The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-26
Men in Khaki and in Blue Objects of Attention All
 Over the Country
CARS FILLED WITH
 TROOPS ON LEAVE
German Prisoners Remembered With Gifts and Hundreds of Bclgians Receive Attention-Atmos-
 phere of Sadness

London. December c5.--t6,d5 D. m.) Christmns, 1914. will long be remem- bercd in Great Britain as a military Christmas. Everywhere men in khaki
 and in blue were tho object of atten-
 tion and admiration.
 There was great decrease in the
 customary railway crowds of civilians visiting their homes, but almost the
 The cars were filled with soldiers and sailors on leave.
 Many thousands of volunteers from the training camps and a considerable contingent from the continent and the fleet had two or three days for holi- day.
 London particularly seemed to swarm with uniforms. Conspicuous among them were several thousand Canadians from Salisbury plains Christmas in London is sabbath-lik because the theatres are closed and hotels and public houses keep Sunday hours. The few hours of daylight, however. were almost bright,
 rare phenomnon in an English win ter, and the soldiers and sailors ap- peared to find amusement in tramping the streets and parks
 Family parties taking an afternoon stroll generally had youth in khaki or blue as the central figure, escorted | by admiring relatives.
 Loaded With Presents l All ranks of the troops at the front and in home camps were loaded down with presents. Princess Marys fund for Christmas gifts amounted to nearly | $500, 900, while there were numerous funds for tobacco, buildings and other luxuries raised by newspapers and so-
 cieties.
 Even the German military prisoners
 and civilians in the concentration camps f had Ctirfsfrilas trees sno alfth from
 home and from wealthy Germans in England. The German Young Men's 1 Christian association and the English Quakers devoted special care to the prisoners.
 l Hundreds of Belgian wounded in tho hospitals and Belgian refugees were | tit ittipltllS bl ilidilS diltHlloHS 1 Tomorrow, known in England as
 Boxing Day, sees the beginning of pan
 tomimes at several large theatres. Some
 show houses are giving free matinees | for soldiers and sailors
 | A special committe formed to watch
 conditions of distress in London has
 reported that there is less pauperism
 and unemployment in the city than on
 any Christmas in 20 years. This Is due | the large enlistment, 1 The general atmosphere was of course one of sadness rather than of hilarity. i Economy was the watchword of the day Christmas trees come from Germany and mistletoe from France. hence both
 were scarce. Christmas turkeys had
 slightly increased in price. 1 Messages to Army l King George and Queen Mary sent
 messages to the army and to the fleet
 and Christmas cards. bearing their DOT l traits to every sailor and soldier. Attendance at the churches was nota- l bly large. Dean Inge at St. Paul's spoke of the Anglo American peace centenary Referring to the Cundian- American boundary he said:
 For hundred years America and Canada have been at peace. true peace--not watching and snarling at each other like two i'll bred dogs That is something to thank God for or Christmas Day There are millions in Europe who look to America asa lanG of hope and I think they arc justified in doing so. One cannot spend a week | in America without feeling that hope and freedom give buoyancy to life there such as we rarely see at home The dean thought, however. that America had failed to achieve type of Christianity that Christ would ap- prove.
 "Competitive industralism. he sai1, has not fulfilled this promise. The plea. | that business is business may cover
 almost as much cruelty and injustice
 as may the maxim that All is Fair in
 war .