The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-12-23

The devout are constantly in the beauti-
fully decorated churches. Christmas trees
are less frequently seen, and the exchang-
ing Of gifts is reserved for New Years
day, le jour de Tan, which IS a gay
holiday, devoted to the paying of social,
as well as commercial debts. But the
shops in Paris at this season are some
thing always to be remembered. They
are far and away the most beautiful in
the world, and would tempt money from
the pocket Of the hardest old skinfint on
earth. Only to see the windows at the
Palais Royal on la rue de Ia Paix, and
avenue de TOpera is worth taking the
sea voyage 10 and from France. I can't
understand why our American shops new
or nave quite the same air, but they new
er do. There must be something IN the
atmosphere Of Paris that casts a luster
over everything.
zone of the gayest Christmases I ever
spent was in this same Paris, but & was
at the American egation-RObert Ne
Lane was minister at the time-and
quite as American as If il had been
in New York. We had a jolly Christmas
tree, with presents for all the guests. and
that dear and excellent old gentleman,
Mr.. McLane, was full Of jokes and quips
for the men and flowery speeches for the
women. The gigantic turkey came from
this side and the mince pies I believe
were made at the McLane home in Balti-
more. They were quite worthy, I remem-
ber TO have come from that celebrated
kitchen.
No, no; Mr.. Chopper is not a daughter
of the former minister to France, but his
niece, the daughter Of his only brother.
The name is spelled Nc capital Lame.
and nothing ever irritated Mr.. McLane
more than TO have 1t misspelled. for he
was very proud Of his family and never
wanted 10 be COMPOUNDED with other fam
lies whose names are pronounced the same
but spelled differently. Mr. McLane's IA
Their Louis McLane, was United states
Senator from Delaware in the late '70s
/ and az different times Minister 10
Great Britain. Secretary of the Treasury,
and Secretary of State. I never had the
good fortune to see him because he was
little before my day, but / have been
told that he was very distinguished Ia
sation ana t5at his son Porart III,
/ resembled him.
speaking Of Robert McLane brings TO
mind Gen. BouIanger, the famous Gen.
/ Boulanger, who might have been dictator
of France but wasn't What an idoI Of
his rao-,l, t,,,. e,r,,,,,s s,1,,,,,. 9
go -, % ~
1'-''' iiie' ii'i'
III 'l'e SdIOII vi COUNTESS L. ana must
eoAlsss Zen completely under his spell
To begin with he was so good to look at
tai and military in his carriage. with
I the most wonderful eyes, and d way Of
/ speaking TO women that made the one
favored at the moment believe that She
vs. lHe Only woman IN the world Tor him.
On he was sad, sad nlrt, that Gen.
I bouiahseI-
/ Just mere the pompous Hans entered the
/ drawins-room, holding aloft madame s
/ largest and handsomest silver tray. on
which was q huge mum, cake and @ foam
/ inc ritcb.r If 5e-e,,o,,
/ ~ 49,, .z..--.. -,
jug
! eRs"V4' SssHos Oh NY own making ana
/ plum cake Ok my own mixing. You see 1
/ know all the Christmas tricks Yes, il is
good, and / verify believe that egguog
/ made after this recine saved che Ifr,. If d,
/ ,5..,z old ,,e,,tl.,,,a,, 7 49, a. 49,. -
..-,,f-. 'o'
IN o-o s-.-'Leli''lll' Mi,ose HdI-e "lis
-. - e anu p" ~ " - an -" Il
- - -,,-i va ,ii, =.
T5I- 80 - a. 'iIc se'ii'e Ho'eI III
--- %. 49, 71"Ppeu III ihe
. i.lit1.i' "a w spi'is0eI oduBil'eIs' eN-
'5p19' ne was ID! Wheh ne arrived ana
e'e'y uds seemed 70 gro" weaker ana
"saAeI- Inc most dangerous thing about
MS case was Ihat ne could eat nothing,
anu was heyI SIINe py suihuiahlS' Nhlch
were gwen 70 MN IN small quantities
every hOur IL was SAD 10 see the old
gentleman Iadlng away. and suggested
every thlns could that might tempt his
appetite. At last it occurred 10 me that
eggnoS, If he could take 1t, would be the
very thing. So without saying a word to
any one L made glass with the freshest
eggs. the pUrest cream. and the finest old
brandy / could buy-whisky, any but
Scotch, at least, was out Of the question
in that little town-then in the thinnest
OF glasses and on the daintiest Of trays ]
carried it 20 him with my own hands.
II was good % see him drink 1t. Fear
/ lul nc IrSI, ne ohIy TOOK the smallest pos
sible sip, but the moment he tasted the
flavor he eagerly drank the whole glass
too eagerly. thought. and dreaded lesi
II y,{eb+ r,al,a hin, iII. b,t 40 - -.
Just what he needed; and during all the
time that ne stayed there I made him
three eggnogs a day. Egg knocks he
always called them, and he insisted OF
icalling me his American doctor. Yes. he
eot well, perfectly well; and he believes
land | believe. it was the egg knocks.
Strangely enough, neither he nor hi.
Idaushters had ever heard Of egCnog
which is such a common drink both in