Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The Falls City tribune. (Falls City, Neb.) 1904-191? | View Entire Issue (Dec. 16, 1910)
JUST RECEIVED! Ladies' Velvets and uedes Short Vamps — Buttons We can fit you NOW Men's and Boys' High Top Boots Tan and Black All sizes, all prices Awa | II ADI pr u|mt. p| iv VAI IB AT A SHOE STORE We soil the famous BALL BAND lino of Rubber Goods, Overshoes, Leggings, Rubbers, Gaiters, Warm VALUAbLt mm. PUT YUUK anuiia Ml M _T Shoes, Lined Slippers and EVERYTHING NEEDFUL FOR WINTER wEAR. Don't forget those Xmas Slippers THE H. M. JENNE SHOE STORE Falls City, Nebraska Love Of Christmas Time VHHBHnnHIBBSHHHnHHflHnanHBBSBninBnBHI MRS. WILLIAM M. WILSON. There is no more beautiful story than that of the first Christmas. “Glory to God in the Highest, on csrth peace and good will toward men,” was the first Christmas an them and the world has not improv ed upon it. It has been said that if it were not the beginning of a sew era in the history of mankind and that if it had no religious signi fieanse, it would still he unsurpassed i» its touch upon all the poetic lm-| aginations and romantic instincts of • :ir nature. But for millions of mankind it lias a religious signifi cance appealing, as none other can, in all that is highest and best in us, making it a time of good will and charity for all. In its social feat ures Christmas stands first as the most joyous holiday of all the year— bringing together relatives andj friends from whose reunion happy j memories are created that give per ennial pleasures. It would, indeed,, b» difficult, to find anyone, who can not recall some happy and cherished ^■mlent associated with Christmas, it is only when we ask, ‘‘What would! the year be without Christmas, that »«• realize how great an event it is 0,ir lives, in its, inspiration toi i burl fable tuts it is the most bcnc fU.t nt of seasons—not only giving j happiness to thousands of poor and needy—hut exerting an Influence in ] the cause of benevolence that will r'-a< h far beyond. A waj back in fifteen-hundred old) i nomas i usscr sang,- At <'hrisiuiaa play and make good cheer, for Christ mas comes but once a year," In Tosser's day it was chiefly an occa sion for mirth under the sanction of religion, and far off be the time when such an observance of Christ mas shall cease. For what this age needs, and coming ages prom'ise to need it quite as much, is mirthfulness Cnhappy is ho who does not know, that the key note of the universe is jev, and that Christmas laughter is the. echo of the sunny sympathy which lightens the shodows in many a lonely heart. He is happiest upon Christmas, who makes most, others glad. If we would gather flowers we must sow seed. ir, may not he possible for every, o»o to indulge in the comfort of making many gifts—but every man. woman and child may constitute him self or herself a tiny part of the uni versal movement to bring heaven r little nearer to some one. It is well at this time to remember the wisdom of Mohamet, who said "that if he had two loaves of bread, he ^ would sell one and buy hyacinths for ^ they would feed his soul.” Our I homes can be made more bright with the treasures of the field and the beauties of the forests, and our gifts mere eloquent of love. Then in i after years as we glance backward into the golden age of childhood, these sunlit Christmas gardens will bring to us our happiest memories. May the fates be kind to the parents i who can find neither time nor mon ey to furnish some simple gifts to the little ones, for it is the greeting which we give to these latest arrivals from Heaven, whom we call children, that bring to us our greatest joy. Christmas trees are as green in the humble homos as in the mansion, J and the beautiful rooms filled with costly gifts do not bring any grater joy than comes to the waif who re-1 ceives a humble present from the Santa Claus who visits missions and ' looks after the little folks whose sur- j roundings would be almost unbear- j able were it not for the few bright; spots which Christmas brings into i their lives. Mothers give your child ren a happy Christmas. The tooting of horns and the beating of drums is hard on the nerves, but in after < years its memory may be sweetest | music. 