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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 22, 1901)
ii:oit(ii: w ndiuck n c . okki ci:it in ciiMtiii-: of on nti:i:us or MHItlC IMioto by a SHilf Artist 1 IIIIHSTMAS Ih i lie topn'fd Miniver ff I Hiiry of tin birth of Jesus Chil-t t I Pen nilii r iiml ns such oho of Ijjfcffil "u' Kr' -I festivals cif tin- l'rnt- lt ix ess. ntlnlly a day of t !in I I.' giving ami 10 Joong, a iln uf good cheer. Though t 1 1 f I -Hans nhhrnto It us a Chilstlan f k 1 1 a I . to tlii'in it Is tin' nnnlvorsmy of tlu must solemn I'M nt In all history tin meeting of hra ii utld i a llll ill I lit- lilltll of till- (Jod tiimi. Tin' festivities mnihing this epoch mo part of Hie universal lilHlnry "f the rari. In pagan Home, ami (Irecce, oven In Hgyptlnti clvlllntlnii In tin- Infancy uf the rait', t Ii o winter solstice wns ever a perioi i pJrih'liiK mid festivities. It was always tlio nltn nf tin- fatly church to leonnollo honthcn converts to tho new faith by the adaption of all tin' tnnri' harinhvs foatuics of tin' festivities and I'lTi'innnli's. This was a until tasl;, rnr all was million wun on sconlty, drunkenness ami blasphemy. Li cense was can led to tin- full ixlent of licentiousness. In tin' coaif-er days of our ancestors lint and lovelry did indi-rd go liaml-ln-liiind. lint gradually it give way to quieter tltri'S wliirli liavi' i -1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 a t il the riot. As In the "(iloria In Hxoolsis" it Is peace on earth, good will toward tni'li, t lie christian Idi-a of Chrislmnn. with Its love, charity and forgiveness, lias gone through -out tlio world. Now it Is n di'inorratlc fis tlval; all ckit-ses tui In Its merrymaking; hospitality Is universal. In tho inon wealthy homes, for days previous to tho ulvi'tit of good ft. Nlrholas. busy house wIvi'S have been secretly conspiring with tin' lialii't's In gliding nuts, preparing roast tni'tits, turkey, goose, oystors. pies, pud dings and luscious fmlts. I'rct-onts tiro put chased with some oxtrnvnganco anil Christ mas eve Minis tin' parlor ndorni'd with i lieaittiful Christians tieo with rich presents for nil. Tlio (imllcss 'I' i'ii I . IIiniTson says. "There Is no benutlfler of complexion, form or lichav'or lllio tho wisn to srnttor joy nnd not pain nrnunil us Wo felt that Thanksgiving day nnd Chris' inns were days of i pp Tiunliy fur scatter ins buiimIiIih' in n material w-iy. There is ,i largo district in Dunlin which reminds us of Ihut Hodlcss tract in Culongn known os "Little Hell." wh-re l.'lj.unil hoiiIm rovit in crime nnd dissipation 'wl;h only en., church steeple poiut'ng hfiniiiwnrd to r mind thorn of riod. In Omnha there Is n district rnntnlniim Inimlrids. ninny of wine live In nhject poverty, hipihss, Christ l and only two missions to h r.ild tho kI t tidings nf Biilvntion to t li so cliurchl people. In vIslllliR the homes we find nmti do not need money, but onllKhtenmcn' ympathy nnd object lessons in moral ethics. The oontnmlnntluR nnd iloRcnerat Ing effpets of vinful lnduli;ence have si dwnrfeil nnd wenkeiicd their noslhcti. o1 nature they seem to luiow nothing nnd i ar less for tho beautiful and Rood. I'pon eiitoiini; i pe home we f. und n l pitcher on tliu center tnble nnd encli inmai of the homo hud a Klnss uf beer, sit in abound n stove IiiivIiik a sodul time. I ii iiulrcd whnt iireparntlons til y were tnaKi t for Christmas nnd received the reply tbi nil they enred fur was n Iliicchnn.ili.in f and they enjoyed Christ man because II w n for them n time to Indulge tlp-lr aiipci' and passions nnd with n sneer deil.i" i this to be their inotio- ' IJni, drink an) bo merry, for tomorrow we muy dlo." To such Christ bemiuis the rm k of Offetn-c I entered nnnther home, where poverty km upon the throne, swaylnn the sieptcr of I - "tiolate mi l.in. boh wlih tb tidlsli b IlKht Tho Intnntes, reekini; In filth had 'alien easy vi- lms to the Rndless hope Christmas Among the Lowly lessness so prcuilciit In honu s where po city and dlssltiatinti hold doinaln I p.ive them the inessaue the anvils broimbt. 