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Christmas At Royal Windsor

How the Festival was Spent Through the Centuries By MAURICE LIGHTFOOT (Doyen of Windsor Journalists)

At Windsor Castle the festival of Christmas has been celebrated with great JOYousness as well as with great solemnlty. throughout the long centuries. In early days, large gatherings of the nobles of England assembled with their Sovereign at Christmastide at the Castle, and good wine flowed and huge quantit- ies of provisions, including many delicacies, were disposed of.

Queen Victoria and her children Spent a number oi happy Christ- mastldes at the Castle, but after the death of the Prince Consort Her Majesty held most of hcr Christmas parties at Osborne House in the Ilse oi Wight. King Edward

VII did not spend Christmas Day_

at Windsor while reigning, nor has King George. Fruit and vegetables, however, are sent from the Royal Gardens at Windsor for the Royal table.

There is much in the appearance of the present cuisine at the Castle that carries the mind back to oid Christmas times, when Royalty had its clerks of the buttery, its trench- Pl‘ Scrapers. flflgon vassals, etc. Tho barons of beef were cooked, or rather scorched, before huge wood fires; vegetables were rarely used; oxen and sheep were frequently roastd whole; md a. round of beef, washed down by strong ale. was a common breakfast, even for young ladies of rank.

CASTLEPS MODERN KITCHNE:

The modern Castle kitchen, hung round with brass and copper uten- siis, has one great fireplace, at which twenty joints can be roasted at once. .Ruws of tables lino the hall oi Royal cookery. and when the Court is at Windsor the white- jacketed and white-capped cooks are busily employed in putting the finishing touches to the dainty dish- es to be set before the King and Queen. .

In the centre of the kitchen is a very large table which was former- ly covered with a. white cloth, on which the dishes of each course were arranged in their proper order as they will appear at the Royal table.

The large central table in the kitchen is now turned into a. steam- heated hot-plate. '

0n important occasions. this is brilliant with the gold and sliver dishes on which ‘the dinner is serv- ed. At Christmas time, there might be seen in the Royal Kitchen the baron of beef, the famous sirloin weighing over three hundred pounds. There was a very large number of persons, roasting-cooks and boiling-cooks, confectionen. sculiions, etc., employed in the scul-

lery regions of Windsor Castle; and .

at Christmas time the fires were kept alight, all night and day. The huge carved oak fire-screen is said to be the only pre-Cromwellian piece oi furniture left in the Castle.

The Christmas pic was a most important affair, of huge dimen- sions, and its production was a

-work oi _no slight difficulty, not

only so far as its ornamentation was concerned, but also as regards cooking such an immense mass of comestlbles.

Next in high estate was a great boars head, bedecked with parsley and with the traditional lemon in his mouth. A goodly pmceflslo W” that in which these two chivalrous dishes were the chief actors" home as they were, on the shoulders of Royal footmen, blazing in 808K195 and gold lace.

APPETIBING SIGHT:

No more appetislng sight to III Aldermanlc gourmand could there be in those good old days than the Royal larder at Windsor Castle. Eye had nag gem such‘ a. bounteous dis- play oi unctuous viands and savory cakes. This bower of beef, this para-- disc of poultry. this temple o! tum" and turkeys, this vIIwYB-Yd 0! Vim!‘ son, this Alhambra oi hams, this monument of mutton. "fined “k” an amalgam oi all the London markets and noted Drill/MOB B11096. all rolled into one: the whole rend- er“ ygdipnt by a touch of Royll splendour and lllhbd "P I'm‘ “my

and mistletoe that tell of jovial Christmas.

I have seen two pictures which give a good idea of Christmas time at Windsor Castle in days gone by. One ls called “ The Boar's Head and Christmas Pie for the Royal House- hold at Windsor Castle," which shows the game pic on a huge ruuud dish, richly ornamented and sur- mounted by u large bunch of llully and a. small crown; the Royal Arms appearing in ornamentation. Thc dish is borne on the shoulders of four footmeu. It is preceded by lhc boat's head—stcanuug and also decorated with holly and carried by one footman. After it colucs a line of footmen carrying the various other dishes. The game pie is rep- resented by being very; large.

