1929-12-13 — Page 33

CHINA MAIL CHRISTMAS SUPPLEMENT, 1929.

THILE

CHRISTMAS FROLIC "BELOW STAIRS"

Their Majesties In The Role Of Santa Claus

By DR. W. GREENWOOD, F.S.A.

War King and Queen and courtiers The programme, it should be said, varies

must not be imagined that the humbler re- tainers of royalty are allowed to lack any thing of the season's enjoyment, for their Majesties take care that every retainer, from that exalted personage, the principal State coachman, to the youngest recruit of kitchen or stable, shall have every facility for spend- ing a right merry Christmas..

role or Master of the Ceremonies.

on amateur pantomime was followed by a distribution of toys and trinkets from a mammoth Christmas tree. Now the pan- tomime has given place to professional enter- tainments of the kind mentioned, while the gifts are wisely chosen for their usefulness. But always the secret. of the day's pro- gramme is jealously guarded, and anticipa- tion is thus kept at its keenest to the last moment.

Tenants Remembered

whose Yuletide their Majesties provide so It is not only the household staffs for

liberally. All the tenants on the royal estates and their families, and also the people living in the villages near the various royal houses share their beneficence.

suitable Christmas cheer in every home, and The King takes care that there shall be Provides joints of beef and other substantial commodities, which are duly distributed by the agent and his assistants.

The presents to women and children— which the Queen has chosen in accordance the cottage homes on the same day. Useful with their requirements—are delivered at goods are always selected, warm garments forming a large item. The school children have their new scarlet cloaks at the same time, supplemented by toys and articles suit.

At every royal palace, from Windsor to Balmoral, although the Court may be a day's journey away, the household staff has At Sandringham, where the Royal its full programme of feasting and festivi-Family usually spends its Yuletide, the ties, the cost of which comes out of the household servants have their ball in Christ King's generous purse. The Master of the mas week, at which a large Christmas tree, Horse is the nominal host at all these jun- groaning under its weight of presents and ketings, while the Crown Equerry plays the brilliant with rainbow lights, is dismantled, and each servant receives a special gift from the hands of royalty. The Queen personal. ly superintends the loading of the tree, which stands in the centre of the ballroom, keeping its secrets until the bour comes for the distribution. At Sandringham, too, the children are specially favoured, for after their entertainment the Queen usually offi- ciates as Santa Claus and presents the gifts to the delighted little ones with her owned hands.

Some weeks before Christmas Day dawns permission is given to use one of the coach-houses, and the Superintendent of the Mews sets to work to provide seasonable entertainment for young and old, for the guests not only include relatives of the re tainers, even the mothers-in-law, but also the tiniest child that can toddle or pull a cracker. The prospectuses of entertainers, from musical clowns and negro minstrels to conjurers and Father Christmas in propria carrying an immense plum-pudding from which to distribute his presents, are carefully studied and compared until a happy selection is made.

***Veritable Fairy Palace

Aa the great day draws near the coach- house is cleared, and a few hours of work by enthusiastic hands convert it into a verit- able fairy palace! Carpets are borrowed from the Lord Chamberlain's stores; the

INTERCEPTED GREETINGS

able to their ages.

Eve, a distribution of large joints of prime At Sandringham there is, on Christmas meat from cattle fed on the estate to the cot- tagers and labourers.

occasion, where over a ton of meat is stack- The great coach-house is utilised for the in joints which allow two pounds for each adult and one pound for each child. The scene in the coach-house is a very animated one. Before the distribution their Majesties hold an informal reception; and shake hands with their humble guests. The King has a

Majesty wishes them all a merry Christmas. Prince And Princess

To Dame Fashion from a Hairpin Manu- few cheery words for each one, and her

facturer.

Beauty draws us by a shingle hair.

royal parks yield mountains of ever-greens; To the Artist from the Income Tax Inspector. platforms spring into being as by the touch of a magic hand; and the palace electricians put the last touch of beauty with hundreds of vari-coloured lamps..

Poverty is a crime; and you are not a very convincing criminal. I shall send you the charge sheet on New Year's Day.

At five o'clock the first of the guests pour in merry, bright-eyed troupes of

If you could only draw as easily as children to feast eyes and appetites on the usual as I do, you wouldn't be so poverty- wonders provided for them. The long stricken, curse you! tables are spread for them with every tempt- ing variety of cakes, fruits and sweets, To a Greyhound from an Electric Hare. which kept little tongues silent for a glori- ous half-hour. Thus, when the last gour- mand cries, "Hold! Enough!" tables and delicacies disappear, and, replete and happy, the children watch the antics of clowns, the mysteries of conjuring or the marvels of the cinema.

The entertainment concluded, the CTOWN- ing moment is reached when some great Court lady makes her appearance and hands to each small guest a present specially chosen for him or her. Then, indeed, eyes sparkle, and exclamations of delight rise to a pande monium, until the National Anthem brings the day's enjoyment to an enthusiastic close."/

The Band Strikes

When the children have retired their parents and elder relatives come on the scene; the band strikes up some merry dance, and light feet trip through the too swift hours until far into the next morning, with intervals of such feasting as the King himself would not despise.

I'm putting presents in your stockings; Don't kiss me or you'll find I'm "shocking.'

*

To Father Christmas from a Rude Boy.

To

I don't believe in you, Old Claus-

Your reindeer and romances;

But hang my jersey up because- I ain not taking chances.

*

a Constituent from his M.P.

Apart from Guy Fawkes, I am the only parliamentary person prepared to carry out his promise.

Believe me,

Yours very truly,

N. N: NYUS.

P.S.-It was very frosty when I was last in the constituency, but I trust there will be no frost in the coming Autumn.

Of this occasion an eye-witness, who was fortunate enough to be present a few years ago, has given the writer the following account: "The Royal coach-house had been had been put up, and festoons of decorative cleared for the occasion. Long trestle-tables green gave an additional air of gaiety. Expectation was rife as to who of the royal family would be present; and, as the hour appointed for the distribution drew near, we were all delighted to see the entry of the Prince of Wales and his brothers, with Princess Mary. They were closely followed by the King and Queen.

Then the royal persons took their places near the top of the centre table, and the vill- agers began to file up to receive their gifts. Every detail had been worked out before- hand, and so every recipient was furnished in accordance with the needs and require ments of his family, widows and lone women sharing the cheer.

And so the gifts were distributed. Hearty cheers were given for the King and Queen and the other members of the Royal family, and the company streamed out, wending its way to the various villages of the estate, with baskets and bright-hued handkerchiefs filled with joints and other commodities.

Only the hale and hearty are bidden to the reception, but no one on the estate is forgotten, and those living at a distance, as well as the old and infirm, have their Christ- mas beef taken to their homes. For the old ladies there is a special gift from the Queen, which takes the form of warm clothing and other seasonable presents,