BYRD EXPEDITION’S CHRISTMAS

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 80, 28 December 1929, Page 9

BYRD EXPEDITION’S CHRISTMAS

AMUSING PRESENTS VERSES DIRECTED AT THE COOK (United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (By Russell Owen—Special to “New York Times.”) (Rec.' December 27, 9.55 p.m.) Bay of Whales, December 26. Finding some way to celebrate Christmas is difficult. We have used up most of the things which might have served as presents. Even cigarettes have run low, and the man who scorned the cigarettes stowed away in his bunk and forgotten is the centre of a concerted attack, but George had promised to do his best with the last of the chickens. He did, and we did, even unto mince pie and ice cream. We had a Christmas tree made of a wire trunk and limbs wrapped with cotton and topped with Byrd’s new starred flag of 'his rank. There was a pound of candy for each man. Although it was Impossible to provide real presents, more amusement probably was obtained by the presentation of some ridiculous articles picked up about the camp, accompanied by various jests at the expense of those who received them. Taffy Davies was Santa Claus. His most effective efforts were a few verses such as this one, directed at the cook when he received his present of rawhide :—

“Use one ounce of chicken to each pair of pups, , x If they pop out of dishes just serve ’em in cups, And it we're out of mutton this glad Christmastidc, I’ll season and serve ’em some tender rawhide.”

[Copyrighted 1928 by -New York '£>mes“ Company and “St. Louis Post-Dispatch. AIL rights for publication reserved throughout the world.]