The Sphinx, Vol. 13, No. 186

              30th December
THE SPHINX
9
Christmas Festivities.
Last Sunday was a day of Christmas trees surrounded by happy, smiling children and not a few “grown-ups”. Christmas would seem strange to most of us if the gorgeously decorated and illuminated fir tree were missing. We have danced round it in our childhood, gazed at it with delight, our little hearts brimming over with joy and the happiness of Yule-tide, and now that we have crossed the rubicon of youth it is our turn to help the younger generation to revel in the pleasures that once were ours and we do so with as full a feeling of enjoyment as of yore, for is it not a boundless pleasure to give joy to the little ones and to watch their innocent merriment 1
Another joy too is ours. The joy of old associations which though often blended with a touch of sadness is none the less real. We think again the happy thoughts of childhood, we quickly span the past, our thoughts dwelling on moments of supreme happiness which must always remain a lively recollection, of dear ones who are gone, of absent friends who in the past were active participators in our festivities. And those friends, too are thinking of us here in Egypt. As they sit round the old home fireside with its cheery blaze and crackling yule-log, as they join in the well-known strains of “Hark the Herald angels sing, Glory to our new-born King,” when glasses are raised to all lips and healths are drunk, yes throughout the celebrations of Christmas and the New Year their wishes for our happiness and prosperity cross ours as they speed across the vast distance which separates us.
AT SHEPHEARD'S.
But to turn to the festivities of Christmas Eve. First of all we will pay our attention to Shep-heard’s where a Christmas tree filled the hearts of many children with delight. Quite early in the afternoon those who had been favoured with invitations began to arrive and whilst waiting for the appointed hour of five o’clock refreshed themselves with tea, and until after that hour guests kept crowding in in large numbers. Every now and then the wail of an infant voice, lifted in impatient protest, could be heard but these were instantly soothed when the huge curtains which veiled the “Egyptian Hall” reserved for the afternoon’s party were wafted apart as by a fairy wand. A babel of gleeful voices filled the air as they pressed round the tree and admired its wonderful decorations, but their attention was soon diverted to the master of ceremonies who was doling out tickets for presents with a most lavish hand. Each child received a gift from the heavily ladened tables of the billiard-room and returned to the Christmas tree highly delighted. It was a very merry and enjoyable party and many thanks are due to Mr. Baehler and his staff for the noble way in which they entertained us.
AT THE CONTINENTAL..
The Christmas tree at the Grand Continental Hotel was not on view until 9 p.m. but in spite of the late hour there were a great many children present. The tree was most effectively decorated with tinsel, fancy ornaments, transparencies etc. and was lit by candles as well as coloured electric globes of all shapes, whilst the boughs were thickly dotted with the best imitation of snow which we have ever seen. Shortly after we had entered the room we were plunged into darkness save for the flickering light of the tiny Christmas tree candles and then there suddenly came a puff, a flash of light, and a cloud of srhoke, which appeared to instil fearful thoughts in the minds of the nervous for a moment, but all speedily realised that a magnesium flash had been fired in order to obtain a photograph of the pretty and animated scene, and confidence was immediately restored. Toys of every description, books, bottles of scent, etc. were given to all the children and not a few of their elders carried off trophies. After all the presents had been carefully examined and re-examined, and when we had gazed at the Christmas tree to our hearts’ content, the band struck up a waltz tune and we found ourselves whirling round and round the spacious ball-room on a delightfully springy floor and to entrancing strains of music so that we hardly wanted to stop even for a few minutes’ rest. We did stop, however, but began again at tlie first sounds of the violins, and so we went on until we had danced in Christmas Day.
AT MENA HOUSE.
Several residents besides visitors spent last week-end at Mena House, and though life there is quiet in comparison with the bustle of Cairo, the guests at the hotel indulged in various dissipations and many merry parties celebrated Christmas with all due festivity. Christmas Eve was bright and sunny and it was quite a treat to be able to bask in the genial warmth of the sun after those days of biting winds and fitful rain. The dining room was quite full at lunch time and several cheery parties were doing full justice to the excellent menu, with the strains of a Bra-chale orchestra to aid digestion. Early in the afternoon a few people came out from Cairo for tea and the Christmas tree and the majority of these stayed to take part in the dance which was held after dinner. There were not many children present but those who were enjoyed themselves to the full and were delighted with the magnificent Christmas tree, all sparkling and glittering with its wealth of gaudy tinsel decorations ; one little man was so enchanted by the gorgeous scene that he could pay no attention to the cake ladened table which was set before him. During tea-time the band played several selections and later in the afternoon the staff of the hotel, among them two stalwart chefs in white coats and caps, contributed some excellent German carols and songs to zither accompaniments. Among the residents present we noticed Judge Charles Royle, Mr. and Mrs. George Royle, Mr. and Mrs. Scott Dalgleish, Mr. Hankey, and the Messrs Bilinski.
AT THE HOTEL DU NIL.
A Christmas tree was provided at the Hotel du Nil on Christmas Day in the kiosk. The decorations consisted as usual of tinsel, gorgeously coloured transparencies, candles, etc., but a touch of novelty was introduced by covering the trunk of tbe tree from top to bottom with mandarines and apples, which looked very effective in the dim candle light.
AT THE GRAND, HELOUAN.
