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About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 24, 1918)
The Best Gift of All (Copyright.) 'M GOING to write Santa Claus n let tor asking lilin to bring nio the things for Christ runs I want," said Bobby Sawyer, "ill a m m a says that becauso papa won't ever come home any nioro wo can't have any Christmas gift. don't see why, be- cause papa was lost at sea, Santa Claus won't como as ho used to. hear of children writing to Santa for whnt they want and I'm going to write to him, too." So Bobby sat down and wrote his tetter, lie spelled bugle, bugel, and Christmas, Crlsmus, and some of tho words were so bungled that the old fellow must have had u hard time de ciphering them; but all the things Bob wanted wero named In the letter and ho did not doubt for n moment that Santa Claus would respond gen crottsly. One morning shortly before Christ mas, I'eter tho postman left a letter at tho door addressed to Robert Saw yer. Peter who had long delivered tho letters of the Snwycr family would not Wrote His Letter. glvo It to anybody but Bobby, saying that Santa Claus required him to give any lcttcni marked "from Kris Krln gle" to the child to whom It was ad dressed and to no one else. Hobby opened It nnd read: "Dear Bobby: f. "I havo received your hitter and will bring you the finest Christmas pUftent you over received In your life. "SANTA CLAUS." Bob of course was delighted with this, and ho noticed that from tho tltno of Its receipt everything about the house seemed to take on n certain -checrlness. Bobby laid In wait for Pe ter when he came again and asked him a lot of questions as to how and where Santa Claus gave him the letter. Pe ter said that he was not permitted to tell children anything about Santa Claus. They must hang up their stock ings and wait for him to All them, This was three days before Christ mas. Bobby who was very watchful detected his mother smuggling lu cer tain packages. This puzzled him, for "is mamma had told him there would be no fjlfts this yenr nnd ho did not expect nny except whnt Santa CInus v,ouiu nnng. nobby nsked his moth er If What she broucht in ed for Christmas, but she gave him no satisfaction, thouch h n tnnlr htm In her arms nnd gave him n bear hug una a uozen kisses. She seemed as liappy aS If She OXnoofpil Snntn Pinna to bring everything she wanted for nrisuiias. The day boforo Clirlstmna miu sengor boy enmo with a telegram for Mrs. oawycr. she tore oil' tho envel ope nna read It, and looked very hap py, giving the messon-'or n lmif iini. lar. Bobby uskod whnt. Hm toi was about She told him it a Christmas gift she nnd all tho rest "i. uio iumuy wero to receive, nnd when Bobby kent nsklne II trill II nnrt ngnln "What Is It mamma?" sho gav mm anotner benr hug nnd smothered mm wun Kisses. Bobby had a sister. Kdlth. twelv years old, and a brother Jim, ten. Both Of them Wero tOO Old tn Hvmnnllili with Bobby In his faith In Snnta CInus ringing mm tho gift ho had promised mm in nis letter. Indeed they didn't ucucvo anntn cuius really wrote let ters to children. Bobbv tried his Imst to get out of Edith or Jim their mother so happy, but they would uut icu. inuccu they seemed nlmost as happy as she. Having failed with uii-in iiouuy irictl Peter tho postman Ult-'r saiu no suspected Santa Claus had something to do with thn fmniu happiness, but ho was not sure. So poor Bobby was obliged to swallow his curiosity and wait for Christmas morn ing. Bobby went to bed on Chrlstmns eve determined to resist tho sandman nnd keep his eyes open all night, so that ne mignt get a glimpse of Santa Claus nnd seo what his remarkable gift was. But the sandman soon began to drop snnti m uobby's lids, and he was asleep In ten minutes after his head struck the pillow. When Bobby nwoko the sun was quite high In the heavens. He honnl tho word "Bobby I" shouted in his ears nnu at tno same time felt himself gent ly shaken. Ho did not awaken by de grees, but all at once. And thero standing before htm nnd looking down upon mm, smiling, was his papa. "Why, papnt" he exclaimed, "I thought you wore never collie to como homo nny more." "Snnta CInus told me that he was to bring me homo to mv little imv fnr a unrisunns gift." Bobby threw his arms nround his fa