Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-25

cadets. They go to bed at 7:3o. rise at
s. partake Of plain food and spend the
greater part Of the rest OF the day in
exercise and those pursuits which tend
to build them up physically and mentally.
Soon they will begin their studies and
within few years made officers in the
royal guards.
But If Christmas does not mean quite
as much to these young German princes
as 1t does to the little Dutch princess 1t
means much to their mother, Princess
Cecilie.
This one day is hers alone with the
boys, during which she may heap upon
them all the caresses of yearning moth
er's heart. and flood them with tokens
Of her maternal love, just as humber
mothers of the realm will do. On this
day she has them all her own, and no
tutors or military instructors can break
in on the holiday.
The crown princess doesn't often have
her two boys. They are the property of
the royal family and subject to the or
ders OF the emperor. Cecilie reSents this
interference. and often Weeps and is dis
consulate. She is said to have expressed
the wish that the children had been girls
so that she could have kept them with
her, and brought them up in her own
way.
But on. this one day she is happy.
and so are the two little war lords,
for in whatever guise Santa Claus
comes, whether as the purveyor of
weapons or of toys, he is still that
intangible. mysterious personality who
stfrS their most vivid imaginative pow
ers. and hence greatly to be desired.
Up in snow-covered Sweden Santa
every seIf-respecting Santa Claus should
do. and the ears Of the two little sons
of Crown Prince Gustavus Adolphus
and Princess Margaret were strained
near to the breaking point last night
for the sound of jingle bells.
Needless to say. they were not disap-
pointed, and today will be celebrated
by them around huge evergreen, with
diamonds and fathomless whiteness.
The spirit of unrest hovers over
Spain. but Prince Alphonso and Prince
jamie. the sons Of Alphonso VIII and
Queen Victoria. will feel none of this
dsquiet without. In the ecstasy of the
many wonderful things left by the
nights honored guest.
Toy automobiles which they can run
themselves. miniature aeroplanes which
really fly, electric trains. self-propel-
ling: chandeliers that crow, spouting
whales. meowing pussieS. bleating
lambs are among some OF the surprises
planned for them by their young father
and mother.
4 \
Lurking in the shadow beyond the
vision of the nursery windows Of Fran
els Ferdinand. son of Archduke Francis
Ferdinand, heir presumptive to the
throne of Austria Hungary. are skeIe-
tons of insanity. suicide and violent
deaths. caused by the bombs Of anar-
chists. but the little fellow plays on
watched over by his devoted father,
unheedful Of the tragedy which stalks
around the corners of his life.
He does not know that he can never
in all probability. be the ruler of the
people over whom his father should
have been emperor, but even il he did
know it is doubtful whether the
thought would stem the childish glee |
brought by the toys which Santa Claus |
left during the night. for the child is t,
Of a happy disposition-the true OFF, |
spring of an alliance of genuine love. /
Archduke Francis Ferdinand renounced
his claim to the throne for love. He |
married morganatically and gave up that |
for which many men have fought unto |
death to obtain. He robbed his child of |
much, but he has given much back in |
unceasing devotion, and it Is a safe pre-
diction that no boy in all Of Europe will |
have happier Christmas than will little |
Francis.
The Crown Prince Humbert, five years
old, and his sisters. Mafalda, eight years
old, and Princess Yolanda. children of
King Victor Emmanuel and Queen Helen
Of Italy. will likely carry away the honors
for the number of toys received by chill
dren who have resting upon them the
fate OF empires and Kingdoms and tina