The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1912-12-06
Busy Preparations For Happy Per-
iod Despite Threatening g
Political Clouds
STORES CHARGING ADMISSION
Some Of Them Adopt Plan to Re-
duce Number of Sightseers

London, Decembe, 6.-~.Notwithstand.
ing the threatening clouds upon the DO =
Iiticai conflict, and the uncertainty of
the domestic situation, complicated as
II Is by the Home Rule problem, the
womans suffrage agitation and the
unsatisfactory economic conditions
the people OF "Merrie Olde England"
are busy preparing for the corning
fuletide, the annual season Of cneer,
charity and happiness. The streets
In the shopping districts are daily
crowded early and late with throngs
OF people, some merely sightseers,
others prospective purchasers and still
others those who, loaded down with
mysterious looking bundles eagerly
strive To reach homes by NOTORIOUS,
taxicab, underground or railway.
The shops, particularly those offer
ing toys and Christmas goods, are
crowded from morning till late i'm the
evening and seem 10 be doing good
business. The shops, almost without
evergreens, festoons of colored paper
and attractive tinsel and the displays
Of holiday goods are unusually elabor-
ate and artistic. Especially interest
Ing are the toy shops which, this sea-
son, carry a large and better grade
stock than ever before. In view of the
fact that many of the visitors of these
shops are merely sightseers who do not
intend 10 make any purchase, the
owners OF many Of these shops charge
a penny admission with the under
standing that the price OF admission
viii be returned il purchase is made
Children Feast Eyes.
Many mothers of the poorer classes
bring their whole families Of young
sters TO these shops, TO give them an
opportunity to see the thousands of
wonderful things which delight their
hearts and appeal To their childish
imagination, although they wistfully
realize that these beautiful things are
not for them, not for the children Of
the poor Side by side with the chill
dren of the wealthy, these less fort
unate youngsters wander through the
aisles. stopping here and there to ad-
mre some particularly attractive toy
which especially appeals to their
youthful Imagination.
The time of the provision markets
has not yet arrived. The busy season
of the provenders of victuals, as q
matter of course. does not begin until
a few days before Christmas but in
the meantime the trade in fruit. spices
and the scores of different things that
enter into the making of plum pudding
and other holiday delicacies increases
from day To day. The little stalls in
which toys and other cheap holiday
goods are sold, are reaping their har-
vest and will continue to do good bust
ness up to Christmas day.
Many Plum Puddings.
There was time when the plum
pudding. which forms the piece de
resistance at the Yuletide celebration
In every English home, no matter how
humble. was the exclusive culinary
product and the pride of every house
wife. Now, however many thousands
of families buy their plum pudding
ready made from one or the other Of
the manufacturing bakers, who an
nually sell more than one million and
"a half plum puddings weighing from
one To five pounds. These puddings
which are carefully prepared of good
material, clean and well packed so as
to Withstand atmospheric influences
and the more or less rough usage of
transportation. may be and are often
sent thousands of miles to cheer the
heart of distant friends or members
of the family.
Christmas of Royal Family.
The royal court is actively preparing
for the coming Yuletide celebration,
always the most religiously observed
festival of the year. The late Queen
Victoria usually celebrated Christmas
at Windsor. where she was joined by
her whole family until her eldest son.
the late King Edward was married and
had his own establishment at Sandr-
ingham. King George and Queen Mary
intended to celebrate Christmas at
Windsor this year, but abandoned the
plan and will spend the holidays at
York Cottage, their beautiful and
greatly improved estate near Sandr-
ingham, where Queen Alexandra, in
accordance with her custom, will
spend Christmas. entertaining her
household and bestowing gifts upon
the men. women and children upon
her estate
The King, the Queen, the Prince OF
Wales and other members Of the royal
family have already sent out their
Christmas cards. attractive works OF
the etchers' or engravers' art and
highly priced by their recipients. The
celebration by the royal family will be