Semi-weekly herald., 1912-12-09
YUULETIDE PREPARATIONS
IN NE RkY OLD ENGLAND.

LONDON, Dec. 6.-Notwithstandin
the war in the Balkans which threat
ems to involve all Europe in bloody
conflict, and the uncertainty of the
domestic situation, complicated as it
is by the home rule problem, the
woman's suffrage agitation and the
unsatisfactory economic conditions,
the people of "Merrie Olde England"
are busy preparing for the coming
Yule tide, the annual season of good
cheer, charity and happiness. The
streets in the shopping districts are
daily crowded early and late with
throngs of people, some merely sight
seers, others prospective purchasers
and still others those who, loaded down
with mysterious looking bundles
eagerly strive to reach their homes by
notorious, taxicab, underground or
railway.
The shops, particularly those offer
ing toys and Christmas goods, are
crowded from morning till late in the
evening and seem to be doing good
business. The shops, almost without
exception, are gayly decorated with
evergreens, festoons of colored paper
and attractive tinsel and the displays
of holiday goods are unusually elabo-
rate and artistic. Especially in ter
esting are the toy shop, which, this
season, carry a larger and better
grade of stock than ever before. In
view of the fact that many of the
visitors of these shops are merely
| sightseers who do not intend to make
any purchases, the owners of many of
| these shops charge penny admission
with the understanding that the price
of admission will be returned if
purchase is made.
Many mothers of the poorer classes
bring their whole families of young
sters to these shops, to give them an
opportunity to see the many wonder
| full things which delight their hearts
and appeal to their childish imagina-
tion, although they wistfully realize
| thdt tntot are lot
for them, not for the children of the
poor Side by side with the children
of the wealthy, these less fortunate
youngsters wander through the isles,
stopping here and there to admire
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 a
matters of course, does not begin un-
til few days before Christmas, but
in the meantime the trade in fruit,
different things that enter into the
making of plum puddings and other
holiday delicacies increase 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 business
up to Christmas day.
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 prepared of very good
material, clean and well packed so
as to stand atmospheric conditions
and the more or less rough handling
of transportation, may be and are
often sent thousands of miles to cheer
the heart of distant friends or mem
bers of the family.
The royal court is actively pre-
pairing for the coming Yuletide cele-
bration, always the most religiously
observed festival of the year. The
late Queen Victoria usually celebrat-
ed Christmas at Windsor, where she
was joined by her whole family until
her Oldest son, the late King Edward
was married and had his own estab-
lishment at Sandringham. King Geor-
ge and Queen Mary intended to cele-
brate Christmas at Windsor this year.
but abandoned the plan and will
spend the holidays Mt York cottage,
/ tka,r ha,,,t,f,I 4
estate near Sandringham, where
Queen Alexandra. in accordance with
her custom, will spend Christmas,
entertaining her household and be-
slowing gifts upon the men, women
and children of her estate.
PRESIDENT MAKES MANY REC
/ MENn