ther's neck nnd hmriied nnd hnenred nnu It seemed that ho would never "Why, Papal" He Exclaimed. let go. Mnmmn, nnd Edith nnd Jim came in nnd so grent was the excite ment that Bobby forgot to look for want was in his stockluc. That was certainly the bonniest unristmas tho Sawyer family over spent or ever would snond. Bnhliv was too young to have It all explained to mm, but when ho is older his mother Intends to tell him that his father was on a vessel that was torpedoed nnd sunk. Mr. Sawyer wns reported miss- lug, but ho wus picked up out of tho water by un American cruiser and In tlmo innnuged to get home. After word came thnt he was saved the letter was written to Bobby by his sister as from Santa Claus, and afterwards a tele gram camo snvini: that his fntiinr would bo homo on Christmas morning. OBSERVING THE PROPRIETIES THE SEMI.WEEKLV TRIBUNE, j no woeu or iio-cmber 10 to Decern- her 23 Is roll call week for the Amerl- can Heii Cross. This Is a Christmas call to the citizens of this country to enlist In the Army of Service. The need for service Is not abated by the ending of tho war the need for serv ice will not be ended for a long time. At home and fnr ntlehl the Hod Cross must continue the work of relieving the suffering thnt follows In the wuko of the war. Kofiigeos and orphans me ntlll to be clothed and fed nnd homed. The antituberculosis cam paign must be kept up and the fam ilies of soldiers helped. Only a part of the work of the lied Cross ends with the cessation of hostilities. The Christmas roll call has for Its object more than anything else the enrollment of all adults as members of tho Hed Cross anil tho appeal Is for $1 memberships. The canviiHS will bo mainly for this. The Hed Cross makes Its appeal to all, without re gard to creed, rnce. pert. 'faction or class; It Is one organization for uni versal service based on sympathy nnd humanity. Of course everybody that is anybody wants to belong to It. The Good-Will Box. Home after home Is establishing Its good-will box for tho benellt of people less fortunate than Its own members. In the end It develops thnt the house hold Is benefited In turn and n dem onstration that It Is more blessed to glvo than receive Is brought about In the most practical way. Into the good will box go all the used or unused ar ticles that are not needed In the house hold, but might be used by some ono else. Clothing, shoes, books. miitrii. zlnes, pictures, house furnishings. china and glassware, which have served for a time, but have been re placed without being worn out, these are all assembled In the good-will box to be redistributed where they can do EVERY WOMAN LOVES FURS Whether It is because they are be coming or because an atmosphere of luxury, nnd sometimes a suggestion of t-plendor belongs to them, or that they nro so comfortable--every woman loves furs. They may be excused for extravagancies in Hits direction; there are so many reasons why furs are a better Investment than any other sort of apparel. Furriers have presented n greater variety In scarf and nniff sets inul lu fur gurniimls of all kinds than Is usual In one season and this has made one more reason why furs tire everywhere. Their vogue Is uni versal. Beginning with the short mufllei' collar and ending with tho long coat, one may buy wraps of any size be tween with muffs to uiaicli. Tho scarfs or capes and muffs classed as sepa rate furs and sets, are made In all va rieties of skins. Thun there are the short coats (their name Is legion) nod finally tho long capes ami routs that almost cover the figure. The separate furs scurfs or small capes with muffs to match load In popularity. Recently hats trimmed with the same fur or partly made of ir, have milled a chic, harmonious de tail to the midwinter toilette for the street, but a scarf or cape lookn well with any sort of millinery. The hand some mink scarf and intifT shown In the picture are designed for matronly wearers and are good example of new but staple styles that will outlast many seasons. Tails as a finish for scarf ends have been reinstated, but the flat fur-covered button Is n novel ty in ornaments. There Is a narrow frill of satin along the center of the scurf to protect the lining when the scurf bs brought close up ilioiit the NORTH