.)
Christmas on the Arabia will long be re-
membered by all those who were fellow.
passengers of Lady CurZon during her tri-
umphal voyage to India. Such Christ mas
as it has been, Even 10 Santa Claus and
Christmas tree which her excellency's
thoughtfulness had provided.
When Lord Curzon's baggage was put on
board at Plymouth sailors and deekh ands
marveled at a gigantic tree that came with
it. Many guesses were made as To its fG-
ture use, but not until Christmas eve did
the astounded sailors learn that the mys-
terious tree was a Christmas tree La y
Curzon nad rbougnt from home in o.der
that her children and all the other chi-
dren on board might have merry Christ
mas. Such a tree as il was, Actually
laden with ornaments and gifts. while from
its highest branches Santa Claus himse
beamed down upon thirty happy children,
for that was the number of young fry on
board. The day before Christmas eve the
passengers found a notice placed at the
extreme end of the salon. which read as
follows:
Lady Curzon invites all the children 10
tea at p. III. on Saturday December a,
and TO Christmas tree afterward. Her
Excellency hopes that the passengers Will
come TO the tree at about 1890 p. m.
Nor was the first-class salon the only one
where the invitation was placed. The sec
ond and third class children were also in
cluded. They are all children said Lady
CurZon, mo matter where they are trav-
cling and they shall all enjoy the tree.
So no distinctions were made and all the
babies were invited.
Trimming the tree was mighty affair,
and was accomplished by Lady Curzon's
own aides -de-camp, under Lady CurZon s
personal supervision. The tree was placed
in the middle of the palatial dining room
of the Arabia. II so tall that its top
branches stretched up into the music salon
above. To trim these top branches 1t was
necessary to lower sort of trapeze from
a mast OF the steamer, and upon this ira
peze the Hon. a. V. Meade, one of the
younger es-de-camp, decorated the high
branches of the gigantic tree. Everything
ina ginable 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
electric lights TO be strung in and out OF
the branches. Never on land was a 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 10 the
generous bounty and kind thoughtfuiness
of the American viceTeine-
The tea given by Her Ladyshlp was
charming AFFAIR. AT four long tables the
children gathered. and there was an abun-
dant good cheer for them-sandwiches anu
lemonade tea and cakes, ices, bonbons ana
| fruit more than they could eat or even
carry away. The children were of ali ages
and sizes. Four of them were the same
age as Her Majesty. baby Curzon. and
many of them we're the age of BEAUTIFUL
little Irene Curzon. who, with her mother,
presided at the celebration. After the tea
! the boat bells were rung. the candles
| 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 TO draw number.
This the Earl of Suffolk, one OF His Ex-
cellencys aides-de-camp took from the
tinv tot and passed on TO Captain Marker,
another aide de- camp, who in turn passed
| the little one on to Lady CurZon, who Sc
| lected handsome surprise present which
| corresponded with the child's number
When the present was found Lady CuFzon
| gave il TO little Irene Curzon, who handed
| il 10 the little girl or boy with the number
Then Lieutenant Colonel Sandbach and the
Hon. A. " Meade, two other members OF
| the VlcefOy InllitdIy
| 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 ~hildren 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 the
| boys-while the four wee babies each re-
ceived rubber horse that delighted their
| small hearts. Little Irene Curzon, in her
handsome white dress and pink sash and
shoes looked as il 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.
One of Fortunes Revcrses.
| (From the Cleveland Plain Dealer.)