LIFT INSTALLED t

The second picture, "The Lardcr, Windsor Castle, at Christmas Time," shows mullioned windows and arch- cd walls. Dozens of hauls arc hung from their walls, and near tllc win- dows large sirloius, etc., rest on tables. There are tall supports and hooks from which are hung innum- erable kinds oi game, ilurcs, etc., venison, turtles, and what looks like a very glorified peacock. A great deal of holly deck many of the dishes.

King Edward VII imd a service lift installed in the kitchen which takes the joint straight up to thc dining-room, and this, of course. obviates the necessity of the formal ceremonial of carrying of joints.

Christmas wasJhe favourite festi- val oi the Prince Consort, who clung to the kindly custom of his native country, which makes i: a. day for the biterchaugc of gifts us marks of affection and goodwill.

‘Ifheodore Martin, in his "Llfc of Prince Consort," tells us that the Queen fully shared the Prince's feelings in this respect, and the same usage was then introduced into their home and was cver affor- ward continued. Christmas lrccs were set up in the Queen's and Prince's rooms, beside which WCFB placed the gifts with wlllCll ouch took pleasure in surprising the other, while similar trees were set up in another room with ihc gills for the ‘Household.

QUEEN'S SACRIFICE :

Ono Of the most notable Royall Christmases at the Castle i rcluclu- ber was in the your 1899, when Queen Victoria, contrary to hcr usual custom, and at the SllCYiilCf) 0f those habits which bcczlulc fl second nature to a liic 0l'LlL‘l'L‘(‘l so regularly as hers, decided to rc- main at Windsor instead of proceed- ing to Osborne as previously ur- rapged, in order to be in close touch with her ministers, who wcrc sorely troubled with the gravity ni the situation in South Africa lu connection with the Boer War. It was thirteen years since Her Maj- esty spent the Christmas season ul. Windsor.

The Queen was full of gricf and anxiety over the loss of her soldiers and sailors in the war, and on Box- ing Day she was present; nt a great gathering in the magnificent st. George's Hall at the Caustic. wllcu her guests were the vrlvcs and families of some of her bruvc dc- fenders, invited to share ilu- juy- ous hospitality oi the gracious lady whose heart cvcr bcat with lhc weal and woe oi her subjects.

In he!‘ two-wheel clluir, sur- rounded by two of her childrcil, two of her daughters-in-luw, umny grandchildren, and the ladlcs- of the Court, the great Queen present- ed a picturesque figure.

In the centre oi the llpilflillPlli. was a. huge Christmas trcc, scnl. from Windsor Forest, loaded wLth useful garments for adults and toys for children. Only a fcw works previously the German Elnpercr and Empress were entertained at n State Banquet in this uoblc apart- ment. The contrast bctwecu the two gatherings could not be greater.

The room was lighted by oil lamps, and the Head Lamplighter was in attendance to sec that they burned brightly. Neither gas nor electricity was used at t he Castle in those days, and I recollect that colaa was the only oil used.

GIFTS FOR GUESTS:

The wives and children of the Guardsmen and Reservists-nearly 200 in number-partook oi tea, and then the gifts were distributed. The humble guests not only took away from the Christmas tree the useful presents so carefully chosen for them, but the memory of the grac- ious and kindly feelings of hcr Majesty.

(Continued on Page 7i

‘. i

Tue cuaatcfislowu ovARviau

I Masqaera

"Thirty shillings between us: flve days to Christmas; and our next engagement a fortnight hencm- that's the position," said D6119"- “Im afraid we're in for B- pfei-W thin time during the festive season. Any suggestions?"

MeyLhOfll shook his head re- proachfully. “You and Poppy shouldn't have turned down that cabal-cl. fwlulluvmcut. George!’

