SOME REMARKABLE CHRISTMAS TREES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1008, 24 December 1910, Page 12

SOME REMARKABLE CHRISTMAS TREES.

Perhaps the most remarkable, and certainly the most costly, Christmas-tree ever provided was that which graced the apartments of Mr. James Clements, a Klondike millionaire, at the Lafayette Hotel, New. York, a few Christniases ago. Its every branch was loaded with gold nuggets, and around the trunk was planted a large pile of 20dol. gold pieces. Altogether the raluo'of tip's tree was,between .€14,000 and .£15,000. Clements was a young man who had just returned from tho Klondike, and he provided this unique Christmas-tree for the amusement of his wife and children. Before gping to the Klondiko lie was a poor brakesman on tile Southern Pacific railway.

Several years ago one of Chicago's millionaires pnt a substantial fortune on. a Christmas-tree. It was decorated with all lcinds of valuable articles, from gold watches to infants' gold rattles, as well as with costly gems set in rings, brooches, bracelets, pins, and other things. Altogether, their value was estimated at upwards. of .£IO,OOO, and, what is more, each article was given away ,'t'o one or other of a numerous Christmas party. When brilliantly illuminated this valuable Christmas-tree, with its glistening gold and flashing gems, presented a spectacle rarely met with, even in the gorgeous palaces of American millionaires. Ever sinco 1811 Queen Victoria had a Christinas-tree. Every Christmas it was loaded with more or less costly articles, but the most valuable of all was her first' Christmas-free. This was no fewer than 40ft. in height, and on it was a profusion of seasonable presents to the value of nearly ,£9OOO. This is believed to have been tho most expensive Christmas-tree over seen in Great Britain. In 18-iG the Duke ol ! Norfolk provided a mou'ster Christmas-tree at Arundel Castle for the entertainment of the children of liis tenantry. It soared to a height of nearly 70ft., and suspended from its branches were toys, trinkets, and other articles to tho value of nearly >£5000. With the exception of tho Queen's first, this was the most , costly Christmas-tree ever known in Groat' Britain. In Germany tho Christmas-tree is exceedingly popular. Both the Emperor and Empress have one every Yuletide, and they also provide ono lor each of their seven children. Nino Christmastrees is a pretty large order, even for a I?oyal household; but their branches ' do not bend under tho weight of costly presents or. decorations,