WE ARE NOW APPROACHING THE TIME WHEN EVERY HOME IS FILLED WITH MYSTERIOUS INTRIGUE AND CONSPIRACY [Illustration: MAMMA—“_Don’t come in here, children! Run out and play like a good little girl and boy._” ] [Illustration: PAPA—“_Don’t come in here! Run out and play, kids. Run along now._” ] [Illustration: “_I wonder why everybody always wants us to run out and play. I wonder why._” ] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ “CHRISTMAS IS COMING” [Illustration] [Illustration] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ PREPARING FOR CHRISTMAS SHOPPING [Illustration: “_I s’pose that R.S.V.P. means ‘Remember to Send Valuable Presents.’_” ] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ THREE SUNDAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS TREES [Illustration: “_We want to go to the Sunday-school. Where is it at?_” ] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ THE SILENT PARTNER OF THE FIRM OF SANTA CLAUS & CO. [Illustration] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ON THE GREAT EVENTFUL MORNING [Illustration: “_And now is it Christmas, mamma?_” “_Yes, dear, this is Christmas morning at last._” “_Why it looks just like any other day. I thought it was gunna be bigger. It looks bigger on the calendar._” ] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT HAS BEEN MADE AN HONORARY COLONEL OF A BRITISH REGIMENT [Illustration: EXTRACT FROM “LONDON TIMES,” AUGUST 18, 1911—_In the war maneuvres yesterday, Honorary Colonel Roosevelt, of the Brixton Rough Riders, led his regiment in an extraordinarily fine charge up Ludgate Hill, arriving at the top some hours before his regiment. The king witnessed the charge from a safe position on the obelisk. There was quite a panic in Lombard Street, many of the leading financiers hastily retiring to Hyde Park upon hearing that the gallant colonel was to make the charge. Some of them are still missing, but doubtless will soon be found. One hundred and sixty women fainted, nineteen horses ran away, and one unfortunate man had his leg broken while trying to climb Trafalgar Monument. The dome of St. Paul’s will be repaired within the next fortnight._ ] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ SOCIAL HAPPENINGS IN WASHINGTON, D.C. [Illustration: THE PRESIDENT RECEIVES A FEW DELEGATIONS OF VISITORS IN THE STATE DINING-ROOM AT THE WHITE HOUSE. ] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ MISS ROOSEVELT ATTENDS THE HORSE SHOW [** music] [Illustration]