New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-25
BRITAINS HOLIDAYS.
Royalty at Sandring ham-Country
Houses Filled.

London. Dec. 24-Britain's metropolis presents
the deserted appearance usual the eve Of
Christmas King Edward. Queen Alexandra, the
Prince and Princess of Wales and the members
Of the court have gone TO the country. Follow
ing the royal example. the aristocratic families.
well the weekend 'trippers' and all sorts
and conditions of people. have gone to country
homes. where Christmas will be celebrated in
the old fashioned English style
Ambassador Choate and his family are at
Brocket Hail. Hatfield. Hertfordshfre where
they will enjoy their Christmas dinners as the
guests of Lord Mount-stephen. John R Carter.
second secretary Of the United States Embassy.
remains in London. IN charge OF the embassy.
while Captain Charles H. Stockton United
States naval attache. and Major John H Bea-
con, the military attache. will also spend their
first Christmas in England at their London
homes.
Consul General Evans and his family viii
also prove exceptions to the English custom Of
going to the country at Chrstmastide. The
staff of the Consulate General will also remain
in London.
The American duchesses. Her Grace Of Mari
borough and Her Grace Of Roxburghe. are also
away for the Christmas holidays the former as
the guest OF Earl and Countess Howe. at
GopsaIl. and the latter, with the Duke OF Rox-
burghe at their seat near Dunbar. Scotland
The Duchess Of Manchester formerly Miss
Zimmerman, of CincinnatD is. with her hus-
band. at Tanderagee. Ireland. Several other
fominent Americans members Of house
arties in country homes where for centuries
FEnglish notleTnen have held their Christmas
carnivals.
At sandringham. King Edward and Queen
Alexandra will be surrounded by all the mem
bers of the royal family. Christmas evening will
royal Christmas tree. to which all the servants
and work people the estate have been in
vited.
King Edward has abolished several OF the
customs which existed in the reign Of Queen
Victoria Her late majesty always had the
plum pudding made at Windsor Castle. whence
it was distributed to the other royal residences.
Now the Windsor Castle kitchens are practically
shut up, and the baron OF beef which always
formed such picturesque feature Of Queen
Victoria's table is longer in evidence, while
plum pudding and the huge game pie and boars
head prepared and eaten only at Sandring-
ham.
The most prominent figure IN English public
life to-day, Joseph Chamberlain. will spend
Christmas at his home. at Highbury. while Pre-
mier Balfour who is recovering from slight
indsposition, will be with his sister at Whiting
hane, Haddingtonshire. Scotland
Lord Rosebery will spend the holidays at
Dalmeny Park. Edinburgh.
The Christmas holidays will be followed by
several festivities, the most notable OF which
Will be held at Chatsworth. where the Duke
and Duchess OF Devonshire will give an elab-
crate entertainment. which will be attended by
King Edward and Queen Alexandra. on January
t. The principal feature CT this entertainment
will be a pantomme and an extravaganza, with
amateur casts, including Princess Henry OF
Pless and Miss Muriel Wilson The extrava-
ganza will be q humorous satire on leading poll
life
when the holidays are over and the METROPOLIS
IS again nlled with IT'S usual midwinter popula-
uon the theatres will be given up entirely TO
presentations OF pantomine several OF which
have already begun.
One Of the interesting features OF the present
season IL the enormous quantity OF American
ana canadian apples now in evidence These
apples are so plentiful that they are used as
window decorations. Owing 10 the scarcity of
the European crop, this American pr-duct bss
been imported In unprecedented quantities.