Evening star., 1923-12-23
BY MARGAREr ID. DOWNING.

By MARC AREH b. DOWNING.
| From the White House to the simple
| homes of the people a turkey will be
the chief feature of the Christmas
dinner and cranberry Sauce and mince
pie will be among the good things
prepared. But though that charming
adjunct to the social body, the diplo-
matte corps, in some instances takes
over the local prandtal ideas, many
Christmas boards will be adorned
with roast goose and others will cling
to the old fashion of a tender young
| pig stuffed with savory things and
| roasted to a delightful brown. All Of
the north of Europe legations have
long ago selected their goose and 1t is
cooked with great ceremony and ac-
cording to the traditional recipes.
Christmas dinner in the Polish lega-
| tion is served on Christmas eve, and
that being a solemn fast day, the
principal dish will be a great fish,
surrounded by all the sea dainties
which the Washington markets pro-
vide. This same custom Will hold in
the CZechosloVakian legation, and the
minister in each establishment will
have his entire staff, even the
youngest members, at the board II
Mr.. Edgar Prochnik, charge d'affaires
of Austria. were in Vienna a great
1t would be carried in smoking hot
and carved at the table. Baron Won
Hengelmu!ler invariably had a boar's
head sent him for the dinner, and
when he and the baroness presided
over the embassy Of Francis Joseph
they had their feast on Christmas eve.
The many Latin American nations
have turkey and the accepted menu,
hut yNfr F~v I@ll
fruits and green vegetables and find
this sort of thing rather heavy. In
the Panamanian legation there will
be joy unconflned because some
melons and fruits of many varieties
all unknown here have arrived in
good shape and will give a touch Of
home to the banquet. There are
many national dishes served in
France on this solemn Christian
feast and Nine. JuSserand. who was
born in Paris and lived there all her
younger years, does not neglect any
of the traditions. The staff of the
ambassador becomes part of the
household on that day, and such a
dinner is served as all can recall
from their early childhood. If the
Italians could get the fine fat cells
which are so prevalent in their
country, they would make a basis
of the Christmas eve feast which they
serve. But January is the day
Italians celebrate, and any notice
which the ambassador and his staff
take Of December 25 is only in defer
ence to local customs. The non
Christian ENJOYS observe the day in
all It's traditional aspects and the
youngsters in the Japanese and Chi
nese households give and receive
gifts and participate in the fun pro-
vided for their small American play
mates. The Persian minister and the
Siamese minister entertain their re-
spective staffs and their friends at
regulation American dinners
Those who were privileged to see
the diplomatic corps on the several
occasions in which it was recently
assembled, cannot but note that 1t is
a. full one-third less colorful than in
pre-war years. When the splendor
of Count Won Bernstorff is recalled
and contrasted with the simple un-
adorned appearance of the present
German ambassador, DR.. Otto Wied-
feldt, one phase of the changes
through which the world is passing
becomes evident. Then the ambassa-
dor from Austro- Hungary was the
most resplendent of all diplomats
who bowed before the Chief Magis-
trate and his lady prior to DR..
Dumba's recall In 1915. The charge
d d'affaires of Austria wears regulation
evening ratment and with no dis
tinctive features at all. All of the
new republics of northern Europe