Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-12-21
CHRISTMAS TINE IN OLD ENG
LAND,

LAND.
"Shtuld you be the guest of a rich
landed esa ate owner during the holiday
period, you will consider yourself forlu-
nate" writes Emma j. Gray in the
New York Observer. "Such magn f..
cent hospitality, such delightful fts.
tiviy, such fascinating charm would
rarely be duplicated Indeed, the bu,y
mso and woman would think they had
an excursion into fsi'y realm. aud
that the fairy king and queen Ds hest
and hostess had commanded their eL-
tire court Of elves and sprites to enter
tain and smuse.
THE Duke of Devopshire often TO-
vtes TO Cnatsworth House the Prince
and Princess of Wales ard other royal
persopsges The Invitation would read +,
from early in November unlil after
Cnristnas, and ior the pleasure OF The
Princes shooting, pheasaDts and grouse
would be particularly ia ter ed. They
would also be 10 such abundance that
his Royal Highness need not be an ex.
cellent shot in order to bag several
dozen. Last autumn, walking through
the grounds OF Chatswortb, with one o.!
the Dukes retsiners, he Indicated the
pond On which the royal party were to
skate, and the seats aloDgsde whereOn
hose who wished could watch the rtvel.
ere, adding: we have lois of work to
do then, ma'am, hut we DOME care, b.
cause it's gay time; besides, it isn't
everybody can entertain his Royal
Hi9hness.'
"In a similar but less magnifcant
maner Lord ard Lady Newcomb gye
their house party, and other Eogli b
people open wide the doors OF The
Oaks,' or The e ms ss the case may
be. Even the retired trsdespeope copy
the manners and habits Of royalty, end
thus the country house parties indicate
Christmas in its fullest sense.
"But there is large number of pecple
who go I'D to town for Christmas. For
the Eoglish person always gees up 10
towu,' no matter what part CT England
NAV be his home. Town houses have
oeeu opened, the owners having ie-
turned f ON Margate and oher ses
resorts In ample time to welcome their
guests Other people, again come 10
London and locate for the holidays at
motel. or boarding house. But those are
the unfortunate people VINO see little of
Christmas beyond what is witnessed
10 the churches ard streets.
"E ,rly Christmas morring the chufc1
balls ring out their carols, and seem to
say:
Hark the heri'd angles sing:
Glory 10 the newborn king!
The busy streets of this populous
city are always tull OF extremes; at no
ima more decided than on this great
es,ival. Charles Dickens hss iotrc-
duced us to so many that we can pick
IL, the individu sIs as they pass On.
We see their bland richness and Joy AID
We see their dire pepury and sorrow,
and. looking on each; we can say WIN
heartfelt utterarc ce, as did Tiny 1lm ::
Gad bless us every oue.'
"The very atmosphere breathes vii b
holiday tervor Oxford street and the
sntire shopping district are g litter OF
toys and Christmas novelties. Aud the
decorated sweet and bskesbops are 80
-nticing as me profered trees on which
the dele lectable goodies will later bang.
"MoDths before Chiistmes Pater'
moster Row, Ludeste Hill and many
other streets are bright with Christmas
looks and cards. Many of the cards
are of religious character, and many
more indicate some noticeable features
Of London. j. e., the Tower Bridge, or
81. Paul's, or they show bit
of the beautiful English oouotry,
Warwickshire, Devon or Derbyshire.
And it is quite the cu.tom of the Eng
I sb peoDls TO send cards which tneIr
| stationers have prepared. One one SIDE
| a nretty illustration, and engraved WIN
in: MIR. and Mrs. Morgan wish you
Merry Christmas
sine sidewalk painters, street mus
clans and crossing sweepers are rarely
refused, and usually are given siice OF
nuddine or a HANDFUL OF nuts or some
mall eilt of money. Everybody =
heart seems optn TO charity and love
on the anniversary OF the birth OF Jesus
| the Kinc. cD,r
"Many pay tribute on Christmas Day
lin Westminster Abbey and In tne
Poets Corner seek out the memorials
Of Tenn sson, Thackersy, ShaKespear',
d ckeps' Jenny Liud, Loogfellow, OF
whoeyer is especially dear. otners
'oain 60 into The Founding Asy lum
and keep Christmas With orphan onila
rem. Tnus in town the ceieoration
must fud expression in the form oi o
vislt to church, cathedral or institu
tiop. But in the country mouse,
TER the morning service, all is revslry
A Christmas invitation 10 house party
"a usually for ten days, ending site,
New Years, and occasionally EXTENDED
nntil Twelfth Night. And into tnl'
nsriod is crammed jollity in every form
IA the door swings wide the guest Il
arseted with a auggestive welcome, roi
throughout the great Railways the al
is heavy with holly and mistietoe;
1Plaps are already in waiting. Inere
ara TO be dinner parties and dances
rsblesux. music and the drawing-in o
the old-,ime Yule log, night Tor hre
s;Se va reading when Scrooge and Inc
Sr;cket % on the Hearth will entertain
There are to bs days OF skating, eoil
mo- cycling. walking. driving ano
Iissinc. ,is, thus each hour may be an