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l ‘_ _‘ Some ‘War .\C"llri'sirnasesit

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; , -Whcn the ‘Christmas of ma‘ “came ‘round. the ‘s , thoriaes in Ifroncewvere dchlmined p; emu“. um ' V.% if! millfl°fi45l~thijpfeltmfl~= year was not rc-

'» 1- stririsent orders were Belted... u .it is to be doubt- ; ~94 whothorlthc. Britiflh trwpa,.at,a i events, had any inclination ‘torifllieriilce: Since the previous Girlst. , ‘mas, the Gflfmllll hid {Orféltfldi XHUOILDI tho esteem i. _ ln-whlch they were held as fairly chivalrous opponents.

i In the intcrvenins period that had introduced

lsoned gas and flame throwers. Thelignavy had

s nk the Lusitania with a loss of 1.200 lives. Thus

there was hardly ally occasion for the-reminder issued

"‘ by G. H. Q. to the effect that "war is war," even on Christmas Day.

cM-f ~.

enough to put his head above the parapet, he would quickly have made a sacrifice to his ideal. Guns were gept going onboth sides throughout the day, but war- fare lacked the venom which it possessed on the other days o! ‘tho; ytar- There was nothing exceptional to re- ‘ port on the trcstern front at the end of the day.

k3‘ By this time. the, war had spread its ugly tentg. . v "cles. and there-was fighting in progress in Egypt_ 1n l‘ - Macedonia, Mwilwilmll, and East Africa. ' 3

, -. Thanks tc-tha. iiilflflgging eflorts of good friends at Thoma. moat‘. 0f m? "0098. even in the distant theatres of war. weresuppiied with some of the familiar con- comitants of the. Christmas season, '

>wrrut Tun Fol-tar:

At such times, of course. the sailor is in ‘a better position than the soldier. His risks are no less grave. but he carries his home with him, and is thus able to enjoy in war much of what is customary in peace time. ' ., .

Thus. we find the Grand fleet having a. tolerabiy

who were doing duty on mine-sweepers and small craft in northern waters, ‘appear ‘dfliuve found the run rather less stlnted than usual, as a reminder that ‘r, the daya had some exceptional significance.

, In rnntionally, the Christmas oi iiilfl was the ~ "l srukost embarrassing oi the whole war. P. sident wilson . j‘ .9 osé this timetoaddress to the combatant powers a - -~.- V, rlbta on the subicct of Peace. and Bwitecrland endors- li the President's appeal. The Germans, cleverly ig- q,‘ Y- ring the President's request ior a statement oi terms, . proposed that peace delegates should be nominated at ~~.-cnce. This note was issued on Christmas Day.

. _ . The reply of the British Army was to use the com-

; parativc quiet oi Christmas Day to take over more . ., trench line from the French, while the Ailiedstates- I - men returned alt-emphatic negative to the German,

"i. proposals which they dwcrlbed as "empty and ns cere."

\

2-‘ cunts-nulls on TliE sommm

Our reluctance to pursue Peace negotiations was 1‘ ~- not in any way due to the fact that we were anioyins u‘ the War. The Christmas of i916 found usiwith a

a Q casuslity list staggering by comparison to the rolls of -.r the previous years. We had indulged in the Somme adventure and had sacrificed the flower oi the new

1,; armies in an effort which was moreremarkablc ior the . _-~ courage displayed, than ior any stlategic skill or tac- I "2 tical enterprise. The result was that the greater PB"- - . oi our army in_ lirancespent the Cluiatmaa pf 19.1.6 in "fl, ' muddy. valleys between the roiling towns oi the Somme

i‘ country. - On tho Ancre, almost daily, most sangulnary fishi- ,‘-' ing was proceeding in swampy ground as unfavourable -=-' for battle as any land about Ypres. Such were the ‘w’ experiences through which our men had gone in the Q _prcv us month, and such were the prospects thei- ;._.' s ill _aced them, that the iron had entered into the J,‘ "' uls oi many oi them, and they mocked at Christmas, lot itsrorigin and its. significance. w‘ These, facts were not stated at the time, but any man who was in that locality about that period knows 4 they were true. '

