Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-12-19
flaws First Ladyis Extravagant-
ly Fond Of Children and Christ
mas is Her Chance
SANTA CLAUS AS MINISTER.
Iltlc prlncesses Yoanda aud Natal.
da Reign Supreme in Qulrinal at
Rome Next Week,

Rome lltts o. VIZ iNa' 'N'N-
b,ation OF Christmas, with the exchange
n riffs. comes for the majority of Ital-
Can children, on the Epiphany, leaving
,oc. % an entirely religious day, the
royal family keep Christmas as do other
Countries This is Il tradition in the
House Of Savoy which the present king
and queen have maintained.
At court all is movement and life at
chrlstmastide. Both king and queen
personally select the valuable presents
they give to the members OF their
households. This year Queen Elena viii
lake peculiar pains in choosing an in
unity Of gifts, as IT is said she gave dis
satisfaction last year, through an inno-
cent Judging Of other people by herself.
FOND OF CHILDREN,
one Of her greatest weaknesses is
children she adores her own, loves
those Of her ladies-ln- waiting, and has
more than kindly feeling for all young
PEOPLE as such, even extending her af-
fiction TO the eldest son of the Duke
Of Ajsta, who will sometime sit on the
throne Of Italy II Queen Elena has no
boys. In the general course Of weak
human nature she would not feel very
friendly towards him-and in fact she
did not in the beginning--but he con-
quered her as baby, and that meant
forever
Last year the queen thought she
could not please her ladies-in- waiting
better than by pleasing their little ones,
so she arranged magnificent Christ
mas tree, which she hung with every.
thing that the infant heart could de.
sire the presents being most costly and
numerous, but there were only trifles
for the parents. This was too much,
the laments were long and loud, and
reached the ears of the poor queen, who
had Intended so well and had satisfied
so ILL., with her. one lesson is sufficient,
so that this season the gifts are to be
many and beautiful, but strictly for the
mcmmas.
GIVING OF PRESENTS.
The giving of the presents forms a
regular ceremonial. They are all ar
ranged on various tables. There are
jewels for the wives OF those decorated
with the collar Of the Annunzata, wives
or cabinet ministers. and ladies' in walt
ing Each present has a card attached.
on which Is written the name of the
person for whom II is intended. The
Countess Giucciardini. the chief lady
m%alting OF her majesty, has a large
book In which she has written every
year list OF the presents given by
uoth me king and queen, and the names
OF their recipients. In this way the Civ.
ing OF duplicate gifts IL avoided The
waiting wear the Jewels pre-
sented them by her majesty for the
nrst time at the reception given to the
diplomatic corps, on the evening OF the
last day OF the year.
BESIDES this intimate receptionn for
inc oestowing Of gifts there are innum.
fisDle others, so that the season is con-
sldered at court to be the most fatigu-
ing OF the whole year.
QUEEN AS SANTA CLAUS.
rms Christmas there is to be an en-
uufely Intimate Christmas tree for the
ms"t frlhcesses Yolanda an6 NATAL
a. me former being not yet three, and
e lal'er having just completed her
hrsl year. Christmas to the babies is
one long laugh beginning with the mo.
n'eh' lhey open their eyes In the
nornlng until they close them
az night The first thing they see is
sumo mlrth provoking object, placed so
az TO catch the attention. Last year
ruheess folanda found "nlgger" doll
SUING on her pillow, and when she
moved It stuck out its tongue She
Wughed and laughed until her nurse
uOused her to stop, aud then she
asped the new treasure To her bosom
tnu new to papa and mama. After
COMMISSIONING the morning, the shut
, ,g.s We're closed and the electric light
ss,ned on, so that the beautiful trees
allnlhs with tiny colored electric
Supes ana laden with curious and
many shaped parcels shown In full
s9ry to the view of the open-mouthed
s,lGreh This year the tree will be
smaller and the queen herself will act
az santa Claus.
Iheir maJestles themselves receive
sllM outside the family circle. It
49, permitted but those who feel
rpe,'dl gratitude to them, or from their
Sa '" ole near the throne, have got into 4
noDlt or sending the babies re-
entrances, which are accepted.
o., ny whole OF the day OF Christmas
.ne Qulrinal Is strictly private, a
m "o,le DAY, where the servants are
,"'t B'al also and where the children
the chief consideration As the
e''S go on, and the prncesses are old
win 'Hu mere are perhaps others, more
iW pe made of this "holyday." hut
WlIl always be entirely Intimate
men majestles follow the national
FSs'OH OF a fish dlnnr on Christmas
~ Ihe day before Christmas, as
.'V any great church festival. is a
ran OF lean day las the Italians
nn mat is 10 say, day ON which
",tu' may be touched But with the
e, luseniousness of the nation. in
sas, ' OF being regarded as day of
~, u is seized upon as an occasion
dl, 'e1sung, elaborate and costly fish
''els being now the invariable rule.
ROMAN CHRISTMAS EVE.
b. the typlco. Roman spends the nigh,
gon, v yhrlstmas IN merry company,
lo,,o.,oy playing tombola, kind of
m"rr " ana about one o'clock OF the
"a1.th'ns OF the Path the entire party
b.'N'hs TO the fish market, where
G'h magnificent display of the
bet 10 be sold later on, immense cells
nsr we most conspicuous. The dim
min, j" me evening. which begins about
bm,, 20 mat It will finish just the
CON-. arrives for midnight mass, Is
f,ioSel entirely of fish soup. and fish
ssvO uolled baked, etc, with tomato
tIroe ana caulihower. Although the
tbeSs 'ndi queen do not leave the palace,
le.s 'Vh@e to this program more or
chi. closely, This IL followed on
eabasiIlhs day by magnificent and
ma iUo,c banquet, which, however, has
can turkey. '' 90 o"' '"''''
htWe very opposite pole of the QulrInal
nv. Illoa arc thnan nf thn IN finnn