"Don't be absurd, 5W1!" "led Poppy mun-ll. "George and I wouldn't drvuul of dcserting you."

Fur luilllf‘ yclu-s before Darrell had

By, ALFRED HEARD

Public. Listen!" He unfolded his scheme. "Bounds feasible,‘ ‘admitted Dar- rell, when his brother-in-luw had finished. “What do you think, Poppy?" "It's a winner!" replied Poppy,

enthusiastically. ‘Let's start rehcars- '

ing at once!"

At a quarter past one in the after- noon on the twenty-third of De- cember, when the lunch-lime crowd was at its thickest, a wail-dressed young man wearing a biuck mask across theupper part of his face,

-. I wwuu

ti» if!‘ i. yd

To lind himself gripped tightly by the collar and jerked backward.

appeared on thetscene, Poppy and hcr brather-professionally known as Wilford ‘and Meythorn, enter- iuiners-hnd worked as a double ‘tin-n. It‘ was as a member of a sea- side. concert party that George Dar- rcll had met "Poppy Wilford; and tcuor and soubrette had promptly fallen in love with each other.

Before marriage could be thought

of, ilO\\'(‘\'(‘1‘, thc future of Poppy's brother hnd l0 bc considered. The young comedian, who was clever but vcry tvlnpcrulucntal, disliked the idea of working as a single turn, and cicclurcfl that llc would be 10st. without a partner as sympa- thetic and uudl-rstanding as Poppy. in the cuwlunstflnoal, Darrell pro- posed that |)l'0lil(‘l‘ and sister should continue i0 work as f1 double turn, and that only those engagements which culled for the services of all three should bu accepted. ‘This ar- rangement to llcld good until Mey- thorn found another suitable part- nor. v The proposal was received with enthusiasm; Poppy and George were married ns soon as the concert purty disbanded at the end of the season; and all went well until lhcy struck u. bnd patch with Pin- foldls P(‘.".l'1l'.\$ l-‘lcrrois nt Sandy. conlbc,

"Old Piufoldls a. sport-I‘il say that for hhu.“ said Darrell, reflect- ivcly. "Ruin lhl-cc days out of four; u. soprano who quurrelled with f'\'(‘l'_‘y'|.‘()(|_\/I and a pianist W110 suf. Icrcd from rhculuaiisnl in the fing- crs! Ills :1 wonder Pinfold didn't have u nervous as well as a financial breakdown"

"Yrs, he's one of the best." agreed Mcythorn, "and when he obtained for you and Poppy the offer of that cubflrcir?’

"Oh, do bc quiet, Sydl" bl'okc in Poppy. "George is far too good for zl cabaret show, anyway, He 113g suns: in grand opera, even if it was only in [he chorus. One of these duys he'll be billed at Covent Gar- drn its Signor Darrclll, and the cri- tics will rave ovcr him. I wonder whciilcr the luau in the street could tcll the difference between the voice of a famous operatic tenor and- what's the matter, Syd?" She star- ed at hcr brother, who was holding up his hand and frowning heavily.

"I've got an idea, Poppy, and I think it's a good onel"

"Don't keep it to yourself, old mun," cllircatcd Darrell.

"It's an idea for a concerted item, saith the street for stage." Mey- Plorn rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "You would be the principal actor," George, but both Poppy and I would be cast for important parts. With ordinary luck we ought to strength- cn our present financial position considcrnbly. Of course, the pcr- formance might be a flop-But I've gg-eul fulthin lhc good old British

z

dumped down a small harmonium and camp-stool on tllc edge of’ the kerb in a wide street just off one of tho busiest thoroughfares in the West End of London, and bowed courteously to a. few curious on- lockers.

By the time he had seated him- self and played two or three intro-

‘The Keldercotes

(Colltinucd iroln page 4)

Miss Riddicllailglrs gentle and “m” m“! W35 WP)’ Cuscr. Bile looked at the flustcrcd Lolmp, with her heart in hcr gym-s. 1t was pass- "18 strange that silo should lct this intense emot cu show so plainly . whore tllcrl: were people such as Tilt‘: hard and bright Marjorie Mflaerisou. The scientist was coolly assessing that eager gaze.

