Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-02-05
CHRISTMAS AT LADYsM1TH.
How the Beleagured Garrison spen

How the Beleagured Garrison spent
the Holiday.
London, Feb. 5.-The Ladysmith cor
respondent of the Standard thus de-
seribes Christmas day in the beleag-
uered camp:
"cannons instead OF carols greeted
us on Christmas morning. The roar of
Long Tom and the crash of shells babe
us awake and salute the unhappy morn.
We had hoped that the Beers would
extend to this anniversary of peace.
and good will the privilege of Sunday.
AT midnight an enemy crept to the foot
of Caesars camp and, having fired five
shots, shouted to9the indignant Man
chesters, Compliments of the season.
a merry Christmas If shrapnel and
Shell could make merry Christmas.
we had no cause Of complaint.
THE Beers We're determined that "A
tone OF solemnity should blend with
our conviviality and that the thunder
of their guns should accompany the
anthem sung in the little stone church
with the shattered porch.
Nothing is more characteristics of
our race than the ,enacity With which
wy chung 10 old customs. Neither the
Iplace nor the circumstances could con-
Itiibate 10 the gaiety and good cheer
that are associated With Christmas a
home We had sick and beleaguerei
garrison. whom death and disease have
steadily reduced Ten days ago the dis
Liant sound of artillery filed us with.
hope that we might celebrate this fes-
ltival With our deiiverers. But the fate
| full message from Gen. Butler. i have
made my effort and failed. put an end
Ito a pleasant dream and brought us
face to face with the stern necessities
of our position.
lit was a bright Christmas morning.
! The midsummer sun beat down upon
the gasping plain and made one pant
I for breath of chill northern air.
| Nothing in nature or in the aspect Of
| the town recalled the sayety or the
4 solemnity of the day. There We're
neither carols nor church bells ~
| awaken tender and sacred memories.
4 our messages of peace on earth and
4 good viii to man came shlieking thru
1.-the heavens on wings Of melinite and
burst in murderous fragments where
(. they fell. a 5 soon as this deadly greet
i ing Mas over men betook themselves
1 whittier duty or inclination led. Some
Mem, 10 church and heard .Archdeacon
Barker deliver a message Of hope
sothers 10 efurch parade, where chap
4 iain Thicker moved the .ttkinses alnlost
u tears BY pathetic references to home
and family connections that are sup
4 posed 10 be strongest a this time of
4 tie year. Others sought the cooler
heights near the town.
efossing the muddy creek 81 the
ford. closa to the Gordsns' camp. rode
Thru Inc bush that clothes the slope
ieadlngto Caesars camp Two iieriis Of
slslean cattle wers grazing among the
i stones needless of the shrapnen that
burst hasmlessIy among them CAESARS
Hcainp5 is a lofty plateau on tbs besdei 81
I the PLAIN Looking south j could see thu
sirlgged mountainous country thru
i wl,ii.h Gen. BElici must fight his way
lfanee after range Of hills arg! kppies.
4 ii. which tia enemy wil find abundant
1lcoyer. In a gulah southwest Of l5ulwa-
4 3ua II a great lager of tants and Wagons
i in a selni-eircIe. NTH sprnit along the
IchorG. and the arc arranged @ resist
sl5atiaelS from the west Not a man Is
VISIBLE, tho light clouds of dust risirg
4 high, show that cavalry is moving To-
ward the lsager. Along the broad greer
summit of Rulmana ride Bper horsenHn
Teach sialwart figure outlined agains'
Ethe blue sky.
Returning T. the town, ] found moth
Ling u recall the festlyal. The street WAS
laRmost ,iesert.d, and the camps gay
ct fsw signs OF life. Heat--npt despenden-
i5ey Or shalI has driven every one Z
SEsi.eltsf, for the Thermometer under tt'
vsransia registered iu2 degrees.
II MAS not Until the eonlsof the eve
ring that We threw off this letlarsy AM
lslsstrovss by many devices 10 imagine tina
we weis having Il mercy Christmas |
g hour table did not present q picture Q
i abundance Il was not devoid OF GOO
: chaer Ws were in excellsn. spirits. AM
{ FAR into the night the Beers must hay
{ heard the laughter and song of tow
: and camp.
only in one room. however, was tn
: Illusion complete. There are in thi
8 town no fewer than 200 children of Flu
r Iropean parentage Why they We're per
: mitted 10 run the risk of boinbardmen
is question that may some day de
8 nand an answer. Here however. the
i are, and it WAS determined that they, a
e any cost must nave something TO re
/ mind them of a siege Christmas. Co
ti Darnell of the national mounted polio.
n u veteran whose services date from III
n.utiny: Col. Frank Rhodes, and Ma
Z Karri Davis, the Johannesburg reform
4 er who underwent Imprisonment rathe
e than pay the fine imposed after ID
I Jamieson's raid, organized a Christina
Il tree. Stores We're despei!ed of toys an
N books, and the branches of cedar tree
Il ware heavy with tile delights of chic
/ hood. Four of these green Santa Clau
S trees were ranged along the center :
Il the hall, Great Britain and South Al
n rca IN the middle. With Canada an
a Australia on each side. Upon the wal
= were such notices az ADVANCE, Natal
d and May the New Year Bring Happ
/. ness Cotton WOOL artfully dispose
"A among green leaves was suggestive
snow ard the happy faces of the chi
dren carried ones thoughts over u
e lmany Leagues of land and sea TO oil
Z English homes !
ic a Remark able Discovery.
ne a remarkable discovery is one of Il
G. chrome proclamations of advertiser
i ~ tt.,;y nan do. for 5if.l IA