The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-12-26
PREPARES
FOR CHRISTMAS

I ~~~~~-~~>~~~~S
rope as it did in 1915 and in 1914
an armed camp, the only difference
being that more millions Of killed and
wounded have been offered up as a
sacrifice to the lust Of power during
the past twelve months, and yet what
ever bitterness and hatred there may
be among those engaged in the terri.
BILE conflict, il there is any personal
! bitterness or hatred, will probably
!, be forgotten and the day accelerated
as it was last year and the year before
by the men themselves declaring an
informal truce and fraternizing with
each other on the ground before the
trenches.
The celebration of England's third
Christmas of the war will naturally
be devoted mainly to the soldiers and
|sailors. From France and Flanders
and even from the Balkans thousands
OF soldiers are coming home on leave.
All week the railway stations of Lon
ldon have been crowded with them,
officers and men, many of them fresh
from the battle front, as evidenced by
them mud of the trenches still sticking
to their clothes.
/ Every city, town and hamlet, from
John O'Groat's to Lands End, has
prepared a welcome for its boys who
have been doing their bit for their
country. Tons of plum pudding have
been prepared, barons Of beef are
ready for roasting, bottles of musty
ale have been dug up from the cellars,
and every other preparation is being
made to give the fighting heroes a
genuine old English Christmas din
ner and celebration.
In London the preparations are be-
ing made on an even more elaborate
scale. In addition to the soldiers and
sailors who belong in the city hun
dreds of the Canadian, Australian and
New Zealand troopers are coming to
Ithe metropolis to spend the Yuletide.
In their honor there will be a round
OF public festivities. Dinners galore
are being prepared. Theaters, music
halls and other places of entertain.
ment will be thrown open to them.
The soldiers who will be obliged to
remain at the front have not been
overlooked. All week the London and
South Western Railway has been run.
ming special trains and score of ex-
ira Channel boats have been employed
to carry the army mails. Tons Of
candy. cakes and buildings, together
with countless packages of clothing,
books, monograph records and other
presents have been dispatched to all
points on the continent where the
British troops are concentrated.
And what Of the men of the feet!
The men who man the great battle
ships and cruisers patrolling the NINE
laden and submarine-infested Medit-
terranean and the countless thousands
lrwho are aboard the vessels of the
Grand Fleet on the icy waters of the
North Sea.
OF all the kings subjects, 1t is safe
to say that none will enter into the
feasting and frolic of Yuletide with q
more whole-hearted zest than these
men of the navy. What If tomorrow
they die gloriously. this day at least
they will be merry, for 1t is the one
day of all the year when Jack can
really let himself go in all harmless
ways, with a freedom which no dis.
cipine will attempt to check.
Aboard the big ships there will be
all kinds Of sky-larking from dawn
until night. Musical and dramatic en-
tertainments will be included in the
programs and during a large part of
the day there will be dancing to the
music Of the ships bands. The only
interruption in the round of festivi.
ties. II interruption 1t may be called,
will be the hour or two devoted to
the Christmas dinner. When "eight
bells" sounds, the captain. attended by
his officers, will make his appearance,
to the strains of the "Roast Beef of
Old England" played by the ships
band, for tour of inspection of the
mess-tables, which will be flanked by
hundreds of jovial tars, their faces