"But. really-how could I take a, beautiful thingllke-J’

“Will yOll, please, Miss Baynton?" Norah Riddlchauglfs pleading was all as strange as her intent regard of the pretty iucc of Lorna Baynton. "I-I don't know how to explain- but I rcnlly do th ul; that 3t, would give thls—lills kindly and loving spirit of Kclciercotcs a sense oi truest happiness, were anyone to accept whut little gifts it makes from time lo Lulu.”

"I put the things away under lock and key." Since home's bc- w.ldercd look had been focussed on hlm,_l?.lddiehaugi1 thought it best to reply and to explain. “According to Norah, and to Professor Cull- ningham, that's illc very worst thing I could do. 'l‘hcy think this ghost of ours derives some sort of peace from its ability to nluke those gifts-If you care to accept the stone, Mia Baynton, by all means do so."

A sharp hiss come from Marjorie Magerison.

"Wish that llitlc old woman would wander my way," she murmured. "I'd not bother to bc_ ethical, I as- sure you!"

Tho calm pale face of Msa Norah Riddiehaughwas turned to Miss Magerlsou. It held all the girl's at- tention.

"She may come to you yet, Misti Magorlsom-then you'll have oppor- tunity to make up your mind exactly what to do."

. . . The shadows were darken- ing about the great hail. Servants cams to attend to the fire and to the lights. A wind had risen and in it came a soughlng as of snow and little ercaks and whispers grew be- hind the anc ent oak that was everywhere wlthlu the house called Keldercotcs.

Professor Cunningham courlcollr- ly took Miss ftiddlchnlzglfs arm again and lcd hcr nca-xcr to tllc bi;

- in tho place where

vductory chords, quite a good aud- ience had gathered to enjoy the en- tertainment. The ‘ -‘ musician then produced some slips oi card- board, selected one, and attached it with a drawing pin to the back of the harmonium. On the card was printed in bold type: ‘ON WITII THE MOTLEY-—-PAGLIACCI.' The next minute, the crowd was listen- ing to the familiar and thrilling aria sling with dramatic force in a fine tenor voice. When the last

heart-broken sob had died away no-

body moved for a few moments-a striking testimony to the artistry of tho singer. At this stage of the proceedings, the masked man unostentatlousiy hung a velvet bag on a hook at the ‘side of the harmonlum, removed the card, and proceeded to play a popular march. I-Ialf-a-dozcn people from the crowd stepped forward, and in that self-conscious manner which characterlses the average Englishman when he performs an iwt o! benevolence in public, drop- ped coina into the bag. The music- ian signified his thanks with a smile and a slight inclination ‘of the 119841.‘ and when he had finished Plflylug the march, selected another card and pinned it- on the back of the harmonium. This time the in. "Plption read: ‘YOUR. TINY HAND IS FROZEN-BOHEMEL’ Pllwlliis well-known grifl, was rendered with such admirable taste and. feeling that the audience grew blazer every mlnut. The last note was st ll faintly audible when a loud (Continued on page 7)

llcarthMiss Bayntonislowly put the damond into a pouch she had formed out 0f a tny lacs handker- chief. She was not decided . . fiho WOI-ild knowgatsr what to do, she real-ea to filaulsllaugll. ‘ When-eat Miss Marjorie Magerison smiled across at her latest admirer

» and whereat Guy Ponsonby again

scratched his poll in uttermost stupe- faction. _

The promised snow had come. Keldercoics strained and vibrated under the pressure of a high wind and its driving burden. It oom- plained once again to the night, as it had done so many times before in it four centuries of existence.

"The old pbice rather likes a fight." .