\ . v

. , sraonolv DISAPPEARS:

w conditions, and thus the festive season in 191'! found people in all the combatant countries pursuing the 1‘ War in a somewhat n. hanical fashion. Enthusiasm \_‘ for it had gone, even‘ hate was abating. There was little n,‘ emotion oi any kind. The luxuries appropriate to ~. Christmas time were rare-indeed. the necessities of y: life were rationed. Nations ploddcd on their way as a v tired but determined mun troudleil listlcssly 0" a ~ d “tourney that must, oi necessltyfba completed.

. On thalillied side, although the missions had “ withdrawn from the War, there were good will!“ 1°!"

hope. America had come in and had thus more than oqedrasacd the balance left by retirement oi the

t, <-NEW HOPE: 1:01‘ - r -. henfioneral B , b his offensive at Cam- bflimglt prior to chi-miles? had sh that thew ‘ were other ways oi winning" bums by the "in imaginative, ve and disheartening tactics hlthezb omplo . There was a ieoliiifi W". u" 89°‘ rct oi "evicting an entrenched enemy.‘ I- 990!“ "mm had bacn- sought since 1914. had now been discovered. In the-menu there. ‘ time 011w Qhflm“ ‘Pllfit tmbflfdilcilfllcd; Al 1' w" 1‘°°°"""7' considcrlblil, . aroma aim the wire" front in order u. * ‘nt any with time»? It m‘ wnmu9n_ . _ reggae who “could celebrate Ohrlstmu, tits means of do so were readily 1W1"!- Aitlioush timci were ‘nor-ti’! Ohflltlnil‘ 1AM which " the n-u w» .1 . and M

l)‘. ‘ _ I h’: dfuiam to giro cause ‘for’

v

mW./u‘.~'t’3“a°$ ' " "iorbinvas is a and avert we... huts

Had any man, moved by brotherly-love been bold‘

1 goodChi-istmas and even those weather-beaten men_

»’~ Yet another Christmas was to be passed under war '

y -_.;._...

Qomedyof a Cookery Glass in an Irish‘ ‘Slchool

.\ H wt ‘We yltllqdie * the 1- Xmas

" ‘ . a Pr?) > THE "CHARUOTTETO cusanim ‘

‘lice’ .

By ' Sexton O‘Sullivan

It W58 ivcertoin ., _ ' Thursday in the . month of Decent. 561'. in a certain Bolden year when currents and rais- ins had not at- tained their pres- ent height in the _ r rm“ 0‘ Prices; neither had butter afid eggs soared so ar out oi the reach oi little purse-holders. In those diills. catablcs had not been taught to leap. In those dBYB- £00. all ‘the world was young (even myself) es- pecially that betember, for we had been allowed to in- ch!“ fl- llllim Pudding in our list oi cookery lessons. The recipe i'l'B8Bep“as tho boys‘ said» had been written an our best blackboard the week previously. w” had willed it into our books, drawn" a Marcelle waved liric to separate the "ingredients" from the method, and thengloated over the wondrous parts that went to make a real Christmas pudding. Lastly. we had committed it to our memories. _ "After the theory comes the practice." was one oi‘ W? mfllly cookery ‘iiottoes. The shopping was the first active step. ‘This necessitated many journeys ‘up and down the _one.and only village street to the one and only emporium oi all commodities ‘from a red heir"!!! 01' it Stamp to a ton oi coal, or a Parisian hat. We watched the currents and raisins andDemer- ara sugar with eager eyes as they were carefully weighed out. Next we selected the largest eggs and the freshest suet and the sugarieet candy peel. "and a wee little plecheen lust to taste in our mouths."

HEAVEN 0N EARTH:

At last came the actual cookery day. The chop- ping oi the suet, beating of the eggs, stoningthe rais- ins. mixing the "dry ingredients," as the dry old note- book callously termed them. The delightful feel oi the soft flour as it slipped through our flngers,-the surreptitious tasting and passing‘ along oi a large raisin or s. weeshy little bit oi candy peel when "She" was not locking-The cookery class was in a litt heaven on earth.

