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About The Nebraska advertiser. (Nemaha City, Neb.) 18??-1909 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 21, 1906)
IF I WERE SNTA CLAUS. um$muu , mu uy com,nGofthenEwyeaR. M Jt l x . jliv mx M.JL i man World rovnd Christmas day if, above all other days, Iho festival of hope, wrote Dean Farrar. On that blessed day the thoughts of mill ions nil over the habitable globe, from the huts of the Fskimos to the krnals of the ICaflirs, and from the torrid zone down to the wigwams of the l'atagoninns and the stormy Antarctic isles, will turn to Bethlehem and to the Chri.st-Child. All will be glad to think how to us is born in the City of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And why? Because even the dimmest nnd vaguest conception of Christmas will show that this com memorates an infinitude of love and infin itude of hope. It tells that man is not a worthless atom ; but that he is dear to God; thnt there is an infinite value and preciousuess in this, our mortul life. fMirlul tno a tu Hia i1iMudt fiiutfvnl nf flit w.....i....l-1 1 .III, lltUI.Vil " year, People talk of holiday making, but this one season fairly radiates gladness. There is around it, as it were, a halo, or atmosphere of joy. From the time when we were tiny children, before we knew the meaning of work, when every day was n play day, we looked forward to Christ nias as u magic occasion. And. now we are grown up, we still look torward to Christmas. There is (he excitement of the mutual exchange of gifts, the exhil aration of the winter festivities, the pleas- of holiday. In some of the old Belgian towns a I'autiful spectacle may-be seen on Christ r. as live. Amid the sounds of. drum, cor ner, cymbnl nnd a whole orchestra of in struments, with the soft chanting of old carols, a long, gaily decked procession marches through the principal streets: children of all ages, each division dressed in its special color white, blue, pink or yellow and all bearing some badge or emblem, or grasping some bright ribbon at Inched to various objects. The Germans have u truly childlike love for Christmas. The spirit, of Kris Kringle animates the hearts of rich and poor ; faults and foibles are covered with a kindly mantle, and mirth and jollify reign. Every fnmily wants a Christinas tree, of course, but if too poor to get a tree, a hough will give them just as much pleasure, and if not u bough, then a twig will do very well. It is a' liome festival, and the gifts, however small, are pretty 'sure to he love giftw. All through the land there is mirth and laughter and the spirit of Christmas, nnd we feel that here the holiday retains the charm it once had when we were little ones. In the distri bution of gifts everyone is remembered, usually with only a tritie, but it U beau tiful us expressing remembrance. There is a general caring for the poor. Rich families care for poor families individual ly, and choose gifts which will be of real value to them. -Ancient Christmas customs are passing n way in the larger cities of ltussin, but in some of the remoter provinces of the .empire the old-fashioned form lingers. .Once upon a time the festival seemed to be devoted to the amusement of young girls, nor is this practice entirely obso lete. The house of some wealthy family was chosen for the place of festivities, in order that there might be no lack of "good cheer." Of course, these festivities were only indulged in by 1 lie rich. The poor Never gained admittance to them, except occasionally as maskers or mummers. From time immemorial it has been the custom in ltoumnnia, at Christmas, to bless the Danube. Formerly a scaffold ing was. erected on the frozen river, nnd on this was n large cross of ice; but ow ing to the extraordinary number of people who presented themselves, the ice fre quently gave way, anil many were drown ed. The ceremony. now takes place on the bank of the Danube. The people, in rec ognition of the occasion, wear turbans of colored paper and carry long, white wands. These people, who are dressed to represent I'ontius l'ilnte, llerod nnd other Teligious characters, go from place to .place singing hymns, which are almost Minilnr to our own Christmas carols. At the appointed hour of, the ceremony, the notabilities arrive in processional order, 'accompanied by the priests. The service lasts half an hour, at the close of which the ice is broken and a small wooden cross is thrown into the water. Hundreds of .people rush in after it. and the person who is successful in recovering it is con sidered very lucky. Christmas in the West Indies ism very jovial, rollicking affair --a I least in the estimation of (he darkies, l'lje great fea ture of the s.eason is the series of mas querades or mystery plays enacted by strolling negro performers. They are unite an imposing lot of men, with a good ear for music, and as you watch Ijieir unties you might easily imagine that, in Vtcnd of being in a civilized British col ony, you were back in' the heart of Africa, assisting at some savage death dance or other heathen rite. Christmas