IN THE DAYS OF "64.
The I_i "i CliKstrr.?s of *he Southern
Confederacy.
"Tl'o 'i 1 fiinn< memorable Christmas
day- in the south during the war,"
said Mrs Zebulon IV Vance, wife «»f
the lull! t'lilted States senator from
North Carolina. "That of 1801 was
different from any that had preceded
it because we were in arms against the
Federal government, and many «if tin*
male guests at southern homes that
day wore Confederate uniforms, ilueh
of the talk at the Christmas dinner
table was of sieges and battles ami
marches, but we were all full of hope
and confidence.
"Christinas, 18(51:, found us hut poor
ly prepared to celebrate it. Our sup
plies were few, and Confederate money
was at a heavy discount. Then came
the bitter year of ts<with the fall of
Vicksburg and the defeat at Gettys
burg. With sad faces, harmonizing
well with their dresses of coarse black
stuff, the women of the south devoted
themselves to picking lint and spinning
and weaving for husbands, fathers,
brothers and sweethearts in the field.
"Christmas, 1864—the last Christmas
of the war—dawned, and what a
gloomy festival it was for the people
of the south! *)f manufactured prod
ucts we had practically none. Our
hairpins were made of long black
thorns, with a bail of sealing wax on
the end. We had made into dresses
every scrap of available material,
while our feet were incased in home
made cloth shoes. The slaves, having
heard of 'de 'mancipation proclama
tion,' knew that they were free and
had all scattered away. Desolation
seemed to reign over everything, of
all the Christmas days I have known
that last Christmas in the south in
wartime is the one <>f all others that I
am most certain never to forget."—
Pittsburg Dispatch.
CANADA'S CHRISTMAS STAMP.
The Only Known Postal Memorial of
the December Holiday.
Stamp collectors say that the great
est Christmas gift ever made was a
postage stamp of the value of 2 cents.
On Christmas. IS9B, Great Itrilain pre
sented to all her thirty-seven colonies
a Christmas gift in the form of two
cent letter postage in place of the rate
of 5 cents, which for decades bad ex
isted.
In honor of this event Canada placed
on sale on Christmas morning, 1898, a
Christmas postage stamp, the only
stamp of tiie kind ever issued by any
country. In many respects it: is unique
among all postage stamps.
It was larger than our Columbian
stamps and showed a map of the world
with the possessions of the British em
pire printed in bright scarlet. The
oceans appeared ii'i bluish green and
the frame of the design in black.
Across the top was the inscription
"Canada Postage," with a crown rest
ing on laurel leaves tucked in between
the words. At the extreme lower part
of the design is the declaration, "We
hold a vaster empire than has been;"
above this, "Xmas, 1808," and a figure
"2" in each lower corner.
It is worthy of note that this Cana
dian stamp was printed by a hank
note company in the United States. It
marked a new epoch in stamp produc
tion, having three colors. Bicolored
stamps are not uncommon, but up to
that time no country had ever attempt
ed a three color stamp.
This Christmas stamp was probably
the most expensive ever issued, cost
ing the Canadian government four
times as much as the ordinary single
color stamp. Although issued on Christ
mas, 1898, the stamp's availability for
postage uses Is unlimited.—New York
Herald.
Her Little Prayer.
Former Comptroller Edward M.
Grout of New York city tells a pretty
little Christmas story.
He said that a little girl relative of
his was visiting her grandmother on
Thanksgiving day. Already the child
had begun to speculate on what Santa
Claus was to bring her at Christmas
time, and, as children—especially girls
—will do when they are at the home
of an indulgent friend, she began to
rummage through closets and drawers.
In the course of her investigation
she came upon a brand new white muff.
It was the very thing she had wanted,
and she knew that Santa Claus' chief
purchasing agent—grandma—had ob
tained it for her.
Taxed with it, grandma admitted the
truth.
"But," she said, "you must forget all
about it until Christmas day."
That night as she was being put to
bed the child astonished her mother by
adding this to her evening prayer:
"Please, God, make me forget all
about the little white muff Santa Claus
is to bring."—New York Times.
Strange Christmas Superstition.