'Pence on earth. Hood will toward men," hopltiK t' ' beer and 1 1 -ii i-i with new life The old question of Thendl. iim analn an I one I'M'lalined "What' Can (led be ' I and allow sin and tnisi r to lome Into the world and permit mc to suffer while others roll In dpuletice and enjoy the profit of m.v laluil "" These hopeless. Christless pen l ie si I'tiicd to possi ss ilcinonlacal spirits an I nh the Haines of hell shooting from their I. ,ir d es, exclaimed: "Away with your I'liloiieas und Christ! (live us somethllK i .1 ami drink and keep your rolUInn " llliii lliiine Xiiiiiiiu Hie I'uiie. If all tho pictures from life's other side ttif- as dark us those lelated We would simiii becoine illsheartciiiil In our work. Hoi (iniiie of the happiest homes, where peae ennteiiuncnt ami hartuoiiy dwell, we found iimoiu; the poor. No rich carpels oite. the Honrs, no costly pilutlliKS el-we .1 the walls, the only music vim the uii rui l.innli of merry chlldrui, nnd the nly work of nrt visible was deslKtied by inmates of the hiiine. Hut they wef colt- tiled minds and umeinsli and deoted 'es each metnber of the family striving curpass the others In contributing to the li.ippitii-s of all, etidenvoriuK to overcome I kitidiiess and IntelllRcnce their Impov in lud i undillnn. As 1 stiieil kuiickiiiK for idnni-siiiu lit one home, the door n call i i usIv opened and u little colored child tint ine at the door. After n few questions were asked I heard a feeble voice luvltlllK ine Into the house. I'pon etlterlliK 1 beheld an old colored lady lylns upon the bed, her hair white, face einaclati il, and her body wasted from sickness and ime. After a few Krcolluus and Mime pointed questions about Christinas preparal Ions, she Informed mo they could make no jsrent display, as the) wile wont to do In the south. She said they would be happy If they could net n few nuts ami nunr enndy tor the Kratiilclillilieii. After a word of pravor nnd a few eheerltiK remarks I made ready to no, and opened the dnor, when this poor woman called- "Oh, captnln, won't you come iiKaln? This Is better than a Christmas treat, as this Is the first prayiiiK th"re has been In my house for many years." 'Ii riot inns dicer Inr tin- s,.., Aunln, In another home, I found a little nlrl lylnn sick with pneumonia. I took a basket well lilted with provisions, as they were very needy, and after u few minutes conversation and prayer iikiiIii came that pertinent iiuesllon: "What proparat ions are ou tiiakltiK for Christmas?" The poor woman, with n deep sluh and tears In her eyes, reinaikeil' "We have no hope for Christinas. With my Invalid husband nnd sick child we will be Kniteful If bavo idaln food. DurliiK AiKellua's sickness she has been beKKlliK ine to ;et her a doll for Christmas, and have a fruit cake for Christmas dinner, ns we had Inst year. This we ennnnt do, yet I have been hopliiK nnd prnylm; that I mlcht Ret these for her sake " With my soul stirred to Its very depth wnh pity and sympathy for this family, I took my leave, promising 0l I would help 1 1 1 m answer this woman's prnver K it III e It to say. little AtiKiltna ha nlrendv re- li Mtl' .- AUJI s'l MIA'I jBj jjj L jlB ciicd In r dell and fruit . .iK' with mere to fellow on Christina- lilMIIUi: W WMUH K D ('., Comiiiaudii k Nilr.i-ka Voiimii is ! mer 'cn. Wiimiiiii's Wni'l. hi Hie slum,. Women are u. d for tin- slum wmK of the Sahatlon Army and spend their time seekltiK the sick and nlllliied, cnrltlK fur the fatherless and molheitcsx i hildreti. und. in cliotl, adiqitlllK the life and association of those utuiMiK whom tin wpik. Ilcarl reiidltiK splits ami slcketiiiiu scenes may be hud by followltiK the slum I isxlca men fur i tie dny. In nearly every plnce where the slum work Is curried on there nre corps or slum pouts operated In the henrl of the poorest of the poor and many a soul hi been lid to n life of purity an.) cleanliness as well us hid their temporal want nip plied and saved from the cr.isp of starv.i lloii. While this line of with in not carried ell to any ureal Mi nt in (iimilin. many ense, have been in rid for nnd looked after. Lest anyone should think Hint this city le free from tho class of people metiiiuii d above a few Incidents might be itiveii to show that i 'II lu re We lime n roo. fleld for slum iii k. On one otensl n whin our olllcers wef" out visltliiK ibe citne