New-York tribune., 1914-12-26
Thoughts of Men in the
Trenches EffaCe Joy
OF the Season.
OFFICERS ON LEAVE
SEEN IN THE HOTELS
Patriotic Music Heard Every.
where English Spirit Cheer
ful, but Not Merry.


London. Dec. 26 Christmas Eve and
Christmas Day boo London were PROB
ablv more nearly normal than in any
of tine bclligcrcnt capitals. fule ana
holly did not replace recruiting post
rre hut the spirit Of London was
cheerful. If martial, although not es-
uccialle merry. A smoky Christmas
1--we fog. which by midnight drove
many taxicabs from the streets ana
forced late diners TO haunt hotel
fovers. was followed by dry, cold
Christmas Day Every Christmas ac-
tIvitv of public character recalled
those who were lighting at sea or IN
the trenches Typical designs relating
60 war were printed on the menu cards
of many hotels. and martial and ma
fonal music excluded even the sea
sons ragtime Many toast was
drunk 90 friends on relatives IN the
army or navy. Parties in which oihcers
from the front or training camps we're
being entertained furnished the life
End stylo Of the cafes and hotels.
Theatres. hotel supper rooms and
later. the dancing floors OF fashionable
night clubs were packed on Christmas
I've, although there was no extension
of the 10 O'Clock law In regard 70 the
sale Of Intoxicating liquors. Christmas
afternoon there we're large Christmas
trees I'm most Of the important hotels,
hut the hotel managers, IN planning
their entertainments, felt severely the
absence of the usual American guests
Feted and made much over, the guests
Of honor at all these trees were the
Belgian children, for each OF whom IN
MANY cases. there was a special pres
al A
larger band than usual played amid
tho elaborate decoration OF the louhge'
while a military band followed with
selections i'm the interval after coffee
and Uoueurs. There was no dancing.
At the Cecil the dinner was accom-
panicd with "a vocal and instrum entail
concert. The flags and colors Of the
Allies lent themselves TO beautiful
scheme of decoration. The Carlton,
where the palm garden was decked FOR
the occasion, welcomed several hundred
guests. among whom was a fair sprink-
ling of children, with their young
hearts set upon the famous Christmas
tree.
The general tone Of the press COM
ments was cheerful. "The Daily Chron-
icIe" i'm a resume of Christmas condi-
ions and prO9pcritys chance IN the
future. SAYS: Distress, If measured
bv the figures Of the poor law returns
or those of unemployment, was the
lowest on record for the time of year.
The shops confess 20 having done a
record Christmas trade, and the Post
master General carried a record OF
Christmas parcels. Much Of this pros
Dcrltv Is iu part illusory. Il rs the I'M
mediate result of uuproductlve war eX-
f.sH .FnH rHDI FnnH n I gf
bo onitc different. Employment is good
because so many Of the best workers
are with the colOrs. Shopping is ac-
tive because everybody has been anX-
ious TO send comforts and other re-
membranes 90 their friends at the
front or at sea OF i'm the training
camps. and the pOstotiice has been hard
worked for the same reason.
"Still. one cannot explain everything
ion that way. More workers, for in
stance. have been called 10 arms IN
Germany than here, yet IN Germany the
percentages of unemployed few weeks
ago were, and probably still are, very
high except In armorplate centres
much higher than they have ever been
I'D England IN time of peace, since we
collected such SPures. II is evident that
the British industrial and financial
machine can bear The strain Of war for
a very long time yet without showing
signs of collapsing. As TO the shoch
which 10 may sustain when peace is
made and war expenditures gradually
cease, IL IS perhaps full early TO specu-
late; but il seems probable that If the
Allies get adequate war indemnities NJ
intolerablc shock need be experienced
For that and other reasons the ques
tiou of indemnitics. about which, No
doubt wisely AZ this early stage, very
ltte is being said, needs to be steadily
horne in mind