In nortli Germany a person must not
spin during the twelve nights of Christ
mas lest lie or she should walk after
death, nor after sunset on Saturday,
for then mice will eat the work. If it
is desired to have money and luck all
the year round, one must not fail to
eat herrings on New Year's day, nor if
you wish to lie lucky must you rock an
empty cradle or spill salt wantonly or
cross knives or point at the stars. If
a dirty cloth is left on the table over
Christmas night, it will make tlie an
gels weep, if you point upward to the
rainbow it will make the angel's feet
bleed, and if you talk of cabbages
while looking at the moon you will
hurt the feelings of the man in it.—Tit-
Bits.
in Saxon Times.
In Norman and Saxon times an ox
was always roasted whole over the
Yule log at Christmas.
i m
Mn§§
Adk@!THSllll 9 §
i %
By Mrs. MOSES P. HANDY.
/"PISS ACKEItMANN opened her
(V /I i , '. v, ' s to the sunshine with a
l\/J I. startled feeling of having
overslept herself, then closed
Ihein again at the sound of the chimes
from the church around the corner,
'or it.was Christmas day, the one day,
barring Sundays, in the year which
die could really and truly call her own.
She was that overworked individual, a
popular dressmaker, going out by the
lAy. and she sometimes wished, with
E. P. Hoe's old doctor, that people
would send for somebody else some
times and let her rest. On the last
Fourth of July she had been in the
country sewing for dear life in order
to tlnlsh a belated bridal trousseau,
and on Thanksgiving she had worked
until dark to accommodate a customer
who wished to outshine her sisters-in
law at a family gathering at the house
Df her husband's father, but on Christ
mas day not even the most exacting
customer could ask her services.
And yet—was she glad It was ('hrist
mas? The associations which cluster
around the season make it a sorrowful
one to those who have nothing left of
aome excepting its memories, and, sav
ing for one brother, .Miss Ackermann
was alone in the world.
Iteally, Miss Ackermann told herself,
?he had no business to be low spirited;
she was a very fortunate person; think
how many people were starving for
lack of work, and all that, she conclud
ed vaguely as she finished her break
fast. The tea. which siie made in her
room, heating (lie water on a small gas
stove, was excellent. She was finicky
SUE FOUND HEKSEEP PACE TO FACE WITH
A BRONZED AND liKAItDEIJ MAN".
about tea, and she felt better after
drinking it. Altogether she was In
quite a cheerful mood when the little
daughter of her landlord came to wish
her a merry Christmas and bring an
invitation from her mother to eat her
Christmas dinner with them. Dinner
would be at half past 2. Miss Acker
mann thanked them very much and
would dine with them with pleasure.
Then she gave tiie little girl the pres
ent she had ready for her, a stylish
young lady doll dressed in th« latest
fashion, with coat and hat complete, a
gift which made its recipient radiant,
and sent her off to exhibit it at once.
The sermon "God's Christmas Gifts,"
from the text "Walt upon the Lord,
and he shall give thee the desire of
thy heart," made her homesick again,
the desire of her heart seemed so ex
ceedingly far off. Miss Ackermann
was not one of those who forget, hard
as she had tried not to remember. She
found her thought straying back ten
years to the seaside, to her old home
and Jack. Their parents were neigh
bors. Her father and mother lived in
the little fishing town and took board
ers in the season. Ills father was the
farmer who supplied them with vege
tables and fruit. Jack drove the wagon
which brought the daily supply to the
cottages. They would have known
each other in any case, but the morn
ing interviews over lettuce and straw
berries, melons and tomatoes brought
them closer together.
Every one approved of their engage
ment, and the day was set, when a
great misfortune happened—her moth
er and oldest sister were killed in a
buggy which they were driving by a
train at a railroad crossing. This was
bad enough surely, but "troubles hunt
In couples," and the blow seemed to af
fect her father's mind. lie became al
most childish, took to bis bed and
would have no one but her wait upon
him. To complete tiie roll of disaster
her brother suddenly brought home as*
his wife a girl whom none of his
friends would have chosen, and the
old man would not let ills daughter-in
law come near him. To tell the truth,
she had no desire to help Miss Acker
mann in her duties. She had married
for a step up and said plainly that she
did not mean to slave to please any
body.
"You see how it is, Jack," Miss Ack
ermann said, with streaming eyes. "I
cannot leave father, even for you."
"Bring him to our house with you,"
replied Jack. "There is plenty" of room,
and father and mother won't mind."
"No, Jack; thanks ever so much, but
that wouldn't do any good. Father
CAMERON COUNTY PRKSS, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1907
wouldn't be satisfied. Resides, he takes
up so much of in \ time that I couldn't
my duly by you." And Jack had t<>
submit with the best grace he could
muster.