to a iry iour part of the city. Noticing a dilapidated ibl building they felt Hint there was a good place to work. Climbing n couple of lllghts of rickety t-talrs they knocked at n door nnd were admitted Into a small loom Tin' room, which was very dlrl. was oeciipled by a weak, frail woman and live children as well as two or three men. who win board ing at the same place. The clilldicti were only halt dressed and In one coiner lay n dirty, worn-out bedtick with a bulf-stai'Mil child on it. The house was almoul desti tute of furniture as well as anything to i nt. This small n oiu was oecitpliil by the whole company and olio tan Imagine how very dlsagteeable It must have been. Miff urlim tin .Neeilj, Another Und was in the ninth patt of the city last Mimnier. St this place wi re seven occupants. Iin hiding the father and mother mid live children. At this time the chil dren weie all slieping outdoors. The woman was very frail and did K-aiccly any work. One of the llitle gills said she had only one pair i f sin i-s in her life. The only furniture visible in this place was an old couch, small table, cupboald nml a few broken chairs. The woman and children were taken out to the fie.di alr camp at l-'ort Omaha and were kept two weeks They received plenty of good, w holcMiiiie food as well ns plenty of outdoor exercise, and it was with pity that we had to see thein go back to their little home of want ami poverty. One of the children, only 7 .wars old, wi covered with large wells ns well as IiiivIiik her llesh bruised III sevi nil places. I'pon Inquiring of Hie little one how Mils c.ime to be she Informed us that her papa did that while drunk ami added. ".Mamma has them too, f-ometlim s." At nnnther place was found an old man und woman living alone The woman was too old tc work and the eld man was blind and had to walk by the aid of crutches, con.icquently It Ii rt the two to depend on the mercy of the count for their support. The aged innn'- i nh on drank nml would Illt'iTlli:ailO()i M iMi' i i; -M.lShl:itS I MdS 1 ( IKK hYSTI'I.M fi n lei- no nipi'i'rt w 1i.it . . r The couple would not go to the fi-h .ilr i.imp on ac .. not ef tin ir son. who Ibiealemd to break up their fuinltute nur otlli rs were told that the were the llisi I 'hi s lull people in 1 1 "ii e Into their home ,u four mouths A police nlllcer dir. clod llle lassies to a colored f 1 1 1 11 1 1 . the mother ef which wns crippled nml M) Kiits of age. Having slipped ami fell the all-cad) crippled limb was broken nml icmlcred her entirely help lo-s. She was also blind and It made life a very heavy burden fur her riuvlsleu were left for these pi ople ami thc nurcl appieclaliil it. siinif 'l iiiif Ii Inu Hiiin pies, t another time a cnloie.l .hi ii bo bid ran away fn in Hie poor .arm owing to a hulling he had leeelMd from om- ef the Inmates there, came In nur qiimlirs m an unsightly condition Ills face was swollen and his fcs weie bloodshot. Our nf his arms was p.iriilyn mid work was utmost an iinposs'blllly. He wns taken care of by our olllcers. In a baseiueiil, ilaik nml alioo t uuln haldtabte. weie found a sick woman and tho children, the youngest In lug a baby only a week old. The pangs of hunger weie very sharp, as Iheie was nut i morsel of food In the house. The husband is un able to woil,. owing to some dlsi.i- The olllcers spent the gn ater portion of the dny cleanlng house iiml making things ir. com forlable ns possible. When leaving timnov was given them to buy food. In the ell leu where this work is carried on extensively the lassies devote tlx I whole time to I he earing for the poor They dress In the plainest of chillies ami aimed, with a scriibing brush mid mop wage war against dill ami disease. It Is the custom In this city every year to give n flee Christinas dinner to the poor. We eiecl lo have one this year, In which we may be able to feed several hundred We wish to thank the cltieiiH who In Iped us so nobly Inst year and the preceding years nml hope Hint you will help this veai's din tier to be a gn-ali r success Hi in ever KNSION .IOIIN MAY. Olllcer 111 Cbaige Whence Kins; Xmas Hells in Omaha (Continued from Sixth I'age ) climax was reached when tho king laid his own crown on Hie iillar. And