The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1904-12-19

wear. The general depression through
out the country is regarded as the
worst in many years. Not since the
great dock strikes has the metropolis
seen so many unemployed worknnen.
The effect of the bad times extends to
tn humblest ranks of industry. The
nrospects for the winter are partlcu-
.larIy bad in the building world and
the riverside and shipping business.
Under normal conditions the west
end shops would not be filling with
Christmas buyers. But the real holl-
dav rush has failed to materlallZe as
vet and the shopkeepers view the
conditions with a pessimistic eye. The
railways likewise anticipate a great
falling off in holiday travel this year.
Only in the topmost ranks of socle-
ty is it expected that Christmas this
year will be observed without any
curtailment in the exchange of gifts
and the usual feasting and entertain
ment. The king and queen of Portugal
bought number of Christmas presents
while they were in London, chiefly dia-
mond-studded bonbonnieres, fiat pen
ell cases studded all over with pre-
cious stones, and cigarette holders
made of delicately- tinted transparent
stones. sometimes studded with dia-
monds or encrusted with tiny emeralds
or rubes.
King Edward and Queen Alexandra
are expected to do their Christmas
shopping the latter part of this
week. They always make their selec-
ton of gifts early in the season as
some of them are to be sent great
distances-to their royal relatives at
ST. Petersburg, Bucharest, Darmstadt,
Berlin and other courts of Europe.
The queens orders to submit selec-
tons for her approval have already
been received by a number of the doy-
al warrant holders. The instructions
of goods that her majecty wishes to
be sent, but ample latitude is allowed
in this matter. Mention is made of
the day when they should reach Buck
ingham palace, and meantime the
shopkeeper selects his choicest wares.
In charge Of some responsible men,
bers of the firm these are duly taken
to the palace where rooms are as
signed for their display. AS many
tables as are needed are available to
set them out in their most attractive
array, and every item is labelled
sending it, as well as the price, which
must not be fancy" one, but the
ordinary selling retail value Her ma
jesty spends considerable time in Sc
lecting her gifts, and some days will
probably elapse before the shops are
summoned to remove what will not be
required. LL
Jewery and silver work always fig
ure largely in the collection placed
before the queen. In occasional in
stances, very rich and costly orna-
ments are chosen, but more generally
her majecty looks for fancfruI grace
of design and dainty novelty. Photo
graphic frames of the most dainty
and delicate description are favor
tie gifts of the queen. Brooches for
lace, charming little pendants and
fascinating bangles are other forms.
in diamonds, pearls and other stones.
A large number of pins and links, too
are invariably kept by the queen,
whose aim is always to give what will
afford a real and lasting pleasure to
its recipient.
In sending to Denmark or other
courts, the queen usually chooses what
is characterically English, while to
her English friends a very favorite
form of present with her majesty is
that of pottery from the royal works
at Copenhagen. In the selection of
gifts she is also a marked patron of
the several societies formed for the
encouragement of home industries, in
Guiding thOs of Scotland and Ireland.
The equipment of the boudoir or
study table gives her majesty a wide
range OF charming little items. and
clocks are also frequently chosen in
some quaint setting. e =
Queen Alexandra retains the kindly
custome initiated by Queen Victoria of
giving presents to all the servants of
the royal establishment These are
always of useful character. very
IaVorlte one for the upper servants
being dress length of good silk
either in color or black. Toys. too. en-
Ter largely into the queens list, and
the immediate pleasure of her grand
chllofn, is an especial sourc of de-
hsht to her majecty, who. however