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the epoch are part of the history 2 the race, To i e the origin of many of customs it becomes necessa ] p mes of afi- cient Etptian civilization, in ' the ancy of the race; East and West and North and South, the period of | ¥ the winter solstice was ever a per- fod of rejoicing and festivity," £ The holly and the 'mistletoe are 8 survi of ancient Druidical Worship, the Christmas carol is a mew birth, purified and exalted, of the hymns of the Bsturnalia; the Christmas banquet is a reminis- gence of the feasts given in honor of ancient gods and. goddesses, when, a8 Cato said of the analog: Ous feasts in imperial Rome com- Mmemorating the birth of bele, the prospect that drew one thither was 'fot so. much the pleasure of eating and of drinking as that of finding one's self among his friends #nd of conversing with them." The'l woty idea of the Child-God, which ives its meaning to the Feast of Nativity, was prefigured and foretold in the infant gods of the Greek, the Egyptian, the Hindu and the Buddhist. Great as is the feast, nobody knows anything de- finite about its origin, nobody knows who first celebrated it, or when or where or how, Two popular observances belong- ing to Christmas are most espec- dally derived from the grim mythol- ogy and worship of our pagan an- "westors, the hanging up of the mis- tletoe and the burning of the yule Jog. The former comes from the Danes, the latter from the Scandin- avian, The whole festival is a combination of quaint and historic customs, b In some places, as in Suabia] it is customary for maidens, = inquis- itive as to their future lovers, to draw a stick of wood out of a heap to see whether he will be long or short, crooked or straight. At other times they will pour melted Jond ime gold water and from the . 0) rognosticate t! trade of Rrofcisin of the future husband. The maidens of Pful- tingen, when they wish to -ascer:|f : tain which of them will first become ® wife, form a circle, and place hin it a blindfolded gander, and a hom bo fst s is the dhe "knocking night,' lis- 'honse ing of hich ] and 8 at five o'clock. The are glued to the are presently to o he tree. Bix o'clock--a i Back swings the portsl; a ' it stands, lendent with it and tinsel. children pounce upon it. Everybody kisses every- ody else, and for wo or hours the cares of.lifé'are forgot ten. Then the is well over before the day arrives the day being spent in paying and receiving visits. A Ohristmas Eve is a fete in Paris, and the Grand Boulevard posses- sed a character distinctive of the occasion. The "reveillon,"" or Christmas Eve supper, is more im- portant to the Frenchman than the Christmas dinner, and the ibdul- gence in it may somewhat account for the general atmosphere of al most gloomy abstinence that seems to hang over Paris 'on i Day. Impecunious clerks and reck- less Latin Quarter students dinnerless for a week before that they may participate in the "re- veillon."" In the rural life of Russia, Christmas Eve is an important event. At sunset young and old assemble in the principal street] of the village, and, forming a pro- cession, visit the houses of mnot- ables, where they sing carols and receive coppers in return. = "This is supper and to] 000s Cream dates make a pretty des: sert. Take some fine dates, slit toe fruit down one side and re- go move the stone, and with a pen- knife take out any dry skin from the inside. Fill the cavity with als mond paste made into the shape of the date stone, leaving it to show a little, which gives it the appearance of the date having burst open. a little more brandy may be added from time to timer Rich: Christmas Pudaing.-- Half, a pound of beef suet, quarter of a pound of Hour, quarter of a po of bread crumbs, half a pound stoned raising, half a pound of cur- rants; two pieces of candied peel. Mix these ingredients with. three well-beaten eggs in which two wine- glassfuls of brandy have been sti red, Mix all: thoroughly; and fi basins quite full 'of the' pudding me th 0 mixture, pressing it well down Tie a Soused a cloth pres and at a lop for te OUFB. - day of ine boil the pudding four hours more. Nae Mincemeat Fritters.--Take eight ounces of good mincemeat and mix A H thoroughly with two ounces of stale: they found cake crumbs. ~The remains of Whe, sponge, Maderia, macaroons, ' éhe., called the "Kolenda,'"" and is fol-|ally the lowed by a masquerade. As soon as the evening star appears above the horizon, the colatzia, or sup- per, is served, and is religious in its character. In no land is Christmas more generally celebrated than in Bean- dinavia. The courts are closed, old quarrels are adjusted and feuds forgotten. A pretty symbol of the spirit' that reigns is the Yuletide practice of placing in a row every pair of shoes in each household; typifying that during the year the amily will live together in peace and harmony. A Christmas celebration in Pern has peculiar features. The streets baking powder. place in a greased tin. Bake in a quick oven for an hour; when cold cover with orange icing. A Simple Christmas Pudding.-- Raisins, currants, flour and suet, threequarters of a pound each; half a pound of bread crumbs, two eggs, half a pound of treacle with and squares are crowded with|serving. gaily dressed people. Droves of asses are to be seen in every dir- baking 'ovens. If. they | ection, laden with fruits, + boughs|ed Fi ding, but'if the 'ringing of bells it . florebodes the death of the listener. In Poland, it is believed that on r music it, signifies an oary Sng of) from the mountains, liquors ..and other ; 'mere ise. ce «stalls, provided with chairs and benches, are crowded by the perspirng the heavens are|Pleasure-seekers, 'who "find ico 1 - | SUGAT, cx nite nay ay nt in the sist Child may hrough the oe cold water a olinas, 'and . whose -d have spread over the face seunizy south of Mason and 's line. | ; bi: minutes, take from stove until cool, when stiff dle put on board or paper a: voll | put o Japer and 'to form a sausage, rol then until cool to keep | well beaten, ining a good suply of well: | 2 serve excellently. -Add spoonful - of sherry, of half & lemon; and two eggs Have 'ready a psn contai : clarified ripping, and when boil: ing drgp. in. dessertspoonfuis of the mixture, which havi tuag rd led in, a little flour. Fay [ur eager minutes, (am thureughly, ard sift cas'Hr sugar siver. NY CHRISTMAS ADVICE, You will give more pleasure with a thoughtful gift than with an ex- pensive one, If the pani¢ or 'any other upset misation, frie terials. their amazes ay thls whatevor ¢ they admired, they must admire a funny aoa foy. ma oy, 1 y les th bh was us col: