W4 ,
CHnfMBS Say
"ED 5fl2 10) GfDxmflS"
Tfey 1kg oak a&
ipr OW plainly tlio Christmas
chimes seem to riiiK out to all,
J both rich and poor:
"Yo who would ho truly hap
py, do good, do goodl Llvo wot for
yourselves, for there is no Joy in sclf
Ishness. Dispel tho grief nnd want
you see everywhere around you. GIvo
freely of what you have and thereby
lay up treasures In heaven."
Thus cli line (he hells, and ho who
heeds their solemn wnrolng while mer
rily they ring may have his Christmas
blessing If he will.
Happiness! It Is n dlvlno gift, and
man Is godlike, If ever, when he MM
some human heart with Joy.
What was it hut a laudable desire to
render all mankind Joyful at Christ
mas which Impelled people In the old
en tlmo to open their homes and their
hearts as well to all alike at Christ
mas that all might enter and share tho
Christmas feast? Friend or stranger.
It mattered not, the master welcomed
all, and all men who would partook of
his bounty. No man sat down alone
beside his Christmas fire, wrapped In
his own selfishness and careless of
others' comfort. No; the great Yule
log was brought with pomp and much
rejoicing from tho wlldwood, a mighty
Are was kindled upon tho hearth, and
the whole neighborhood gathered
around to share the geidal warmth,
while bright eyes danced with glee as
the Christmas boughs cracked merri
ly in tho ruddy blaze. Tho Hush of joy
was on every cheek, nnd every honest
heart throbbed with gratitude and
homely pleasures. The wassail howl
went round, blltho carols were sung,
nnd merry lads and maidens danced
under tho mlstletoo boughs.
Cluistmnstlde, which was nlso called
Yulctlde, lasted a fortnight, and every
body had leisure to spare until tho
Christmas revels ended with tho
masques, tho plays and the mad frolics
of Twelfth Night. Hut nowadays
how tilings nre changed! lOven tho
week between Christmas and New
Year's is full of industry, and few aro
thoso who devote all their tlmo to en
joyment Tho great hearthstones of
ancestral hulls have disappeared.
There are no wide chimney nooks
wherein tho brownies may lurk in cozy
comfort, and heaven only knows whero
our punates hide perhaps In the piano
box or up in the chandeliers.
IPkys m Chmtimm Ev.
A Christmas custom of ours nnd thu
one possessing the greatest antiquity
is that of presenting plays tho evening
of tho IMth of December. This was
first noticed In tho west of England.
For several hundred years "St. George
and tho Dragon" was the most popular.
Tho actors, always children, were fan
tastically dressed and decorated with
ribbons, brightly colored paper and
wooden swords. Tho theme was Avar
and love. There wero debate, battle,
death and mimicry and a physician
ever ready to restoro tho dead to Ufa.
This custom sprang from Iho ancient
crusaders, consequently the feats of
chivalry and the romantic oxtravn
gauco of knight errantry that aro pre
served to this day In a modi lied de
gree. Masking, which Is practiced to some
extent among Scotchmen, is derived
from the Roman Saturnalia, when peo
Vlo disguised themselves and practiced
tricks upon their neighbors. This is
now but scantily indulged in, but such
of It as exists has been preserved
slnco tho llfth or sixth century. Tho
Survey of London mentions a splen
did "mummorle" which was performed
by tho citizens in honor of Prince
Itlchard, son of thu Rlnck Prince, in
tho year 1.177.
W'u do not. hear very much nowadays
about tho lord of mlsnilo or tho waits,
but both aro remembered. Tho former
had license to do everything ho could
think of to keep up tho Jollity during
the "twelve days," nnd tho latter re
ferred to wandering minstrels, who
serenaded houses and wnlted until
food and wine or, more acceptable,
money was bestowed upon them.
Our games on Christinas night of
cards, billiards, shullleboard, musi
cians, dancing and tho tales that are
told of knights, ladles, lovers, queens,
kings, giants, dwarfs, witches, fairies,
goblins and tho rest wero played and
indulged In so long ago that tho re
motest historian has been unable to
ascertain tho correct dato of their beginning.