o is celebrated in Sweden to an extent unknown in our country, and the, celebration Is not over mill Jan. HI, or "twentieth day Yule." At every farm er's house there is, erected, In the middle of the yard, a pole, to the top of which is bou ml a large, full sheaf of graiu. Not a peasant In Sweden will sit down to a Christums dinner within "doors, uutll he hat, fim raised aloft a Christmas dinner for the birds in the cold and snow without. Of all Chinese festivals that of New Year's day Is the greatest. Being a pecu liarly contradictory race, the Chiucmf do not reckou time by the sun, as wo do in America, but by the moon, so that tho Chinese New Year's day mny come nt any time between the middle of January and the middle of February. When the time approaches, creditors are happy, for by the last day of the old year all dtfbts must be paid. Tho Chinaman who can not pay up must hide his head until the festival Is over. Another preparation is a general washing up. Household belong ings nnd personal attire are put through a severe course of soap ami water In or der that the new year tnay be begun with cleanliness. A French Canadian New Year's custom now nearly obsolete was thnt known as La Quete de PEnfnnt Jesus the collec tion Tor the infant Jesus. This collection was managed by the parish priest, who was driven round among his parishioners by the senior church warden or the beadle. The gifts that, he thus gathered "for tho love of the infant Jesus" on the festival of the circumcision were distributed among the poor. intimacy connected with this was another practice of collect ing alms for the poor, known as La Guig nolee or La Ignotee. New Year's, not Christmas, is the French day of days. Cards, flowers and bonbons are exchanged in profusion, and visits are made. TIm; gay breakfast over, the children, the youth and those of the family in t lio prime of life make ready to pay visits. They start forth with pock ets and hands tilled with remembrances. TALKING DOLLS. I,nt'ft I'rniliicdoii of the t'levor Jir iiiiiii To.viiiitLccrM. One of the most striking of the new Christmas toys take the shape of a real talking doll. In the past dolly's vo cabulary has been limited to such phrases as "Da-da" or "Ma-ma," sounds produced by a reed and a pair of bellows. All that New Year, I look straight In your eyes, Our ways ami our Interests lilentl ; You mny ho n foe In disguise, 0 Hut I shall believe you" a friend. Wo get what we give In our measure- We cannot give pain nnd get pleasure; I give you good will and good rheer, And you mast return tt, Now Year. Wo get what we give In this life, Tho' often the nlver Indeed Wntts long upon doubting and strife Hre proving the truth of his creed ; Hut somewhere, some Way, nnd forever, Hewnrd Is the meed of endeavor : And If I ,um reallv worth while, New Year, you will give me your smile. You hide In your m.Vbtlenl hand No "luck" that I cannot control If I trust my own courage anil stnnd On the Infinite strength of my soul. Man hide In IiIn hrnln and his spirit A power that Ik godlike, or near It: And he who has measured his force Can govern events In their course. You come with a crown on your brow, New Year, without blemish or spot ; Yet you. and not I, sir, must Ikw, For Time Is the servant of Thought. Whatever jou bring me of trouble Shall turn Into good, and then double, If my spirit looks up wlthodt fear To the Source that you came from, New Year. -Kllu Wheeler Wilcox. ' .- W A Christmas Surprise Party. Br 11p. Daring. U( CAUL STKWARD stepped from the train at Farmington. It was early evening. The snow lay fresh and untrodden on tho village streets, al though the storm had ceased, and bright stars were beginning to gem the sky. "Back again;" and the middle-aged man drew himself erect. "Twenty years since I left Farmington. Ah I I cm another person. The heartsick boy of that day has nothing to do with Carl Steward, suc cessful banker and man of business." Several residence streets lay lietwoon him and the business part of the town. As he was threading his way along the narrow board walk he came face to face with a slender woman. U was in tho circle of flickering light cast by a kero sene lamp that the two met. One glance into the thin, dark face framed by snow A LETTER TO SANTA CLAUS. is to be changed, and dolly will be able to say quite a pumber of nice things and carry on little conversations of n hundred words or more and, ff necessary, sing the very latest song. The idea comes from Germany nnd is really an adaptation of the principle upon which the gramophone is hased. Briefly it is this: Secreted somewhere in the doll's interior will be a tiny disk machine, which will f;arry a record about two inches in dlumeter. When tlte dIl has been made presentable and feels equal to taking part in the conversation her little nurse will simply have to place a disk In a crevice somewhere in dolly's back, an operation as simple as putting n penny in a' slot, and the doll w(ll do the rest. Two dolls, with suitable records, may, easily be made to carry on quite intelligent con versations. London Dally