Professor Cunningham was warily watching his host through wreathing cigar smoke. l-Ic and Bruce Riddle- haugh were in the study. There was a gay noise from the billiard room and the tom-tom throbbing of dance music from the hall . . - but here. the ncvcist worked and rested. it was nothing untoward. Cunningham thought th s room the finest 1n Keldercotea. lt had life-dis walls and its floors seemed more than woodwork; they were fabrics impregnated with the quiet lives of people gone, whose spirits had remained in a place they

loved. A whimsy of a thought-but J

Cunningham would not reject it.

“Yes? Rlddlehaugh slowly re~ plied, "Kelderootes is big enough not only to like a fight, but win it."

"Docs your sister," Cunningham took a cur'ous way, "hold the same idea about this place as you do? I mean to say, you never refer to Kcldercotes as a. thing . . . an in- animate structure . . . you always grant it a. sort of scntleucc; soul, if you like that better."

“She is rather more inclined that way than I am myself," Riddlehaugil smiled. "In fact I m'ght palliate my- self by saying I've caught the queer habt from her,"

And he did not know that Profes- sor Cunningham had set a trap with careful words, to spring it up- on a vital truth.

Cunningham sipped his whisky and soda.

dwell, Christmas Day in the morn ing—I suppose we'll all wait up to hear the heralding bells, but for my part I'd as lief go to bed. I'm vory tired. Has your sister retired. by the way? I ask because I don't think she seemed so well this after- noon. That excitement about the diamond wasift good for 1161'. Y0" know."

"I guessed it wasn't-she took on one of her peculiar moods, I noticed- Yes, she's gone to rest this hour past."

"Hope the ghost doesn't walk . . -"

"You never told me how much you'd decided on, Cunningham. It's

' plain to be seen you've some clear-

cut thought in mild. I know you too well. old man. Como on, xvhat about it?"

10h, nothing much _ might tell you I've proved to my cntre satisfaction. mainly from measurements and panel-tapping, that a secret way goes through these

. Only I

“Neither supernatural

'i%i% i$%iéldi§i$%ifi ifi%idifiid ‘

48-11.“: Ended In Love Pretty Stow 0f 77*?

First Christmas Tree - ' g Recezilgd By Legend

The custom of celebrating the Yuletide with a Christmas tree gally decorated, it is said, originated in Germany. A pretty legend which is related regarding the flrsirChrist- mas-tree in Gerlnany tells of a humble cottage home where two children lived, near a wood. The children sometimes helped their father in his labor of cutting wood. Ono winter night, with the storm howling outside, the woodcutterk family sat at their bcarthsido cat- ing a frugal supper of dry broad.

There came a tapping at the door, and a childish voice cried: "Oh ,let mo in, prayl I am a poor child with nothing to eat and no home to 8o to." The children of the cottage opened the door to the "starnger child," and buds him wel- come, sharlng their dry bread with him. Then they took him into their sleeping chamber and gave him their bed, while they slept on the hard bench. During the night the children were awakened to the mel-

ody of a harp under their window. When they tip-toad to the window they saw a mun o! children. clad in garments of silver, with golden harps in their hands, standing be- fore the humble cottage. Again a tap at the door, and as before the stranger child stood on the thresh- old, a radiance gleaming around his curling hair.

"I am the Christ-Child, who wan- ders through the world bringing peace and happiness to good child- ren," He said. "You took Me in Ind cared for Mo when you thought I was I. poor child, and now you shall have uy blessing."

Breaking a twig from a fir tree growingnear the cottage. He plant- ed it in the ground, saying: "The

I twig shall become a tree, and shall

bring forth fruit year by year for you." The legend adds that the fir- twlg grew and became a. Christmas tree and every Yuletide there hung on its branches golden apples and sliver nuts for the wood-cutter‘: children.

walls from that powder closet in

Lorna Bayntons bedroom, right

along the corridor." The Professor made his alarming confidence withq out appearing to notice how much

it affected his host. "And that dia-

mond which came across our path

was more than likely pushed through a tiny warp-hole in the panelling