A woman, they say, thought of the
first community Christmas tree. It
was erected in Madison square, hi New
York city. There was something
stimulating, something highly Infec
tious, in the Idea, for now cities ami
villages all over America are erecting
Christmas trees in their public squares,
says the Delineator.
They are wonderful things, these
community Chrlstmns trees, not for
their beauty alone, but for the spirit
they arouse in the towns where they
are found. They aro the village center
for Christmas Joy. Christmas services,
without sectarian barriers, are held
about them. Christmas enrols arc
sung at their bases. None so poor or
so world worn or so hurried but he
must see, must thrill with friend and
stranger alike to this tree for all the
world. It brings the child in the
manger to every soul in thu com
munity. The Christmas troj is essentially a
symbol of thu north and of the home.
Yet It is Inextricably blended in our
minds with our faith, which Is desert
bred.
Most of the great religions of the
world wero born of some solitary spirit
who sought tho lonely sand wnste and
there wrought out that which made
the desert of his soul "blossom like
the rose." lie who gave us the great
faith wetit again and again out into
the burning yellow barrens, where the
tender, brooding, violet sky awaited
him; where all tho desert world, so
fearful in Its unndomment, so over
whelming In Its solitude, found focused
In him all its pulsing radiance, as
though in him wero centered the heart
beat of the universe. In tho verdure
less, sand driven, ntnr hung desert the
Bubo with his listening ear hoard,
with his dreaming eyes saw, with his
throbbing heart felt, tho faith that
turned men's faces forever from tho
clod to the cross.
Why, then, should tho fir tree stand
In our public square, sign nnd symbol
of that desert birth? Whatever its
physical history, why should breathless
thousands, hungry of liody or of spirit,
looking on the great pine treo hung
with electric bulbs, backed by sky
scrapers, topped by smoke, find In its
Incoherent beauty the urge set in mo
tion by the desert bred Ilabe?
Ono would have said of the homo
Christmas trees that, after all, it was
the gifts that gave them their glamour.
There are no gifts on the community
Christmas (roes, yet thousands and
thousands or us look on them with the
thrill that belongs to faith alone. One
wonders why.
Perhaps this Is the reason: The com
munity Christmas tree symbolizes that
which the homo Christmas tree does
not. It symbolizes Christmas for all
the world. It means that the dawn of
real brotherhood Is tinting our horizon.
It means, and particularly this Christ
mas It means, that In spite of poverty
and bloodshed. In splto of greed and
despair, there aro In Increasing num
bers In thu world those who would
sharo with the world all that sacred
beauty and hope that are tho Individ
ual's holy of holies, tho most difficult of
all one's spiritual riches to share.
It is tlie symbol or green forest beau
ty, of tho druld's wild faith, of tho
Teuton's largess and always of giving,
giving. Not strango tliat forever in our
minds it should bo inseparable from
tho birthday of him who gave supreme
ly; not strange, but utterly soul sat
isfying, that finally wo havo Joined
our bunds and placed the Christmas
tree In the market place symbol that,
at last, man may glvo himself to man.
"God bless us!" said Tiny Tim on
Christmas day. "God bless us every,
ono!" Dickens dreamed of a Christ
mas festival that should belong to nil.
Ills Tiny Tim, lame and wistful, might
have foreshadowed the joy starved
world that now crowds around the
market place tree, saying as lie said.
"God bless us every one!"
Washington's City Christmas.
"Ponce on Knrth, Good "Will to Men."
This sentence, blazing from n bril
liantly lighted electric placard raised
almost to thoidomo of tho capltol, re
fleeted the predominant sentiment of
thousands who assembled at tho capltol
plaza to celebrate Washington's "com
munity Christmas." A giant. Norway
spruce. Illuminated with glimmering
red, white and blue electric bulbs; the
Marine band, a liugu electric star of
tho east and a chorus of 1.000 singers,
with the capltol itself outlined as the
background against the dark curtain
of the sky, made a scene of impressive
beauty. Tableaux representing tho
story of the Nativity were presented
In tho improvised amphitheater. In
the audience wero many men and wom
en well known throughout the country.