I "nfortunately he consulted the doc
tor who attended Mr. Ackermann as
to the probable duration of the old
man's illness.
The doctor assured ldiu that the
trouble was chielly hypochondria and
that he might live for years in tilt
same state or might possibly recover
ns suddenly as he had collapsed. At all
events tin- patient was in no immedi
ate danger.
The inquiry would have done no
harm had it not been that the doctor
had a talking wife, to whom he told
everything, so before long the whole
neighborhood was saying that Jack
Ralston bad been asking how long old
man Ackermanu could live. Of course
the story can*- to Miss Ackernmnn's
*nrs, to her intense indignation and
still greater grief. Jack could not deny
It In toto, and short of positive denial
she would listen to no explanation.
There was a quarrel, a broken engage
ment, and Jack Kalston went west,
leaving his sweetheart well nigh bro
ken hearted, with only duty to console
her, and sometimes duty Is the best
consolation one can have.
If he had l»oen less Impatient there
would have been no trouble. Dr. Bland
did not understand the effect which n
broken heart sometimes produces upon
the body. Mr. Ackermanu died before
the winter was over. Jack Ralston
came home as soon as he heard the
news, but Miss Ackermann had gone to
the city with a cousin of her mother
and was obdurate. Her filial affection
found satisfaction in refusing to for
give the lover who had desired her fa
ther's death. She would not even see
him, and so the affair ended.
Well, it was too late now, and she
was a fool to be dreaming of it. The
sermon was ended, and the music of
the organ roused her to the conscious
ness of things present and to come.
She took part with the congregation in
the rest of the service and then hur
ried home to make a hasty toilet for
dinner.
There was only a quiet family gath
ering. The fiance of the oldest daugh
ter, a traveling salesman in the em
ploy of a wholesale house, was the
life of the party. lie was considered
a very bright young man and a good
talker. lie was at his best today and
kept them all amused with stories of
Ills travels, so that Miss Ackermanu
had only to listen with a semblance of
interest.
"By the way. Miss Ackermann," he
said presently, "I met an old friend of
yours on this last trip. Ralston was
the name—J. W. Ralston. It was in
Idaho, Boise City. He is doing well
In mines out there and is quite chum
my with one of my best customers,
who lias some money in his business.
The two were together at my rooms in
the hotel, and be saw Min's picture on
the bureau. I always carry it around
to keep me out of temptation—guard
lan angel business, you know, Min—
and he saw it. You know people say
you two look alike, and the likeness
comes out strong in that photo. It
struck him all of a heap. 'Excuse nie,'
he said, 'but will you tell me whose
picture that is? It looks very much
like some one I knew ten years ago.'
" 'Certainly,' said I. 'That is my
best girl. She is thought very much
like a lady who lives in the same
house, Miss Ackermann, from New Jer
sey.' Well, it turned out to be the
very same. lie asked lots of questions
about you, especially whether you were
married. I gave you a good character,
and I guess you'll be hearing from him
before long. Ross says he is a bache
lor."
Miss Ackermann controlled herself
sufficiently to smile. "Thank you, we
were friends and neighbors when I
was a girl," she replied, and in a mo
ment more they were all laughing at a
comical anecdote which the drummer
was telling in bis best style. It was
no wonder he sold goods.
When the dinner was over the host
ess excused herself soon upon the plea
of domestic duties, leaving Miss Acker
mann with the young people. So,
knowing herself in the way, she lin
gered but a few minutes. Back in her
room she gave way and took refuge in
that last solace of her sex, a good cry.
Her overwrought nerves demanded re
lief and would not be denied.
She was still huddled, a disconsolate
heap, on the lounge when there came
a tap at the door which she recognized
as that of her little friend. She sat
up and hurriedly straightened her hair,
trusting that in the dim light of the
fast falling twilight the child would
notice nothing amiss, sharp as she was.
"Come in," she called as the knock
was repeated.
"Here's a gentleman to see you." the
child said, with the air of a person
who confers a favor. "He says he is
an old friend, so I brought him right
up." Miss Ackermann remembered
that, it being.Christmas day, the maid
would be out and that consequently
the little girl would answer the door.
"Thank you," she said, "you may
go." Then she found herself face to
face with a bronzed and bearded man
whose eyes only were familiar.
"Well, Annie," he said in a voice she
knew so well, "here I am once more."