Newa. "Made known your wants for Christ mas yet?" 0 "Sure. Asked the forty-seven friends who scut me suspenders clavt year to send trousers to match them this." Cincin nati TJinen-Stitr. white hair, and Carl Steward stopped. "It. must be it is Rachel West!" The woman's look of jK-rplexlty was suddenly merged into one of delight. "I am Rachel West, and you 'you are Carl Steward." lie held out his hand. "Are you still Rachel West, after all tiie.se years? And do you live here?" His mfittor-of-fact tone steadied the woman. She replied, "I am still Rachel West, and I live In the old home of my parents. You remember my sister, Hester Carpenter? She nnd her family live with me. And you? You have won success and happiness in that western dry?" "I have won money." There was a note of bitterness in his voice. "Twenty yearn since I went'awny. I have always planned to come back and build a home here. A foolish Idea for a man who ia alone In the world, Is It not? A lawyer here with whom I have beeu correspond ing wrote1 ine that a piece of property he thought would suit me could be obtained? to I came on at once," He as4 Rachel bad frown up together. They hnd loved each other witii a boy's and a girl's Idealizing love. Tho Christ mas of twenty years before was to havo been their wedding day. A fortnight be fore the nppolnted time the lovers hnd quarreled. It was Jerry Carpenter, Ra chel's brother-in-law, who nindo the trou ble. The next day both Carl and Rachel knew that Carpenter had lied, but eacli was too proud to make tho first overture. A week later Carl left Farmington. I After parting with Miss West, Carl rambled around the old town for an hour before he sought an Interview with his ! lawyer. As he ascended tie steps leading to that man's ollice he said to himself, "I thought I had forgotten. She has, but there has never been any otic else for either of us." The lawyer, Ronald Morgan, proceeded nt once to give his employer the details of the proposed purchase. To Carl's sur prise he found that It was? -Rachel's old home thnt wns offered for sale. Her brother-in-law held a mortgage upon it, nnd he wns urging her to sign It over to him. Rnchel had for years been sub ject to the tyranny of her sister's family. In a fit of desperation she hnd sought Mr. Morgan, asking if he could not find a pur chaser for her. Carl Steward stood up, a frown wrink ling his brow. "I remember the plnce, and am sure it will suit me. Offer all it is worth." The next day Carl Steward went about among tho villagers. Many remembered him. nnd many more had heard of the suc cess thnt he had won In the outside world. There were several interviews with Ra chel. She spoke with reluctance of her self. "I suppose 1 am foolish, but I do not dare let Jerry and Hester know what I am doing," she said, a soft crimson flush coloring her cheeks. "What will you do when you leave the old home?" Mr. Steward asked. The flush faded, leaving her very pale. "I shall go away from Farmington. and try to find work." Two days later Farmington was electri fied. Carl Steward had issued invitations for n Christmas dinner parly to bo given nt the hotel. Preparations were made on u more lavish scale than the village had ever seen. The Carpenters and Miss West were in vited. Rachel's sister said, "Course yon won't go, Rachel. It wouldn't look well, after what happened 'twixt you an' Stew ard years ago. You ain't got nothin' to wear, neither. 'Sides,-1 waul you to stay with the children." Rachel made no reply. She settled the matter by going away early Christinas morning and not returning. Mr. Carpen ter did not again see her sister until they were both In the hotel parlor. Tho room was a bower of evergreens and holly. Mrs. Caris'iiter gave a gasp, and clutched her husband's arm. "For land's sake, Jerry, do look at Rachel !" Miss West's !Iqnder figure was outlined ngainst the screen of green boughd. She wore a soft gray silk, tho full skirt trail ing behind her. "Tho dress she was to have been mar ried to Carl Steward in !" Mrs. Carpenter gasped. -No. I ain't mistaken. 1 guess 1 know it, for Rnchel an' 1 have quarreled 'bout it more'n a dozen times. Whoro'd she git tho lace? It cost a mint o' money. Jerry, I'm goln' to find out 'bout this." Mrs. Carpenter did find out. Before she could reach Rachel Mr. Steward had led her forward to where the minister was standing. "Why, they're bein married really married!" Hester exclaimed. "Well, 1 never !" Jerry was (he first to recover from the surprise. He soon .found an opportunity to say to Rachel, "You'd better sign tho place over to me in the morning. Rachel. You'll be goin' off West, an' forgittin' it." It wns Rachel's husband who replied, "Morgan will pay you Hie money on the mortgage any time you wish. I am going to rebuild the house for Rachel a summer home. Nothing that money or love can procure is too good for my wife." Farm and Fireside. j'f i Ttro-KoUl Ilt-nellls Derived from Miiklittc .Ntv Veur ItuNoliitloun. Notwithstanding tho army of very wise and very cynical people who sneer nt New Year's resolutions, I'm going to bold ly announce myself