The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-12-26
SAME CUSTOMS
OF GENERATIONS
Distributes Gifts While children, arun
In Belief in Santa Claus, Awaken to
Find Gifts-Paris Csfe Adopts q
Unique Idea in Tree.

the squire of Sandringham, forget the
cares OF state, and carry out all the
old customs with the dignified sim
p1icity Of an English gentleman.
Tho only absentee from the family
circle this Christmas was Prince AL
bert, who is serving as a midshipman
on H. NJ. 8. Collingwood.
The festivities began on Christmas
eve with the distribution Of the royal
bounty to the tenants, at which the
king and the young princes were pres
ent This bounty consisted Of SIX fat
Norfolk bullocks, which provided
Christmas dinners for some hundreds
Of the tenants.
The old and infirn pensioners Of the
family were under the care Of queen
Alexandra, who spends Christmas at
park, and who co-operates with Queen
Mary and her daughters in providing
clothes and dainties.
Tho choir Of Sandringham church
sang carols during the evening under
the windows Of the old-tiYne way, and
were invited within to be regaled with
ueaaonable fare.
Kiddies' Timc.
Meanwhile the royal nurseries Wit
messed pretty scenes. The illusion OF
Santa Claus 10 still cherished and the
children still hang their stockings at
the foot Of their beds. the filing Of
which. It IL said, II reserved for the
king ana queen in person. But ex-
perience having shown that even. the
largest stockings were not large
enough the housekeeper supplied the
largest pillow cases available which
were lett gaping for the gifts from
Santa, Cleua.. 40 .i,aks,sals opnhdAnt
anticipat1ons Of the children were full
II reiliEsd, and there was the usual
merry comparison Of thu largesse left
BY the 4ood sAt, Nicholas at dayhreak,
even royal children having tho faculty
OF waking early on Christmas morn
no matter how they may like to lie
abed the other days Of the year.
Religious Feature Observed.
One condition Of the celebration Of
Christmas which is vigorously insist
ed on by the king and queen is its
religious feature. The kings piper
having awakened the older folks, with
a skirling Of the pipes from the lawn.
breakfast was but prelude to the
beautiful service in the church Of st:
Grated by Princesses Mary and Vic
toria in person. It was pleasant to
note tho hearty interchange Of the
seasons greetings between the royal
parties from York cottage and Sand
ringham house on the one side and
the village folk and tenantry on the
other as the congregation gathered for
the simple, bright choral service. The
musical program included Gounod's
anthem, 'Bethlehem." and the singing
Of the old familiar hymns. "Hark. the
All Ye Faithful"
Mofnin gat Church.
The sermon was dispensed with. as
usual, on Christmas morning, but
there was q celebration Of the holy
communion whom the rector Of Sand
ringham, Rev. Roland Grant, admin
istered the sacrament to King George,
Queen Mary. Queen Alexandra and
the other members Of the royal fam
fly present, who had passed the stage
Of confirmation.
Tho remainder Of the day was spent
in the old home way, the only cere-
monial function being the dinner eat
en- in the great dining hall of Sand
ringham house at o'clock, thought
It was really $3.50, the Queen Mother
keeping the clocks half an hour fast.
Although disguised on the menu by
French designations, the fare was ira
ditionally English with the exception
Of Q gigantic boar's head from the
cxar OF Russia. The huge baron Of
beef Of Victorian days no longer ap-
pears because IL was found unwieldly.
neither do the cornets. King Edwards
favorite dish. but there was roast beef
and plum pudding and mince pies and
Norfolk turkey, to which ample JUS
Alexandra's own. band played carols
md rhonaoSa ,thpn,i1h fhA A{nnor