The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1905-01-01
CHRISTMAS OF ROYAL
FAMILIES OF EUROPE
One Day in the Year When the KngIy
Dignity UnbendS- impressive Rites
Required in Russia.

in Russia.
the afternoon he goes out walking,
and 10 every soldier in uniform whom
he meets he gives a silver coin. He
also enters humble homes, bestowing
Christmas greetings and aims upon
the inhabitants. The kaiser's Christ
mas present bill is a tremendous one.
for be sends gifts to all the royalty of
the states composing the federal Ger
man empire, and to nearly every Eu-
ropean monarch.
Italy and Austria.
The Italian royal family is spending
Christmas this year at the Villa Sa-
voia, near Rome, recently purchased
by King Victor. Christmas day and
the evening preceding are marked by
many religious observances. The
queen prepares a "manger CRADLE
with her own hands, for the little
princesses and the crown prince
There is also a Christmas tree.
II an Austrian-child or adult
were to be asked which is the most
important day in all the year, he
would certainly reply: ''Christabend"
christmas eve). And If you were to
ask why, the answer would probably
he: Because it is the children's day,
the day on which, above all others,
you must not be absent from the fam
lily circle =.
Beautiful Festival.
Several years ago. when all the
children of Franz Josef and the EN-
press Elizabeth were at home, Christ
Taas was a beautiful festival at the
Hofburg- The empress herself super
intended the ',ghting of the Christmas
tree, and on the table about its base
were laid out the presents for the IA
Their and mother and all the princes
and pr1ncesses. Then would follow a
happy evening. The tragic death Of
the crown prince was the first break
In the festivities. but even after he
was gone. and the Processes Gisela
and Marie Valerie were married, the
empress. who spent the rest Of the
year in travel, would return to Hof-
burg for Christmas with her husband
and those of her family who remain
ed. Then came her assassination. and
since that event no sound Of Christ
mas gaiety has been heard within the
HofOurg walls. Old Emperor Franz
josef spends Christmas at the home
or his son-in-law and daughter, Arch
duke Franz Salvador and Archduchess
Marie Valerie. They have a big fam
lily, the eldest y, the youngest an in
fant in arms. and the broken old ruler
is never so happy as when he is with
these eight grandchildren.
Purely Religious.
Christmas is day of rest for Pres
ident Doubet The feast being in
France purely a religious one. there
Is nothing in the protocolary way to
disturb the president and he cele-
brates by remaining quietly at home
with his family. Madame Loubet,
however, does not find as much leis-
ure as her husband. First of all she
attends service al the church of ST.
Philippe du Roule in the morning. In
the early part OF the afternoon sic in
vttes all the children of the servants
and minor employees of the Elysee
palace to the Christmas tree in the
grand salon, where each of the little
ones receive a present from Nine.
Loubet's own hands. Later she at
tends a Christmas tree given to the
children of Alsatian and Lorraine
families living in France. where not
only are toys and clothes distributed.
but where the greatest actors and
singers in France appear in opera
and comedy parts afterwards.
Impressive Rites.
Christmas comes thirteen DAYS later
in Russia, where the old calendar is
stlll in force. At the Russian court
Christmas is observed with all the
gorgeous and impressive religious
rites required by the doctrines of the
Orthordox Greek church. The car
goes in full uniform, late on Christ
mas eve, 10 attend divine service in
the chapel of the imperial palace. He
invariably implsnts a kiss on the
| cheek OF the first common soldier
whom he sees doing sentry duty in
the corridors of the palace. The
soldier is always carefully washed by
the palace officials in advance. and
care is taken that he is a man in good
health, who has run no danger of
coming into contact with infectious
diseases during the previous two or
three weeks. To achieve this secu-
rity the soldier who is destined to re-
ceive the kiss is kept in seclusion,
Under medical supervision, during this
period After the car has kissed him
and passed on his way to the chapel,
the great ladies OF the court embrace
and kiss the common soldier, glad to
be able TO impress their lips on the
spot which the mouth il their conse-
Grated ruler has touched. Christmas
day is observed In English fashion, Cor
both the car and the czarina are de-
voted TO English habits and customs.
Roast beef and plum pudding are the
principal dishes at their Christmas
dinner and the imperial children find
on Christmas morning that the stock
ilgs hung up on Christ mas eve have
been filled by Santa Claus during the
night.
The car spends the day, as do Ed
ward and Wilhelm, largely in romp-
ing with the little ones Of his house
hold.