Amarillo daily news. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 19??-current, 1912-12-07
IULET|DE CHEER
OBsCURES DANCER
"MERRIE OLD ENGLAND"
PREPARED FOR SEASON
OF HAPPINESS.
IGNORES WAR CLOUDS
WoRLDs METROPOLIS THI,ON0.
ED WITH RICH AND POOR
VIEWING AND BUYING
CHRISTMAS GOODS

London. Dec. Notwithstanding
the threatening clouds avon the po-
llt,cal horizon. the war In the Bal
kans which threatens 10 involve all
Europe into a bloody conflict, and
the uncertainty of the domestic situ-
alton, complicated as II Is by tho
Home Rule problem. the woman's
suffrage agitation and the unsatis-
factory economic conditions, the peo-
pie OF "Merrie olde England" 20
busy preparing for the coming Yu.y-
tide, the annual season OF cher.
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 ca
gerly strive to reach their homes by
notorious. taxicab. underground or
railway.
The shops. particularly those Of
fering toys and Christmas goods, are
crowded from morning till late In
he evening and seem TO be doing
good business. phs shops, ain :.
without exception, are galy decorat-
ed with evergreens, festoons OF col
ored paper and attractive tinsel and
the displays OF holiday goods are
unusually elaborate and artistic .Es-
pecially Interesting are the toy shops
which, this season, carry a larger
and better grade stock than ever be-
Tore. In view OF the fact that many
Of the visitors OF these shops are
mostly sightseers who do not intend
to make any purchases. the owners
OF many of these shops charge a
penny admission with the understand
Ing that the price OF admission win
be returned II purchase is made.
Many mothers OF the poorer class
es bring their whole families OF
youngsters to these shops. to give
them an opportunity 10 see the thou
sands OF wonderful things which de-
light 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 children OF the wealthy.
these less fortunate youngsters wan
der through the aisles. stopping here
! and there TO admire some particular
ly attractive toy while especially ap-
peals TO their youthful imagination.
The time OF the provision markets
has not yet arrived. The busy sea-
son OF the provenders OF victuals, as
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 differ
ent things that enter into the max
ing OF plum puddings and other hol-
iday declicacies increases from day
TO day The little stalls In which
toys and other cheap holiday goods
are sold, are reaping their harvest
and will continue to do good busi-
ness up TO Christmas day.
There was a 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 Gull.
nary product and the pride of every
housewife. Now, however. many
thousands OF families. buy their
plum pudding ready made from one
or the other OF the manufacturing
bakers. who annually sell more than
one million and a half OF plum pud-
dings. Weighing from one TO five
pounds. These puddlngs which are
carefully prepared OF good material.
clean and well packed so as to with
stand atmospheric influences and the
more or less rough usage OF trans
portation. may be and are often sent
thousands OF miles TO cheer the
heart OF distant friends or members
OF the family.
The royal court Is actively prepar-
ing for the coming Yuletide celebra-
tlon. always the most relIgiously OBJ
served 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
vas married and had his own estab-
lishment at Sandringham. Kins
George and Queen Mary intended to
celebrate Christmas at Windsor this
wear. hut abandoned the plan and
will spend the holidays at York Cot
tare. their beautiful and greatly I'M
proved estate near sandrlngham