The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-12-06
LONDON IS READY
FOR MERRY XMAS
Threats of War and Internal
Troubles Do Not Disturb
Preparations.
National News Association

National News Association
LONDON, Dec. 6.---Notwithstandin
the threatening clouds upon the po-
litical horizon, the war in the Bal
kans which threatens to invilve all
Europe into bloody conflict, and the
uncertainty OF the domestic situation,
complicated as 1t is by the Home Rule
problem, the Womans suffrage agita-
ton and the unsatisfactory economic
conditions, the people of "Merrie Olde
England" are busy preparing for the
coming Yuletide, the annual season of
cheer, charity and happiness. The
streets in the shopping districts are
daily crowded early and late with
throngs CT 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 a 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 elabor-
ate and artistic. Especially interest
ing are the toy shops which, this sea-
son, carry a larger and better grade
stock than ever before. In view Of
the fact that many of the visitors of
these shops charge penny admission
with the understanding that the price
of admission will be returned If pur-
chase Is made.
Many mothers of the poorer classes
bring their whole families of youngs-
tiers to these shops, to give them an
opportunity to see the thousands of
wonderful things which delight their
hearts and appeal to their childish i'm
agination, although they wistfully real
ize 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 wander through the aisles,
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 mat
ter 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 pud-
dings and other holiday delicacies in
creases 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 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 culinary
product and the pride of every house
wife. Now, however, many thous-
ands Of families buy their plum pud-
ding ready made from one or the 9th
er of the manufacturing bakers, who
annually sell more than one million
and half Of plum buildings, weighing
from one to five pounds. These pud-
dings which are carefully prepared Of
good material, clean and we'll packed
so as to Withstand atmospheric in
fluences 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.
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
Sandrmgham. King George and Queen
Mary intended to celebrate Christmas
at Windsor this year, but abandoned
this plan and will spend the holidays at
York Cottage. their beautiful and
greatly improved estate near Sand
bingham, 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 high
1y priced by their recipients. The
celebration by the royal family will be
quite simple and entirely confined to
members Of the family and the most
intimate members of the household.
Both the King and the Queen have ar
ranged to send out thousands of chart
table gifts and remembrance to pen
sioners and and others.