She held out both hands with an
eager gesture. "Oh, Jack, Jack!" sh<«
cried.
A moment more and she was sob
bing on his shoulder while his arms
held her as though they would never
let go.
An English Superstition.
The most popular superstition in
many parts of England is that every
remnant of Christmas decoration must
be removed before Candlemas day.
Should a sprig of holly or other ever
green be left in any house one of Its
occupants will die within the year.
J i,_ '' ' " •' —-—• —
Wlhatt Grarofip®
| 41 1 i
SOME folks say 'at Red Riding Hood
She didn't live at all nor go
Down where th' wolf was in 'at wood,
But grarmpa says 'at it is -JO!
1 An' somo folks say 'at Goldilocks
Don't meet th' bears an' run away,
' A-bumpin' into trees an' rocks,
But grampa's seen her many a day.
My grampa takes me on his knee
An' tells me all 'bout Puss in Boots
An' 'bout th' fairies you can't see
For their in-vis—their funny suits.
An' he knows where the beanstalk is
'At Jack th' Giant Killer climb'
To get 'at gold an' things o' his,
'Cause grampa's seen it many a time.
I An' Cinderella, too, my pa
' Ist laugh an' say 'at he don't know,
But grampa—w'y, my grampa saw
Her slip 'at slipper on her toe!
; An' Simple Simon —would you think
He never was like some folks say?
But grampa only laugh an' wink,
'Cause he has seen him many a day.
,
j CAI'Bi: GUAM PA S SEEN IT MANY A TIME.
'At Alferd Brown, 'at lives nex' door
To us, I don't like him, 'uhcause
He say 'at he don't think no more
'At there can be a Santa Claus,
But grampa whisper in my ear
'At Santa will find me all right,
'Cause he has seen his sleigh an' deer
An' pack o' playthings many a night.
My grampa knew Boy Blue an' all
Th' children 'at live in th' shoe.
I When Humpty Dumpty had 'at fall
He's standin' close as me an you!
j An he say ist to don't buhlieve
Th' folks 'at cay there ain't no chime
1 O' reindeer bells on Christmas eve,
'Cause he has heard 'em many a time.
—Chicago Tribune.
THE PRESIDENT'S CHRISTMAS
How the Big and Little Roosevelts
Celebrated Last Year.
President and Mrs. Roosevelt had
only the immediate members of their
family to celebrate Christmas. Just
before going to lied on Christinas eve
the children liung their stockings in
the president's room, and bright and
early the next morning they were up
to claim their prizes. Everything that
was ever designed for a Christmas
stocking found a place in the line that
hung from the mantel, and when the
boys awakened there was a merry
scramble to see just what was inside.
After breakfast the president, Mrs.
Roosevelt and the children went to the
library to exchange presents too big
for the stocking.
Each member of the family had a
special corner for his or her gifts, and
there were any number of mysterious
little parcels to be opened. This very
pleasant little ceremony took the en
tire morning.
After this the president walked to
his church, Grace Reformed, and the
rest of the family went to St. John's
Episcopal church.
In the afternoon the president, Mrs.
Roosevelt and the children went over
to the home of Captain and Mrs. Wil
liam Sheffield Cowles, where they al
ways spend Christmas afternoon and
where there is always a tree for the
Roosevelt and Cowles children. They
were joined there by Representative
and Mrs. Nicholas Longworth, and a
little family reunion was held.
After the visit to the Cowles' the
president played tennis with ids sons.
At night was given the Christmas
dinner in the private dining room.
Among the few invited guests were
Senator Lodge, Dr. Rixey and family
and Mr. and Mrs. Longworth. The
string section of the Marine band fur
nished the music for the evening.
From the Yuletide Cynic.
Thank heaven, it isn't only the aris
tocrat who can have a family tree at
Christmas.
Bo Christmas white- or Christmas fO-een,
It's all thi! same to you
If Christmas finds you all serene
And doesn't make you blue.
It doesn't take a magician to trans
form a small boy into a turkey gob
bler.
\\ lien Santa Clans comes down tin?
chimney lie chases many a man up the
spout.
It's the vanity or the sex that
prompts tiie female turkey to wonder
how she is going to be dressed for the
1 Christmas dinner.
QUEER CHRISTMAS PRESENTS,
Some of the Things Found by the
British ; _ettcr Office.