PLAtTE. NEBRASKA. I some ncod. ThliiL's nf this u-imi Kinmiv clutter up the nvorago storeroom space lu the average home, accumulate dust and arc In the way generally when I hey might be useful elsewhere. It would be a line Idea for every commu nity If the contents of good -will boxes could bo collected In one place either for sale or distribution, nnd disposed of once or twice n year. The money that has been salvaged from useless old silver and gold trinkets ought to Inspire everyone who possesses bnttered and uninteresting things made of the precious metals to convert them Into bullion. Since tho war, women have unearthed all sorts of old gold and silver ornaments, Jew elry and tint wear, some of It ntro rlously ugly, and turned It In for melting up. With the gold nnd sliver procured they buy Wnr Savings stamps. Hut even If they do not euro to Invest It is worth while to turn use less Junk Into money which can be put to work and thereby made useful. Watteau Plait In Winter Frocks. For dinner frocks black Is much used, sleeves are short and the wat teau plait Is favored. In a black tnoiisseliiie do sole gown embodying these details the corsage consists of a broad drnp.nl cerise velvet girdle Hint narrows at the back and bolus down the watteiiM plait with n largo bow. Also for dinner frocks embossed velvet Is much used. Waists lire long, sleeves are short and draped effects predominate. Dinner frocks are often of churmcusc with the selvage serv lug as a hem. A well-designed evening uown Is of black channelise with a two-tiered tulle tunic heavily embroi dered In pearl nnd Jet chrysanthe mums and edged with narrow feather trimming. A broad silver girdle slips under the tulle In buck mid ends In n discreetly veiled bow. throat The melon muff Is finished at , the ends with plaited puffs of satin J and hangers of satin allow It to bo worn suspended from the arm. .Hud son seal, mink, mole, squirrel, kolinsky, are the short-haired furs liked best for sets with marten, skunk, fox and sa ble the choicest III long-linlred pelts. Perspiration 3talns. Perspiration stal ls enn be holler out of white material, but In colored ma terial they usually menu that the per spiration has spoiled theVolor. lit that case, about the only thing to do Is to blench the garment white by boiling It In a solution of washing soda about a cupful i tsoda lo a boiler half full of water. It Is, of course, disap pointing to find oneself In possession of a plain white frock or blouse In stead of one of dainty blue or j ink ; but surely the snowy-while Is moro at tractive to all eyes than n streaked, yellow stiiliied color. Amber Instead of Pink. Flesh-pink chiffon and georgette blouses are being worn so universally now that women of exclusive taste have turned to another tint, and Hint tint seems to bo amber not yellow, and not tun, but ihe Indescribable gold en shade produced by sunlight shining through clear amber. A simple tucked, batiste blouse becomes, touched by tin; magic wand of amber, an exclusive model worth several dollars. Amber chiffon blouses cost still more, and am her organdie trimmed with filet lace Is cM-eedltigly dlFtlngiilshed In price. GELE BRATIN 6 0 EG.25 Yulctidc Festival Once Marked Return of Sun God. Observance of Day Is Habit of More Than Twenty Centuries' Standing "Yule" Means Sun Commu nlty Christmas Tree. Celebrating tho 25th of December Is i habit of moro than twenty centuries' ilnndlug. It Is a remnant of that good nature of our early ancestors, which nns disappeared to n great extent with me irritating problems of civilization. All the rest of the year, writes Fred eric J. llasklu, wo llcht ami emb things away from each other nnd wear our nerves to a frazzle, but at Christ mas wo closo our commercial ex changes, eat tremendous quantities of food nnd send presents and postal curds to our friends and relatives bearing our good wishes. At least this Is what wo aro supposed to do. Mnnv people do a great deal moro in the way of community Christmas trees, visits to tho hospitals and baskets for the poor, and still others regard tho whole thing as absurd and consider nb- stlnenco from Christmas gifts a sign of strength of character. Long before tho birth of Christ our ancestors In northwestern Europe cele brated tho LTith of