Christmas week-end was spent in gay dissipations by those who are staying at the Grand Hotel, Helouan, which popular hostelry is rapidly filling and well maintains its reputation for conviviality. The festivities commenced on Friday night with a dance, when large numbers enjoyed themselves to the lively tunes of an excellent orchestra until the early hours of Saturday, when they retired to rest to refresh themselves for donkey excursions and the like. After dinner a whist drive was held for which Mr. and Mrs. Volckman most generously provided the prizes. Thirty-two players took part in the game and after sixteen games Mrs. le Breton with 114 points was declared the winner of the ladies’ first prize, Miss J. Babington Jones carrying off the second with 109 points. Among the gentlemen the first prize was won by Mr. Beck with 119 points and the second by Mr. Back with 115. A vote of thanks, proposed by Mr. Cook and seconded by Mr. Bell-White, to Mr.and Mrs. Volckman was carried with great acclamation and terminated amost enjoyable evening. On Christmas day there was a Christmas tree in the afternoon, and the usual festive dinner, which was followed a dance in which nearly all present took part. A feature of the dinner was the collection of beautiful hand-painted menu-cards, very prettily designed, one of which was presented to each lady guest.
AT THE TEWFIK PALACE, HELOUAN.
The same story remains to be told of the Tewfik Palace Hotel at Helouan, which was crowded all Christmas Day with merry-making visitors. From early in the morning till the small hours of the next day gay parties made the hotel ring with laughter. At both luncheon and dinner, the tables were filled and none were too old to crowd round the Christmas tree. The dinner was especially festive and the excellent menu persuaded the many guests to linger at the tables until the strains of a waltz told them it was time to start the dance, which was kept up until all were tired out.
AT AL HAYAT, HELOUAN.
The principal festivities at A1 Hayat Sanatorium were held on Christmas Eve when a magnificent Christmas tree, loaded with presents and the usual gorgeous decorations and illuminations, was provided by the Management. General attention was drawn to a central table where a charming novelty was displayed, consisting of a model, seemingly complete to the most I
minute details, of the whole estate of A1 Hayat. The design, the base of which was two metres square, had been most cleverly carried out by the hotel confectioner in sugar, and the whole was lighted by miniature electric globes. The effect was most pleasing and the author of this work of art is to be highly congratulated on the. accuracy with which he had moulded his design.
PICTURE EXHIBITION.
SOCIETE DE3 BEAUX ARTS.
The Soeiete Populaire des Beaux Arts de France have organized a very interesting international picture exhibition this season, and if the exhibits are but few in number we hope that its success will attract more attention in the future. Monsieur Pergola is responsible for a couple of very beautiful pictures of Venice, his birthplace, one a luminous lagune full of light and the other a shady narrow waterway. He has also contributed a clever study of a large liner ploughing the Mediterranean. There is another Venitian canal by Monsieur Duprat, painted with the full sunlight glittering on the ripples. Monsieur Moliner has two seascapes with fishing boats, one with the winter sun looming dim and soft through the fog. Monsieur Lazerages has sent two pictures of camel caravans, both worthy of attention ; one shows a caravan crossing a shrub covered desert, and the other passing through a palm shadowed lane in Biskra. Monsieur Lenglat has two small scenes from the neighbourhood of D’Etampes, beautiful in colouring, but somewhat smooth in texture. There is delightful atmosphere in both Monsieur Anglade’s evening studies of the Creuse, with their soft purple evening mist and the glow of the setting sun upon the water. Figure studies are not numerous. Monsieur Rondel shows good work in his “Jeunesse”, a beautiful, thoughtful girl with auburn hair, and purple draperies, and the “Gentilhomme de la Garde” by Monsieur Dubuard is excellent in technique. Monsieur Comerre has sent a pretty but unconvincing figure entitled “La Preferee”, rather of the type popular in Christmas annuals and magazines, Monsieur Chocarne-Moreau’s “Patissieret Ramoneur”, two-small boys trying to lure a kitten, is cleverly carried out, and there is much good work in Monsieur Carrel’s “Coquetterie”. Monsieur Ro-chegrasse has spent much care and attention in the elaboration of “ La Nouvelle Arrivee du Harem”, but was unfortunate in bis chief model who certainly bears no trace of that far-famed Circassian beauty either in face or figure.
In the water-colour room (as yet uncatalogued) are some delightfully clean and clever sketches-by Monsieur Jaubert, and Monsieur Vogel’s lady in green with white coif, is worthy of remark-Monsieur Vivian has a number of slight, graceful studies of birds and flowers, and Monsieur Meheut has some extremely clever sketches of mice, fowls, and lizards. Monsieur Adien Moreau has a reaper, which is fine in execution, and all praise to Monsieur Levy Dhurmer for his three most characteristic contributions, more especially for the young girl in shawl and bonnet. M. MARXIAN'S EXHIBITION
Another exhibition of paintings well worth a. visit is that of M. Mahokian in the Immeuble Bittar, Opera Square, There are over a hundred pictures on view and these are all the work of one artist, so that there is naturally a similarity about them. M. Mahokian has confined himself to the painting of seascapes and landscapes in oil-colours, especially the former, which appear to be bis forte. Some of the sea scenes were particularly fine so true were they to nature in colouring and conception ; there were pictures of bold promontories with seas calm and rough,, stormy waves breaking on sandy shores, and some splendid sunset and moonlight effects. A picture showing the sun setting on the shores of Sweden was beautifully coloured and a moonlight scene on the Black Sea was very effective, the lights and shadows being very realistic. In his landscapes M. Mahokian seemed to be especially happy in his representations of winter scenes and he also showed a few excellent woodland paintings. There was a very fine picture of a brigands’" resting place in the Caucasus which was remarkable for its boldness and colour effects, and the figures of the brigands and the homes, the only figures which we noticed in the vrhole exhibition, were very well done. The exhibition will remain open until thp end of January and should be visited by all who take an interest in oil painting.