During the tc .1' preceding Christ
mas about UIO.UOO parcel:! are handled
every twenty-four hours by British
postoflice ollicials, or approximately
1,7.~>0.000 for the entire ten days during
which the rush lasts.
The contents of many of the parcels
are, to say the least, somewhat curl
ous, says the Pictorial Magazine. A
hamper of live leeches, for instance
seems a strange sort of Christmas
gift. So does an artificial leg. Yet
both of these were among the parcels
"treated" last Christmas. Another long
coffin shaped box excited suspicion on
account of the odor emanating there
from. On opening it, however, nothing
more dreadful was found than a young
alligator in a dormant condition. An
other evil smelling hamper was found
to contain 110 fewer than 300 dead
mice, while yet a third inclosed a de
funct puppy consigned for postmortem
purposes to an eminent surgeon.
Christmas presents of live animals
are constantly being sent through the
post notwithstanding the fact that the
practice is strictly prohibited. I'igeons,
rabbits, white mice, rats, ferrets, silk
worms, lizards, snakes, guinea pigs
and even on one occasion a pet lamb
have all been dealt with at some pe
riod or other.
No longer ago than last Christmas
eve a box was intercepted containing
150 live frogs, anil a short time before
twelve healthy young adders were dis
covered in an innocent looking hamper
which was supposed to contain poultry.
Some of the inclosures are decidedly
sarcastic. Of this class was a two foot
long cane bearing the indorsement: "A
Christmas present for Johnny. For
outward application only. To be well
rubbed in."
KING HEROD'S ROOSTER.
The Legend of St. Stephen, First of
the Noble Army of Martyrs.
Ever since that first Christmas eve
the cock has crowed all night long on
the anniversary to keep away evil
spirits, for the cock is a holy bird and
a knowing one. There is a pleasant
tale of him and St. Stephen, the first
martyr, whose day is Dec. 20, close by
his dear Lord's.
St. Stephen was King Herod's stew
ard, it seems, who served him in the
kitchen and at table. One night as he
was bringing in the boar's head for his
master's dinner he saw the star shin
ing over Bethlehem. Immediately he
set down the huge platter and ex
claimed :
"No longer, Herod, will I be thy serv
ant, for i> greater King than thou is
born."
"What ailetli theeV" cried the king
wrathfully. "Do you lack meat or
drink that you would desert my serv
ice for another's?"
"Nay," answered Stephen; "I lack |
neither meat nor drink, but the Child
that is born this night is greater than j
all of us, and him only will I serve."
"That is as true," quoth llerod, smit
ing the table with his fist, "as that this
roast cock 011 the platter shall crow be
fore us."
Hardly were the words out of his
mouth when the cock stretched his
neck and crowed lustily, "C'hristus na
tus est!" At this proof that Stephen's
words were true Herod was so angry
that; he made his soldiers take Stephen
outside the walls of Jerusalem and
stone him to death. And this is the
reason why unto this day St. Stephen
is the patron of stonecutters.—Abbie
Parwell Brown In I.ippineott's Maga
zine.
THE NEWSBOYS' PIE.
It Took Man Who Looked Like Bing
ham to Find It.
Tramp! Tramp! Tramp! Two hun
dred and fifty pairs of little feet, keep
ing step, are marching to dinner in the
New York newsboys' lodging house.
Five hundred pairs more are restlessly
awaiting their turn upstairs. In prison,
hospital and almshouse the great
city is host and gives of her plenty.
Here an unknown friend has spread a
generous repast for the waifs who all
the rest of the days shift for them-j
selves as best they can—turkey, cof j
fee and pie, with vegetables to till in.
As the file of eagle eyed youngsters
passes down the long tables there are
swift movements of grimy hands, and
shirt waists bulge, ragged coats sag
at the pockets. Hardly is the file seat
ed when the plaint rises: "I ain't got
110 pie! It got swiped on me!" Seven
despoiled ones hold up their hands.
The superintendent laughs—it is
Christmas eve. He taps one tentative
ly on the bulging shirt. "What have
you here, my lad?"
"Me pie," responds he, with an inno
cent look. "I was scart it would get
stole."
A little fellow who has been eyins
one of the visitors attentively takes his
knife out of his mouth and points it at
him with conviction.
"I know you," he pipes. "You're a
p'liee commissioner. 1 seen yer picture
in the papers. You're Bingham!"
The clatter of knives and forks
ceases suddenly. Seven pies creep
stealthily over the edge of the table
and are replaced 011 as many plates.
