Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-12-24
Notable Doinss in the Homes Of Royalty N the
English Capital Many Presents Given
WHAT WILL BE DONE AT WHITE HOUSE
Celebration Of the Festival in Gay Paris The Old Man Gene
rous in Wall Street

LONDON, Dec. "a 24-Surrounded by
a large and lively party OF their chill
dren and grandchildren, the king and
queen will spend their Christmas at
Sandringham, where they have pass
ed the holiday season for years past.
III no home OF the whole British en-
pire, perhaps, are the traditions 81
Christmas kept up in such a good
old fashioned style as at the Norfolk
home Of King Edward and Queen
Alexandra. The aspect OF Sandring-
ham House as Christmas approaches
is typical OF hospitality and good
cheer. Great pine logs blaze on the
hearth, and the hall and every sitting
room is made gay with holly, mistle-
toe, evergreens and floral decorations.
For about a week prior to Christmas
day the head gardener is busy IN sell
Getting and bringing to the house
large baskets Of greenery for decora-
tions, and the princesses who are at
Sandringham and the ladies OF the
household delight in occupying them
selves in putting up the Christmas
emblems.
The choosing OF Christmas presents
Is a stupenjous task with the king and
queen. who have countless relatives
10 tisSsa6 OF, and who give, besidss, to
every member Of their household
Their correspondence, too. Is very
heavy at the holiday season. and the
royal post-bag is consequently un'
usually weighty.
Christmas day Is at Sandringham a
day Of grace and bounty and charity
The house party this year includes the
prince and princess Of Wales and their
children, the duke and duchess Of Fife
and the little Ladies Alexandra and
Maud Duff, and Prince and Princess
Charles Of Denmark and their baby
Princess Victoria is, Of course, Of the
party.
The generosity of the king and queer
began this evening with the distribu
tion of beef and other things to the
laborers on the royal estate. and also
to the cottagers who are past work
The distribution took place in tht
carriage-roon Of the royal news, tbs
king and queen and their daughters
being present, and saying few kinc
words to the recipients, who number
ed about 800 or more. Later on the
finishing touches were put to thu
Christmas tree, which is always pro
vided as delight to the kings grand
children, and which is laden with goo,
things from Santa Claus bounty.
Tomorrow morning the royal part,
will stroll through the pretty pin'
woods Of Sandringham to the littll
church Of st. Mary Magdalene TO joii
in the Christmas service. u Is tn
queen who chooses the carols, he
favorite being "Hark. the Heral,
Angels Sing" Returning from church
a fayorite custom Is. as on Sundays
10 visit the kennels and stables. th'
queen and her daughters and the roya
children going laden with baskets Q
tempting morsals for the inmates.
Two o'clock luncheon is very likeI,
followed BY a visit to the bowling al
ley. The crowning event OF the da.
Is. OF course. the dinner, at which th'
ladies' appear In full evening dress
The dinner table Is rounded at th'
ends. and the king and queen face on,
another as they are seated one a
either side of the table. The baroi
Of beef which this year weigh
10 pounds. will be borne in with th'
usual quaint ceremonies Of the TIM
Of Henry VIII. In accordance witt
tlme-honored precedent. the plum pud
ding will weigh an even hunire,
pounds, and will decorate the cente
Of the table, resting upon a colder
platter and decorated with holly AM
mistletoe. The toast 70 the memor!
Of the late queen will be drunk by th'
company standing. and the loving cul