Today -100: December 18, 1911: Of roast beast

It was evidently traditional in Paris to eat unusual things for Christmas. Last year, it was bear cotolets; the year before, elephant foot. This year, roast camel.

After a “fatiguing ceremony” in which he consecrated a couple of new cardinals, the pope has breakfast with them. This is evidently a major break with tradition, as for several centuries the pope always ate alone. Must have been lonely.