‘ lEach one oi‘ the uniorgirls had a turn at mixing and stirring, ior the recipe said "mix thoroughly." One very large senior girlwlth a red, round face, a dimple in her chin, and a. queer impediment in her speech. was always “the head cook and bottle washer" (or rather dish washer.) 18nd was a good worker. in spite of the impediment which had the eiiect oi sprinkling her words proiuscly with "ils." She always had a soit spot for the infants. _

"What about the ilifalts, poor l’iil lilfaltsl I'll glvc ‘cm a lflll piece of caldy peel." _

The ‘ilifalts’ were gazing with round eyes and round mouths and envyingtbegreat cookery class.

The boys were in a corner doing 'aUebbra'-a nLys- tlc subject to which the ladies had no claim, but alas, the wondrous ‘aljebbra.’ had no charms iust then.

“I say. Mary Anne, giveus a raisin"

“Kate, just a bit of dough?" ‘

"Bridgie. a piecheen of brown sugar?"

“SHE": "Quick l-iannie, ‘Shc’ isn't looking. all your square roots to-morrow."

The cur-rants and raisins were gradually disap- pearing. "She" had heard the "spellings" of the low- er classes. now "She" was hearing the infants‘ "tables."

"Twoanwanathree '\

Twoantwoafour." . _

"Sure ‘tls eyes in my poll I'd want."You big, great. idle lazy boys! Did Isee you, Pad Malone, talking to the cookery girlsjl Bring me your simple equation this very instant."

Pad walked slowly and sorrowfullyfrom his cor- ner with his equation which he thought anything but

I'll d0

. simple. The rest of the boys were deeply imiiferscd in

ale ulc problems. . - “Well, of all the-dust stand there and listen to moi That's what wines oi .- ti-e attention to the girls instead of to your ‘work, Now if X minus---“ "Norah Mary. rose face, the piece of peel-quick." Illdced I wo'lt; I‘ill enough left! I'm keeping this for the l‘iii iilfaits." ' __ “You old pudding face!“ i The big girl was speechless for a minute. "I'll tel-l. Hank Mollcyi II’ll I'lllil. The rest of the

la . threat was lost in '11s,‘ as “She" approached.

“Well, Norah Mary, have’ you finished mixing? oat

Solornan - - By Mabeiliucie Attwell

I

Solomon 58in} was a nice little baby, Bo lovely and roundy and pinky and fair

Weighed what he ought to, a little more maybe. '

Ten toes on his toot-silos. and gold on his hair,

He'd only one sorrow to darken his

eye. r He couldn't. although he'd like so tc-fly.

Course! nobody knew what went on in Sam's mind. . - ~

Just lying all day in the meadow grass there, -

If anyone did. I am sure he would fin

Our Sammy was longing to fly in Hi8‘ hi!‘ ' .' l \

Nothing- took ’_ place. tlli one day

came abevy

Oi fairies who llst‘d to the piaint of our lad, '

"Wanting to flyl My! we think you're too heavy.

We'll teach you-we can't have a

‘baby all sad." They managed to raise him. the dear little lump. Although he came down again,

quick, with a. bump. oi that?"

Sam had-as you see-ere an hour They gathered all round and said had gone by ‘ ‘ things i'n his ear- They ‘ pped on his shoulders. dirnpled and fat. "It's confidence, really," they said l to the dear-

S0

beat

nan

3111‘... a word. "It's confidence. really." “W! "u to ti» it‘...

"We're wondering ii you have any

Our Sammy’ was stunting faway. in the_ sky-Lovely! .

When next they got Sammy again

on. fee ‘- - 0h! Wobbledyl steady my , ear " P‘lice iitinstable X came. along on ‘ h

"Ur-humph-whafs all this, now what have we here?"

which scattered the fairies away.

. in it frillht.

And left Sam all lonely, which doesn't seem right.