here as one who be lieves in them. I do not hesitate to say that I have made them every year since I wns old enough to thiuk about such things, and I expect to keep it up as long as I live. Moreover, I want my girls to get into the same habit, for I consider it good nnd helpful. But, girls, don't take it up as a pastime, or confide in any one who happens to be present. Be In earnest about it. Go away by yourself for a little while and cxninino your char acter honestly. Don't mnke excuses to yourself hecausu there are flaws In it; don't attempt to lay the blame upon any one else; don't console yourself with the thought that you are no worse thnn your neighbor. Shut out all the world, face your eonsciniice bravely, and be honest with yourself, if only for a little half hour. It cannot help but do you good. Charncter Is something wc build for ourselves. We, and we nlone, are respon sible for it. We have no right to assert that environment or hereditary Influences prevent us from reaching our own ideals. There is nothing but our own moral lazi ness to prevent us from belug what we really want to be. The benefits nrislng from the making of New Year resolutions are twofold. It is good for us to acknowledge a fault and wish to overcome It; it is good for us to resolve to do better, even If the resolution is destined to be broken, for the soul lives on these breaths from the upper realms of life. Minneapolis Housekeeper. If I were Ran In Claim I'd bring 1 Kneh sighing mnld n splendid ring. And unto every child the toy I hut represented deepest Joy. To each defeated candidate yum sadly sits nnd mourns his fate I d give n public ttmcv where He might hold down an ensy chair. To every tolling man I'd bring The case nnd riches of a King ; 'the unrequited lover then .Should never sigh In vain ngnln. v The golfer, too, should hnve good cheer, I il Htretrh tho season through tho year, Ho thnt where snow is spread to-day i He still might drive and sclaff awny. j If 1 were Hnnto Clans I'd bring 'the poet rhymes for everything; The word that's now so hard to find Should come directly to his mind. I The days should nil bo glad and bvlght Kor every one who longs to write, I d Mtrnlghtwny bring to him or her A ulnd and eager publisher. To every chorus girl I'd bring '1 he sweet nblllty to sing; And every babe that squalls at night, Should have the fooil that gives delight. Then Joy should seel: the widow's soul, 1 d till her empty bin with coal, And nt the unv nnd hrlllliint Imll No girl should languish near the wall. If 1 were .Santa Clans I'd bring Contentment to the sorrowing, And servant-gtrU should evermore Line up ut every kitchen door. CHRISTMAS TREES. H I Km in 3&'3SL II TIiiiu IiiimoiiicirlHl Purl of (h Holiday Olclirntlou. ROM time immemo rial a tree has been a part of the Christ mas celebration. It mny be seen outside the traditional man gers in the missals and early paint ingi of the prcraphnellto Italian school. In the tree or near It are seen angels in flowing robes sing ing out of n scroll of illuminated paper the "Renec on Martli and Good Will -Toward Mon" or "(.'lory, Glory, Hal- lelulah'." The correct German Chr.istmas- tree n.l ways has an angel or a Chriatkihd on the topmost branch, vyilh a "tliiM'l star at tho end of u staff, like a pautoinimi fairy, and if the tree belongs to a very orthodox family there is usually at Itc foot a small toy group representing tho Saviour's birth in tlte stable nt Bethle hem. The lights on the tree are said to he of Jewish origin. In the ninth month of. tho Jewish year, corresponding nearly to our Decemlicr, and on the twenty-fifth day, the Jews celebrated the feast of ded ication of (heir temple. It "had been dese crated on that day by Antiochus. It was dedicated by Judas Maccabeus, and then, nccording to the Jewish legend, sufficient oil was found in the temple to last for the seven branched candlestick for seven days, and it would have taken seven days to prejiare new oil. Accordingly tho Jews were wont on the 2"rh of Kisleu in every house to light a candle, on the next day two, nnd so on till on the seventh and last day of the feast seven candles twin kled in every house. It is not easy to fix the exact date-of the Nativity, bill it fell most probably on the last day of Kisleu, when every Jewish house in Bethlehem nnd Jerusalem was twinkling with lights. It Is worthy of notice that the German name for Christ mas is Feihnneht (the night of dedica tion), as though it were associated with this feast. The Greeks also call Christ mas tho feast of lights, and, indeed, this was also the name given to the dedication fostlvnJ, Chanuka, by tho Jew. New York Mall arid FJxpress. liiiNMtnu Ideu of Saudi Cirius. ..vr';T.v-.s-N,,v. v., ma l' v'..A m rr.i i ij m ill 1 ,i V tlU X ft' It m m. Jan. 7 Is Christmas in Russia, where tho calendar is of the "old style"; that is, about two weeks behind that in use ii, this country. This picture represent:! Santa Claus, or Kris Kringje, according to the Russian idea, in the attire of priest of the Greek church, the nation) church of Russia, of which the Czar la tk hed.