December, which mnrked the passing of tho winter sol- slice or the return of the sun in tho heavens after conquering the powers of darkness. That was the day of the sun worshipers. The problem of the universe was Just beginning to mizzle and our ancestors figured It out in n straightforward manner that was not half had for supposed savages. All plant life, It was observed, depended on tho sun for Its existence, and nil unlniul life depended on plant life, so that tho power of the sun was greatly respected and It was personified In the person of tho god Thor. Thor was watched with considerable Interest, since there was always some doubt as to whether he would survive tho win ter solstice. Henco tho feasting and merrymaking when ho continued to sblno clear and strong in the heavens. Meaning of the Word "Yule." Besides Thor there wero numerous gods who lived In tho brunches of trees. Therefore tho peoplo gathered mistletoe houghs nnd holly branches nnd put them lu conspicuous positions In their houses, where they might easily be seen from the outside, In the hope that somo wandering god would take a fancy lo them and take up his residence among tho red berries. In Germany the early Huns chopped down tho evergreens and brought them Indoors for tho siimo purpose. The burning of the yule log and tho term yuletldo aro survivals of these early December festivals whoso Inlltience Is still to bo seen today In our own Christmas celebrations. "Yule" means sun. With the dawn of Christianity nnd the conversion of the sun worshipers, tho birth of Christ' was substituted as the cause for celebration and the fes tivities became religious demonstra tions. The people still gormandized, trimmed tlielr houses with holly branches nnd gnvo presents,, but tho ilfith of December usually saw them comfortably seated In church. So Christmas has como down to us with nil those traditions. The German Santa Claus legend has Improved It considerably for the children, and It Is now known almost entirely as the chil dren's season. Community Chrlstmns Tree. Among the finest Christmas Institu tions today Is tho community Christ mas tree, which originated In Madison sqtinre, New York, five years ago and since then has spread to communities nil over the United States. The cc:n- nunlty "Treo of Light" Is usually planted In n central locution In tho city, trimmed with balls nnd orna ments and lighted with electricity. Citizens aro organized Into committees to collect donations for the tree and employ bauds of musicians to play Christmas carols and hymns. In Bal timore last year groups of men nnd boys carrying holly-trimmed lanterns walked through the streets sluglng and greeting ench pedestrian with "Merry Christmas 1" While every year thero Is an Increas ing number of persons who decide to "bo sensible" and send cards In tho place of Christmas presents, the aver age person lacks the courage to face his family empty-handed on Christmas morning. Hut Christmas Is n spirit, which you either hnve or haven't. If you haven't It, the holidays aro only a bore; on the other hand. If you allow ourself to become enthusiastic there H really a lot of fun to be derived from It, oven though you're lonely and away from home. Lnst year a travel ing man who wns compelled to spend Christmas away from his family In u strange city gathered a number of little tenement waifs together, took them Into a large restaurant and treat ed them all to a Christmas dinner. "I never had so much fun In my life," declared tho traveling man. The Christ-Babe. We glvo the Chrlst-babo his cradle lu our hearts, and afterwards ho sols up his cross In our hearts, and In our hearts ho plants his throne. A Real Good Fellow, A real good fellow Is u man who keeps something of tho Christmas Bplr It all the year round. an- Duty Brings Vision Tolstoi tells n lovely llttlo story of two pilgrims who sot out for Jerusalem. Yelescl stopped to help a starving fam ily. Ho bought food, fetched water, split wood, started tho great oven fire, nursed nnd fed tho sick, redeemed the mortgage on tho home, nnd bought back tho cow, horse, and scythe with which tho living was earned. Ills money was all gone, nnd ho could not hopo to ovcrtnko his companion on the road, so ho returned homo nnd devoted him self again to