Police hgonstablet X then ‘took out

book, ' Proceeding to ask all those ques- tions which vex; .‘ ' ~ "NOW-v-XIIVC you a license to flyif‘ -comc let's look, i "And iwhat il lIOm‘ name. Sir?" said Constable x And many more such, which was rather absurd. ' Con‘ Solomon Sam‘ couldn't answer

jiutnqonstable X is as kind as can constables arp. u weyclloi us.

"What's your name, sir?” '.' . know— l‘, » - . He cog-led small. Colqinan homo to

ca. - And Solomon wasn't too sorry to

' go.

With only this warning-"Sam don't fly again.-

Until you've a licenses-then fly in a. plane!"

J.‘

k. the cloth and tell me what you do to it."

Norah Mary was ofi like a non-stop gramophone. CURRANTS MYSTERY:

“Quite right. Why, those curmnts seem few and far between-did you get the rlgiit amount of candy peel? How much sugar did you put in?"

A chorus shouted:-

"-?. lb. Demerara sugar.

i lb. currents. ' -

1 lb. raisins ior Sllltflilfls) Raisins must be care- fully stoned.

‘.-’.- tcaspoonful of nutmeg.

l tenspoonoiul ct mixed spice."

"That's quite enough. _ It is very strange indeed. Perhaps you put too much flour."

"We measured out two poundsexactly. You saw the scales go down, Norah Mary."

"I cannot understand it. Still we must get it lin- ished. Is the water boiling’! Who are the volunteers for the first watch-until six o'clock? I'm coming at eight and I'll wait till it is done before I look up."

Soon the water was ready; a dinner plate placed carefully in and the pudding lowered slowly and rev- erently into the boiling depths.

"Prayers-there, i’ thought you'd do it, Mary. careless-knocking the whole packet of spice over! No wonder you'd sneeze with the best mixed spice flying up your noses!"

The prayer was said, and reluctantly the children left the warm, spice-laden atmosphere of the school- oom. . -

BOOK CHOICE: I

The pudding was iiollingmerrlly, the kettle singing on the hbb ready to discharge its contents and so keep "the pudding on the boil continuously." i-iannle Shee- han and Norah Mary were comfortably seated on a low form in front of the blazing flrc.

"I have the peppermilts and the coldles."

“And good job I brought the books, Norah Mary. Which will you have ‘The _l)uch_'ess’s Lovers’ or ‘The Earl's Will’? They are both scrumptious, so our new servant girl says. She has piles of 'em-—keeps 'ern under her mattress for fear Mother would see ‘em. l haven't read those two, but our new girl says "The T‘ f s Lovers is about a lovely lady who wanted to marry a. poor man who loved her, ‘then a rich man love? her too and killed the poor man and she died ni gr e "I'll have The Earl's Willi I don't like ‘em dying. I think it better to get married in‘ the end-don't You. Hallie?" ,

"Sometimes-but ‘The Earl's Will" is lovely—about a rich earl who wanted to marl-y a poor girl, but he had to marry a rich lady, so he left all his money to the poor girl he loved. I mustn't tell you, though. Our new girl says it. is like eating an egg without salt when you know what happens. Where will we put the candles?"

"We'll have a caldle each."

The iirc burned brightly and the candies shed a soft light over the’old school. There was a blissful silence except. for the merry bubbling of the pudding and tne otcasional cracking or a peppermint. ‘rile minutes changed into nours; all too quickly it was six o'c ock. ‘

rltnosprn

"My goodness, Hallie-there's the Aligelus ringil!" "NoranMary, did you put any water in?" "No-aid you?" a

"Norah liiflfy. we'll bo murdered! Do you smell

' anything?"

"ltiallie— the pudding is burningl”

“The Duchesss Lovers" had proved too danger- ously fascinating. The water had boiled itself gaily into nothingncss. The poor plum pudding was stuck to the plate. The plate had divided itself into three uneven parts, and the large iron pot was almost red through.

Slowly slid sadly the girls lifted the heavy boiler oiI the fire, more slowly and more sadly they lifted the pudding oil the broken plate; slowest and saddest oi all were their trembling voices:

"Oh, Norah Mary, we'll be shot."