The visitors laugh. It was a case of
mistaken identity.—Century.
Where Bells Ring Underground.
Near Raleigh, in Nottinghamshire.
England, there is a valley said to have
been caused by an earthquake several
hundreds of years ago, and it is now
usual on Christmas morning for old
men and women to tell their children
and young friends togo to the valley
stoop down and hear the bells ringing
merrily in the ruins of the church un
der the ground.—Tit-Bits.
y ,i
ClamteMs ©na
TT IRsiia<sl]t\o
, t
SECTIE'i MiV OF WAR. TAI'T Is
part owner or one of llie largest
ranches in Texas, the Coleman-
Fulton ranch, so called, a 175,000
acre "farm" eleven miles from Corpus
Cliristi on the San Antonio and Aran
sas Pass railroad. One hundred men
are always and 2,">0 men sometime*
employed on it.
"I was so fortunate as to have the
pleasure of seeing a unique Christmas
tree on this ranch," writes Mary Elise
Muncey in the St. Louis Globe-Demo
crat. "Christmas morning, though
warm, was foggy, and a slow rain fell,
but by 12 o'clock the sun came out
and the people at the ranch house be
gun to make their preparations. Ever
since early morning the employees
from the different farms had been com
ing in. All kinds of vehicles were
pressed into service. Some came on
horseback and some on foot. There
were many children.
"I saw what I had never seen be
fore, a growing Christmas tree. .Just
in front of the house was a large mul
"I SAW WHAT r IfAl) NEVER SEEN BEFORE,
A GROWING CHRISTMAS TREE."
berry tree. The ladles of the house
came out about '2 o'clock and deco
rated tin; tree, with the assistance of
some of the men. Even the men re
quired stepladders to reach the top
most boughs. First, the ladies gave
them some artificial icicles, which they
hung on the branches in great profu
sion. As the sun was shining brightly
by this time, it gave the icicles a very
glittering appearance, and the wind
commencing to blow, shook them gen
tly, making the illusion more perfect
Then long bviglit ribbons of many col
ors were suspended from the topmost
limbs and fruit and candies tied on
with ribbons of the same color—or
anges with orange ribbon, apples with
red ribbon, limes with green ribbon,
etc. Small toys were suspended from
the tree; large ones were at the base
It presented a very gorgeous spectacle
and the sight of the happy children
that surrounded it made one wish tc
be a child again to enjoy it to the ut
termost. But the best was yet to come
"In the front yard were the presents
intended for the grown people, and
each man received one. One was a tint;
surrey. Five were each given fifty and
seventy-five dollar saddles. Several
married men got handsome metal bed
steads, with springs and mattresses.
Twenty or thirty fine hats, costing
$7 apiece, were distributed and rnanj
other articles, all the best of their
kind. I saw a j-oung man who re
ceived an all leather suit case. This
last item may seem strange on a ranch
but there are many polished gentle
men among the employees who would
consider suit cases very necessary
should they have occasion to visit the
city.
"All this while music was to be
heard from a band stationed on the
front porch, where many of the visit
ors were seated. After the Santa Clans
of the Christmas tree had retired and
the presents to the grownups had been
distributed all repaired to the porch
and front yard to see again the glee
ful children and the tree, and surely it
was a thing of beauty and, with its
fruits and flowers, looked as though it
had been transplanted from fairyland.
"The people that came from a dis
tance departed before nightfall, but
those that lived near by remained for
an evening of music and good cheer,
and thus ended a happy Christmas
day."
"The Quuen's Christmas Card."
Queen Alexandra has not given up
her interest in behalf of the unemploy
ed., Last Christmas she sanctioned a
unique plan to raise more funds for
them. This was in the shape of the
Issue of a Christmas book, consisting
of poems, stories, sketches, drawings
and music, which was entitled "The
Queen's Christmas Card." Algernon
Charles Swinburne, Alfred Austin, the
poet laureate; Thomas Hardy, Marie
Corel!!, Ilall Caine, George Meredith.
Arthur Wing I'iuero, Sir Laurence
Alma-Tadeina. Edwin A. Abbey, Wil
liam Holman Hunt, Sir Edward John
Poynter and Sir Edward Elgar are
among the host of those who contrib
uted. The production of the book was
practically gratuitous. It sold for
half a crown, and the proceeds were
devoted to the queen s unemployed
fund.