dnlly duty. Yeflm would not pnuso to help anyone, lie reached Jerusalem, visited tho sacred places, obtained earth from Cnlvnry, water from tho Jordan, and blessed amulets of every kind, but becauso of tho throng ho could not reach the Holy Sepulchre. Yet, under tho lamps themselves whero the blessed fire burns boforo nil, ho saw n vision of Yclesel, wearing n halo of shining glory about his head. For Yeflm had brought his body to tho Holy Land, but Christ himself had como to tho soul of Yelesel. And no learned thnt In this world God bids overyono do his duty till death In lovo and good deeds. HOLY CITY'S CHRISTMASTIME Distressing Scenes Witnessed In Church of the t.'ntlvlty Guards on Duty Day and Night. Although much has been written up on tho subject of Chrlstmns in Beth lehem, writes Harold J. Shepstono In the Wldo World, nnd wo havo had glowing accounts of Us gorgeous pro cessions and ceremonies, none appears to havo been bold enough to tell the world of the distressing scene which may be witnessed In tho ono spot on earth whero man would expect pence to reign at that glad season of tho year. Christmas Is a long business at Bethlehem. First come tho Latin cere monies, which take pluce on December 2fi, followed 13 days later by the Greek services, whllo III days later comes tho Armenian Christmas feast. Tho serv ices aro held In tho Church of tho Nn tlvlty, one of tho most remarkable edi fices In the world. The holy of hollos of tho church Is tho grotto or. manger. It Is a small underground chamber, said to be the actual slto of the stabla whero tho Savior was born. Just In front of the altar Is a silver star, let Into the marble lloor, said to murk the exact spot of tho nativity. In tho various ceremonies tho bit terest rivalry exists between the vari ous sects, and even during the ordinary services Turkish soldiers have to be on guard day and night In tho church to prevent strife. On special occasions, such as Christmas time, an extra forco of soldiers is necessary If order is to be maintained. It Is during Chrlstmns festivities that the church Is cleaned. To prevent quarrels among the rival priests the authorities many years ngn set down definite- rules us to what por tions of the walls, pillars, lloors, etc., this or that body may clean or sweep. Despite I hose elaborate precautions, however, trouble often arises. During the Christmas festivities of 1013 a deplorable scene was witnessed In the sacred building. "Two sects disputed tho rights to elenn a certain portion of tho church. They went to the gov ernor of Bethlehem nnd ho decided n certain sect possessed the right to do tho work. When they stnrted td sweep, however, tho rival priests flew at them nnd soldiers had to hold one sect back while the other did the sweeping. CHRISTMAS IN OTHER LANDS Children of Russia, Spain and Italy Devote Day to Worship In Their Churches. The children of Busslu, Italy anil f-paln spend Christmas duy In wor ship at their churches nnd receive toolr presents on Janunry 0. On this same day French children hnve a great celebration and cut tho "king's cake," which Is a round cake, usually, with a china Imago baked In It. Whoever cuts tho sllco that con tains tho Imago Is king or queen for the day, and the rest of tho children must do everything tho king or queen does. In Norway and Sweden they hnvo Christmas services In tlielr churches it four o'clock In the morning nnd the kind-hearted children scatter wheat for the hungry birds. Germnny was the first country to use Christmas trees, and from England we get our Idea of hanging tho stockings by the chimneys, burning the yulo log nnd hanging up tho branches of mistle toe. In Holland on Christmas ovo tho children fill their stockings with hay and oats for the white horse that they believe Santa flans rides. In tho morning they find tho hay and oats gone and Instead aro presents for good children and a rod or chunk of coal for the bad ones. Tho young men of the town arise at two o'clock In tho morning and slug Christmas hymns, carrying a star on a high pole that Is lighted by a candle Inside of tho star. Tho singing of Christmas cur- ols Is tho way we follow the story In tho Bible, when tho shepherds heard 'he angels sing when Christ was born : "Peace on earth; good will to men."