"Oh, Hallie, we'll be killed-Oh!"

The mocking flrellght danced oniiorah Mary's big tears, which were rolling dawn her round, red face. The candles shone on the empty benches, as the girls gazed round seeking ior some unknown help to right the great wrong. ,

“Incl: the door, Norah Mary—1'l1 run home now and I'll get another pudding cloth. Our new girl is good natured. I'll tell her everything and I'll see ii i can get a. pint! likn that. Give me the bits. The girl will bury them down deep. Tun-i the key when I'm gone." - -.

"You l'ill algell!"

THE SOLUTION :

Norah Mary sat down with her sad thoughts. The deserted schoolroom seemed to close- in repmachiully round her. The pudding, like a pale ghost of some former jolly plum puddingstood stiiily on the rostrum The pot was cooling itself on a large slate ‘

"Rat tat tatl"

“Who is it?" _

“Quick-the others-are coming."

Iiannie rushed in panting, speedily unfurled her pinaforeand diacioud a new pudding cloth and a plate of the some willow pattern as the broken one.

"You ailgeli I'll pray ior you. I'lll-" ,

"Like lightning, pour in the boiling water and fill the kettle again. Burn that old cloth, push it far into the lire. Good Job the others are such slow

‘* Good lob. too, the pot isn't busted."

r a

"Rat tat tat tat!" . "You're in a mighty hurry." "So would you be if you were standing out shiver- ing in the dark cold night." "Funny smell. do you notice it, Bridglc? Anything burning. Norah Mary?" ‘The lira is." ' . _ Your face, Norah Mary-looks ls ii you wmcrying." ‘ -

"Yeeboc ‘ th ht "Merci coming." "Witty-thud? crisper $elfifigloi$lfi "saw you

ti.

' n‘. half-past tcn the great Basilica is crowded with

§ chair...“ in’ Romy

»»~»»»m‘»+ Continued frmu P886 I

Pope borne shoulder high on the eedh geciatoria, the moveablc throne supported by six footmen in the crimson livery of the Vatican; '

Then. too. when the nocessionyhas passed, a scat in the nave well up towards thcaltnr offers the best position from which to see thebgremonies that fol- O\'.'. '

The Mass commencesrhortly before midnight, but

OO-OOHO

thousands upon thousands of the Faithful, assembled ~ from all parts of the world to be present when their llcly Father celebrates the great Feast of Christmas.

‘Indeed. there are representatives from every part 0f J10 globe, among whom. probably, pilgrims prgdq. minute. Our seats are excellently situated. and we Wit“? 5W5!’ "u? 10118 Wflit by Watching what is around H». In many these sights are ncu’, and not always vndtrstood.

d-‘rcscnily marches in the Palatine Guard, that regiment of Infantry which kccps clear the way for the procession. through the teeming thousands of the crowd. There are strong barriers, and it is well that there arc. for the laressure of people is enormous The Palatine Guard lines the way between u... gamers and the pioccssio l. -

They are sturdy little fellows. these Palatine Gllflfdfi; Very different from the giants oi the Gen- darmerie, who wear the tall bear-skins and bluc uni. forms similar to those of Napoleon's old Guard.

' s1‘. Parent's controls.

There are two other Re ' t,» rm .- Peterh. The Noble Guard, wltillxttlliasstlfie the P°i>°- and BOmDOSEd 0f Only sixty members; just one squadron as they used to be in the old days when the P090 rode out into the city of Rome and the mounted Noble Guard surrounded his carriage Their unifoi-m—thelr best-ior this great Feast of Christ- - mas. is remarkably like that of our Life Guards- gear. let timid ions Jack boots, white breaches. with i brass zeififiogzmmzhligicikihws B 1on8 plume oi‘ black‘ horse-

Then‘ there is the Swiss Guard, clothed in the sixteenth century uniform designed by Michael M. gelo. These men are rill Swiss, recruited from arm“, zenlgctzlceedm l . They are tine. reliable body of men, ‘aims BY P Ci-lirflilqlle in their wonderful uni-