Including high government olllclals.
fWSTMAS
Hooteil ft Mfflnaftfosk
CHRISTMAS proper is never a
day. It is really a week or
about ti month. When tho al
manac says December has
come, then nil hearts begin to feel the
pp-sence of Hint midwinter festival.
ICach day adds to this feeling.
The Romans perceived that ono day
did not contain all the import of thoniid.
winter gayety. Their Saturnalia con
tinued seven days. It began as a one
day celebration and was observed Dec.
10; but, as it was soon found that brief
period was a cup too small to contain
tho wine of pleasure, It wns extended
to three days. At last It was enlarged
by the Emperor Clnudlan so as to take
In the 20th. In form the fcstlvnl bus
now been changed back into the one
day shape, but in reality Christmas Is
much lnrger under our presidents than
it was under Claudlan nnd Caligula.
It Is a great midwinter period and
may well be looked upon ns a type of
tho public happiness or tho public nils
fortunes of a given dato. In the early
Christian church It became a single
day, because being asked to stand for
the birth of Jesus It had to be a formal
day rather than a week, but no such
limitation could keep it from having
adjacent times which partook of Its
spirit ns dawn partakes of day. Pro
fessor David Swing.
tOHOirisfmas
TCd Stony f ftfo Etfkogn.
The story of tho Magi, as It is given
by the evangelist Matthew, Is aston
ishingly brief and unadorned. He tells
us without preface that when Jesus
was born in Rethlehem certain foreign
ers arrived at Jerusalem.
He does not tell us how many they
were nor of what race nor of what sta
tion of life, although It is fair to infer
i'roin thu consideration with which they
were received at the court of Herod
and from tho fact that they carried
treasure buses with them that they
wero persons of distinction.
The most Important statement In re
gard to them is that they wore Ma
gians that is to say, disciples of Zoro
aster and members of the sacred or
priestly order of Persia, which was
then widely scattered among the ori
ental nations and included men of ex
alted rank. They came from the cast,
a word which to tho dwellers In Pales
tine could hardly havo any other mean
ing than the ancient region of Chaldea.
lying beyond the Jordan and the desert.
Their explanation of their journey to
Herod was that they had seen an ap
pearance In tho heavens (whether ono
star or many or a comet they did not
say) which led them to believe that
the King of thu Jews had been born,
and they had come to do reverence to
him. Herod was greatly troubled at
hearing this and sent for tho chief
priests nnd scribes to Inquire wheru
the prophets had foretold that the
Messiah should lie born.
They answered at once that Hethle
hein was the chosen place. Then Her
od, having asked tho Magi how long It
was since they first saw thu appear
ance In thu sky, sent them away to
llelhleliem, promising that when they
had found the young Christ ho also
would come to do reverence to him.
Having set out on their Journey, they
saw once more tho celestial sign, and
its motion was such that it guided
them tn the place whore Jesus was. j
Coming into tho house for Joseph had i
now found better shelter than a stable
they saw the young child with Mary
Ills mother, and prostrated themselves
bcrore lilni in worship. Opening their
treasure chests, they presented to him
gifts of gold and frankincense and
myrrh. Then, being warned In a dream
not to go back to Herod, they took an
other road into their own country.
The conjunction of tho planets Jupi
ter and Saturn Is one of tho rarest of
sidereal events. It occurs only once
in sou years. This conjunction, all as
troiiomers agree, happened no less
than three limes in the year 717 A. U.
C shortly before the birth of Christ.
It may be that wo have hero, In this
fairy tale tif science," n confirmation
of this beautiful story of religion, a
hint and trine of
The light that IchI
Tho holy elders with tholr Klft.of myrrh.
-Rev, Dr. Henry van Dyko 1f Harper's
MaguKhte.
NURSES REGISTRY
CITY HOSPITAL
NORTH PLATTE, NEBRASKA.
PHONE 82
GRADUATE
NURSES
We are in a position to furnish compotent nurseB for physicians, on
short notice.
Call Phone S2 and state whether you want graduate or domestic nurie
nnd w will rnmnlntp nil the arrangements for vou without charce.
CITY HOSPITAL
607 LOCUST STREET
NORTH PLATTE, NEBRASKA.
