Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-23
QUEEN ALExnwNt1

Christmas day proper the royal family din>
among themselves. Only the actual rela-
tives Of the royal family and those nearest
in blood relationship are at this dinner. On
the day following, however a species or
royal banquet is given at which members
of the house party attend.
This dinner is held in a fine banqueting
saloon The walls are paneled in gorgeous
tapestries and the roof is of carved oak
fretted with gold One of the most con-
spcuous objects at the royal banquet IL the
great collection of magnificent golden plate.
The king takes great personal interest in
this wonderful assortment of trophies,
which he has had arranged after his own
ideas. Aside from the display of plate the
kings tastes are very simple. Here are a
few of the kings favorite dishes. by the
way, which are always available at royal
banquets:
Consomme Prince de Gales.
Sole dAumale
Selle dagneau de lait
Caneton la Presse.
Asperges Anglaises.
Souife au Curacao.
all of which sound very interesting-what-
ever they mean.
1t is rather curious that finger-bowls are
seldom used at the royal table. This Is on
account of the fact that years ago people
Of Jacobite sympathies against the ruling
of the monarch of the day. were In the
habit Of passing their wine over the finger
bowl and toasting the Stuart king over
the Water" while apparently honoring the
regning Hanoverian monarch.
De1err1n& 10 an ancient CUSTOM, the King
has displayed on side table during the
Christmas banquet the famous Baron of
Beef'-an immense piece of meat cut from
an OK head raised on the estate. boar's
head is also in evidence as well as huge
woodcock pie The boars head is usually
sent some time before Christmas by the
Emperor Of Germany. The woodcock pie
Is said to measure nine feet In circumfer-
ence.
In order to make up the great royal
Christmas pie two bushels of -four are re-
CURED with twenty pounds OF butter. four
geese, two turkeys. four ducks, SIX pigeons
and an unlimited number of woodcocks.
The beef, boars head and pie are usually
disposed OF in the servants hall during
Christmas week.
The night following Christmas night
proper amateur theatricals are held in the
private theater at Sandringham. The ac-
tors in this entertainment are usually the
royal children themselves, several of whom
are said to be clever little artists. The
king takes great delight in this show. and
has on more than one occasion acted as
official prompter He sits in a big arm
terms with many Of the little actors and
actresses that none of them is afraid to
appear before his majesty.
The royal Christmas IS, after all, more or
less a replica of what takes place in many
wealthy families in England during the
festive season. Christmas in the great
country houses of England has always been
observed with great pomp and ceremony.
ever since the days of we olden time.
when 1t was customary to give up to the
Lord of Misrule" and the abbot of I'm
reason" twelve days of carnival at Yule-
tide Though the ancient revelries have
been done away with, there are among
the various great establishments many
suryivals of old customs which make
Christmas In England perhaps unique
among modern nations.
While in France. America and other
places Christmas Is merely display OF
lavish expenditure In a spirit among So
ctal leaders of scaious rivalry, In England
the festival Is observed with due respect
to ancient custom, and strict adherence
to pristine simplicity. 80