CHRISTMAS IN ANTARCTICA

Taranaki Daily News, 28 December 1929, Page 9

CHRISTMAS IN ANTARCTICA

SANTA CLAUS AT BYRD’S CAMP.

(By Russel Owen —Special to Press Association.)

Rec. 9.55 p.m. Bay of Whales, Dec. 26. Finding some way to celebrate Christmas ie difficult. We have used up most of the things which might have served as presents. Even cigarettes have run low, and the man who has scorned cigarettes and stowed them away in his bunk and forgotten them is the centre of a concerted attack, but George had promised to do bis 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 Commander Byrd’s new starred flag of his rank. There was a pound of candy for each mam Although it is impossible to provide real presents, more amusement was probably 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 euch as this one, directed at the cook when he received his present of rawhide:—

Use one ounce of chicken to each pair of pups; If they pop out of the dishes just serve ’em in cups; And if we’re out of mutton this glad Christmastide, I’ll season and serve ’em some tender rawhide,