The sun., 1909-01-03

is facing the leanest Christmas on record
Shopping has seldom been done on &C
moderate a scale. and tradesmen In Ber-
lin and other big towns are disconsolate
Customers have been fewer In numbers
and have bought sparingly. W
Some authorities attribute this 10
Prince Won Bulow's recent warnings
on the evils Of extravaganza. Others
say the country is still in the throes OF
economic depression. The chief suf-
ferers are the storekeepers who depend
on wealthy purchasers for selling Jewels,
furs and automobiles. but the great stores.
which rely on the multitude, and even
the street hawkers are hardly better
of.
Everybody Yho gives at Christ mas
seems determined TO retrench this year.
and the IS, 900 900 usually given as Christ
mas gratuities in Berlin will probably
bel reduced ltoI half that figure.
An authority in Heraldry state that
in England the College of Arms disolaims
oil jurisdiction over notices. You can
quote psalm or a scene out of Shake
speare in your escroll, If it so please you a..
There Is very clear historical connec-
ton between notices and war cries,
the former being comparatively modern
variant OF the latter. The cri de guerre
ives IN incentive TO valiant deeds, or.
as in the case Of the wnr whoop OF the
Indian, was intended to strike terror
into the enemy. OF this class there are
instances in the Irish a boo!" 1t has
even been assorted that the saying "He
cannot say boo to goose" is Araceabl lie
to this custom
Probably the cleverest motto in the
peerage. from the point Of view of the
play upon words, is that of the barony OF
Vernon; Yer non semper viret" Trans
lated straightforwardly one gets the
undeniable truism that the spring does
not always flourish, but take the first
two words together and the translation
reads Vernon always fiourishes."
Again, the earldom Of Manvers. the
family name Of which is Pierrepont, has
the motto Pie repone te," (repose with
pious confidenceD This is an almost
perfect pun upon the name The
"Festina lente' ton Slow Of the Onslow
family is good enough in its way but
somewhat crude compared with the
motto OF the Salt baronetcy -In sale
salus" Gin salt safetyD
The family Of Poore, both in England
and America. bears the motto "Pauper
non in spe.' which is a good pun and an
excellent sentiment Of rather more
subtle and distinctly more witty invention
is the motto of the Forsters, which reads
Sit fors ter felix" which translates
May your fate be thrice happy: but make
the second and third words into one and
you get the name of the family and the
motto May Forster be happy"
Probably the shortest punning motto
in existence is that OF the Staples. con-
sisting Of the one word -Teneo." The
Lockharts, relatives OF Sir Walter Scott.
have the punning motto, "Corda serrata
pando' Il lay open locked hearts,.
IL is noticeable that the great majority
of punning notices have been adopted
by the bearers of comparatively recent
creations, although there are few fairly
old instances.
In England the drink habit is undoubt-
edly on the down grade. brewery shares
are dropping. small manufacturers and
publicans are being crowded out and the
big companies and hotels are less pros
porous than formerly. and restaurant
keepers are in despair at the lessened
rOnslItn ntion of wine