The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-02-05

Correspondence Of the Associated Press.
LONDON Jan. N.-The Ladysmith
correspondent of the Standard thus de-
scribes Christmas day in the beleaguered
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 morning.
We had hoped the Beers would extend
to their anniversary of peace and good
will the privilege Of Sunday. AT mid
night an enemy crept to the foot of
Caesars camp, and, having fired five
shots, shouted to the 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 were de-
termfned that a tone of solemntty 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 characteristic of our
race than the tenacity with which we
cling to old customs. Neither the place
nor the circumstances could contribute
to the gayety and good cheer that are as
ISOLATED with Christmas at home. We
are sick and beleaguered garrison,
whom death and disease have steadily re-
duced. Ten days ago the distant sound Of
artillery filled us with hope that we might
celebrate these festivities with our deliv-
erers. But the fateful message from
Gen. Butler, I have made my effort and
mt 10 r,1a
and brought us face to face with the
stern necessities of our position.
1T was a bright Christmas morning.
The midsummer sun beat down upon the
gasping plain and made one pant for
breath of chill northern air. Nothing in
nature in the aspect of the town recalled
the gayety or the solemnity of the, day.
Our messages. of peace on earth and good
will to man came shrieking through the
heavens on wings Of melinite and burst
in murderous fragments where they fell.
las soon as this, deadly torrent was
over men betook themselves wherever
duty or inclination called them. Some
went to church and heard Archdeacon
Barker deliver a message of hope, 9TH
ers to. church parade, where Chaplain
Tuckey moved Tommy Atkins almost to
tears by pathetic references to home and
family connections: that are supposed to
be strongest at this time of the year.
Others sought the cooler heights near the
town. 1t was not until evening that we
F strove by many devices to believe that
we were having q merry Christmas.
If our table did not present a picture of
abundance 1t was not devoid of good
cheer. We were in excellent spirits, and
far into the night the Beers must have
heard the laughter and song Of the town
and camp.
"Only in one room, however, was the
illusion complete. There are in this town
no fewer than 200 children of European
parentage. 1t was determined that they,
at any cost, must have something to
remind them of a siege Christmas.
Stores were despoiled Of toys and books,
and the branches of cedar trees were
heavy with the delights Of childhood
Cotton wool artfully disposed among
green leaves was suggestive Of snow,
and the happy faces of children carried
ones thoughts over many leagues of
land and sea to our English homes
The Standards correspondent at La
dysmith devotes the greater part of
two-column letter on the subject of spies.
He writes:
THAT there are traitors and spies,
white as well as black, in the garrison
of Ladysmith is certain. The enemy
never fails to receive notice Of our move
ments. Gen. Joubert, indeed, is said to
have been very angry because on one
occasion he had not heard Of the order
countermanding night attack. The
loyalty Of the British colonists is beyond
suspicion, but the Dutch element in Ma
tai is very strong Several farmers have
been caught red-handed, and several Of
the volunteers have brothers and cousins
fighting on the other side. Every project
is known and discussed on the volunteer
lines long before the regulars have any
idea Of it, and they often hear of the
countermanding of orders that have never
reached them"