PHONE 82
Sanitary ia Newly Furnished Fireproof
lhis institution is now open for the Reception and Treatment of Surg
ical, Medical and Obstetrical cases.
A Strictly modern Hospital for tho convenience of the physicians of
North Platte and country tributary thereto.
TKe'WoTicCer Car"
No "Extras" To Buy
The new Maxwell is complete in every detail.
A famous make of high-grade epeedometer is
supplied. In addition to the equipment listed
below, the price of the car includes: Front license
bracket, ingenious combination rear license
and tail-light bracket with spare tire carrier;
electric horn, robe rail, anti-skid rear tires, foot
accelerator, full set of tools, etc., etc.
We are waiting to take you for a
test ride in the car that has broken
all low "First-Cost" records, and is
breaking all low "After-Cost" records.
"OneMan'Alohairlop
Bemountuhle imf
tfzui Vision Wuidsliidd
FOB
1
"&enjFdisaAaxuellIad'
C. M. TROTTER, Agent. North Platte.
T7
ror
Dress in comfort
with a
PERFECTION
SMOKELEQJJV HEATER
Use Perfection
Oil for best
results.
STANDARD OIL COMPANY
(Nbruka)
Omnha
DOMESTIC
NURSES
Electric Starter
HectricLiqhts
Wajiwto Iynition
DETROIT
1 A
ChilliJ Moriiiiwr
J. Ii. KEDFIELD.
PHYSICIAN & SDRGEO
Successor to
HYSICIAN & SURGEONS HOSPITAL
Drs. Redfleld & Retinoid
Ofllco Phone G42 Res. Phono 676
BERYL HAHN,
TEACHER OF PIANO
112 Enst Third Street.
l'Jiono Red 101.
Geo. B. Dent,
Physician and Surgeon.
Special Attention given to Surgery
and Obstetrics.
Office: Building nndg. Loan Building
Phone (.Office 130
l none j ResidcnC(e 115
JOHN S. SESDIS, BI. D.,
Physician nnd Surgeon
Office B. & L. Building, Second Floor.
Phone, Office, 83; Residence 38.
DR. J. S. TWINEM,
Physician and Surgeon.
Special Attention Given to Gynecology
Obstetrics nnd Children's Diseases.
Office McDonald Stato Bank Building.
Corner Sixth and Dewey Streets.
Phones, Office 183, Residence 283
NORTH PLATTE
..General Hospital..
(Incorporated)
Phone 58 723 Locust Street
A modorn institution for the
fcientific treatment of medical,
surgical and confinement cases.
Completely equipped X-Ray
and diagnostic laboratories.
Geo. B. Dent, M. D. V. Lucas, M. D.
J.B. RedfiehULD. J. S. Sirams, M.D.
Miss Elise Sieman, Supt.
Office phone 241. Res. phone 217
L . C . DROS T,
Osteopathic Physician.
North Platte, - - Nebraska.
McDonald Bank Building.
Hospital Phono Black G33.
House Phono Black 633.
TV. T. PlilTCHARD,
Graduate Veterinarian
Eight years a Government Veterinar
ian. Hospital 218 south Locust St.,
one-half block southwest of tho
Court Housb.
T ft T nar n t
I Am raying Wlore tor
HIDES
than anyone else. Before you
sell come and see me.
We are paying $10 Per ton
for Dry Bones.
North Platte Junk House
Lock's Old Barn.
Cigars in the Home
Tor the next five months smokers
will spend their oronlngs indoors, and
what Is moro convenient nnd more
pleasurcalilo thnn n box of clgnrs at
iiomo, easily accessible when you have
nn Inclination to smoke. Try n box
of our hoincmndo mid hnniLmado el
gars, iho kind that nro n Httlo belter
than you buy elsewhere for tho same
price.
Wo nlso carry n full lino of to
bacco nnd smokers' articles.
J. F. Schmalzried.
w Jfif
siSU J if
Hogs ami Cattle
Bought and hiRheBtijmarkit
pricei paid
PHONES
ReiidenceJRed 636 Offlce 459
T1 W -v c v at
)
XT'
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