yet the IioIIb did not ring: A little cripple was vecti hobbling up the steps and u sonr-vlsageil velgcr stopped him. "Where nre you gulng?" he nild. "Up to the ultnr." wns the reply. "Nonsense," snld the verger. "Whnt do you want w lib the ultnr?" "I have saved a sixpence fur Christinas," raid I bo boy, "and I want to give It to the Christ to get a lodging. They tell me hn Is In mi ox's stall because he can get no place lo rest " The verger relented, and the boy went In and deposited his coin, nnd the inomi-nl that silver sixpence struck the alms basin the silver bells struck out In divine hatmony n beautiful ieal of Joy nnd thanksgiving, while tho choir sang "Olmla In excelsls " Louder nml louder rang tho hells, mid ns he boy limped out of the churili his henrt i:SKiN JOHN MY OKKKTU IN Clllt(ii: Ob' DM All A SALVATION I1MY COItl'S I'holo In a SliitT Aitls' was full of Joy, mid, all niicon u Ions of the effect of his gift, he listened to the bells and snug with (hem, "(iloria In i xcelsm lie;)." The love of church bells has been alums a favorite theini! for wrlleis. I'oet.i h.iv given utteraiiro to their bent lliough'i on thin subject Who has not lend with absorbed Inliri.i the lines of IMgnr Allan I'oe: Hear the sledges with the bells Silver hells! What a win Id of merriment theli no lo.h loretells! How tliey tinkle, tinkle, tinkle. In the Icy air of night ! Willie the stars that nvcrspilnklc All the heavens seem to twinkle Willi u crystalline delight. Keeping time, time, lime, III a sort of 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 - I liyme, To the tliitliiabubitloii that so lou-o.ill. wells From the bells, bells, bells, bells, Hells, bells, M,H, I'lolil the Jingling ami Hie lliiklliiu of tin bells. And tho beautiful versca of Tennyon The time draws near the blrili of 'lnr-i The i u Is hid. Hie night is still The Chiistmas bells from bill to hill Answer eliell oilier In the nils!. lOaell voice four changes on the wind That now dilate and now deciease, Pencil anil good-will good-will anil ponce I'cace ami good-will to all iiimikluil. They bring ine sorrow loiich'il with Joy, The merry, merry bells of Yule. And Longfellow has given tho volcen of the hells a song of their own, doilbtlesi taken from mi old b gend of tho hells of Strasburg. The wing he gives them In tho "Hidden Legend" Is ns follows IjiiiiIo Dentil veriiin' (I pialso the true lloil'l I'lebein voeo! (Call tho people!) Congrego elerilin! ii 'onveiiii the clergy!) Dcfunctns l'loio! il laineut the dead!) I'esleiii fugo! ispe the pestilence!) I'i sla ileeoro! itirace festivals!) Hxcltii lenlos' 1 1 arouse the Indolent ') IHsslpn veiilos' ilUsslpale tin winds') 1' n o I 'i iu-iilus' i.ipease llio revuligel ul' i The affeitlnn nf tho people for tho chur h bells an though they were nclually souls of sireugHi Instead nf bodies uf metal, hns rcsiil d In the bells being called bv names ! b hp (ireat I'aul. Illg lion, Dig Tom, ami Inr" i duiibtloHs no Chrlslmns b II song thrilling to Hie hearts of the people, uu Mbrnnt with Hie tone of the Christ limn as Hiii i. inlei fu enrol of Tennyson: It i nt wild belN, to the wild B(y. 'I'i Hying elniid, tho frosty llghl, I l ar Is ilyliig In the nlghi , It i u mil, wild bells, and lot him lib ( ' g i ul the old, lltlg III the new, ItiNc liipv bells, across the snnw. 'I b. ar I.I going, let llllll go; Itn g out Hn- false; ling In the true. b it,- in Ho valiant man nml face, 'lln luger In nit. the kindlier bund, King out the daikiu-SH of the laud, It ng in tin- Christ that's lo lev I'hi- beautiful poem, of whbh onlv Hit -u1 of ilghl htru.iiH have been reprudui ed, n ll sunid for generations as He- griatest i.miiii of Chrlstinnsthlo mid In Its umsbnl fin m iinigiilllcently written by Dr Leopold ).in.i-.i h father of the well known cop dii't-r, Walter Hauirnsch, It will be linmnr talized when pi ople become more nc ipi.iitited with Its intrinsic hum It. May the Christinas bells of this dins' max ring a chlino of peace, happlm mi l joy to the people wUhlll their leinh mil may tjvery tienrt ho Illicit wlib ,h iih -'lirlstmns spirit of good will to all men 'hat spirit which must result In "pence on earth" anil "glory to (lod In tho highest " THOMAS J. KELLY.