1 Then too, the fruits of the Christ mas tree are usually short lived, but oh, what a good thing there is in the destruction. Punching a hole in tiie drum head is more fun than it would be to play for a whole year on the stretched parchment, and the small boy gets twice as much enjoy ment in hearing the wind gush out of a rubber foot ball as he would have in kicking the expanded ball about the yard. The'poor doily with battered face and broken arms, clasp ed in her chubby hands at bed time, is far dear* r to the heart of the lit tle girl than a dozen big wax dolls j hid away in the closets. The first certain traces of Christ- j inas festival are found about the time I of the Emperor Commodus 180-1 hit A. D. A few years later in the reign of Diocletian a church full of Chris-; tians gathered to celebratte Christ- j mas, were burned by order of the j Emperor. The birth of Christ was! celebrated in January, April and, May—it is almost certain that the 25th of December is not Christ’s birthday, as it is the rainy season in Judea and the shepherds could hard ly be watching their flocks by night in the plains at that time. Christmas was observed generally in the latter halt’ of the fourth century. After the conversion of Constantine and subse quent to the council of Nice it. was decided by the fathers of the church to celebrate Christmas on the 25th of December. Among the causes that co-operated in fixing this period as the proper one—perhaps the most powerful one was that almost all the heathen nations regarded the winter solstice (the time of the sun turning northward) as a most impor tant period of the year. It was the beginning' of renewed life ami activity of the powers of nature. All heathen nations celebrated that season as the old Norse Yule feast. The Germans held their gnat Yule feast at that time, in commemora tion of the return of the great sun wheel, commencing December 25tli and continuing twelve days. Many of the beliefs and usages of the old Germans also of the Romans passed over from heathenism to Christian ity. It lias taken the best of all religions. Its games, its cheer, its legends, its fairies are Pagan. Its ■ charity, its love, its universal for giveness, its chants and prayers are Christian. The Christmas tree with its hangin toys comes from the Romans and is told about by the poet Virgil. The visits of Santa Claus bearing gifts belong to St. Nicholas. All nations in the north have striven from the earliest antiquity to light up the dreary days of winter. Trees no longe rr bear leaf, flowers or fruit. The Christmas tree, therefore, must bud and blossom with gifts. The holly must throw its rich color over the snow', the red fire on the hearth from the Yule log. which burns' twelve days, must replace the Still j which they have lost from the 1 heavens, The hospitality of the man must heal the inliospitality of nature, I and food and good cheer must go from the rich kitchen to the poorer one. In Sweedeu where the people are of musical temperameent the early hours of Christmas morn are ushered ,n with singing of carols. Although the Christmas tree comes clown from the Druids, it disappeared from Fngland for many centuries. Even in .he Wassail days when Fluistioa . was a great day of feast ing, we hear of no Christmas tree till the Duchess of Kent,true to her Herman recollection had one dressed for Queen Victoria when a little girl at Kingston Palace. Hut Christmas lias always been splendidly kept in England. At eight o’clock on Christ mas eve all bells greet Old Father Christmas with a peal which arouses the most distant echo. Children pa rade with drums and trumpets. Noise is the form which enthusiam takes among Anglo-Saxons, when the Yule candle is lighted. In noble Eng lish the host lights tin* Yule log, and great ill luck is foretold if its light goes out for twelve days. The Christ mas feast required four dishes— roast beef, which meant strength; plum pudding, which by its richness, typified the gifts which were brought by the wise men of the east The porridge made in honor of the new little brother and sister up-stairs, and the mince pie to show that the eater was not a Puritan. Ale was drank in honor of all the saints and martyrs, and the lord of misrule was expected to turn the house upside down. In Koine, Italy the noisy music of trumpets ushers in the festival of the Befanta (Santa Claus) and a sort of fair is held in the public squares. Iii the church of Ara t’ocli, the pret tiest scene takes place. A tableau of the Virgin Mary, a figure richly dressed, rocking the Holy Child in a manger, is revealed to the populace and little Italian girls make impromptu addresses speaking of the humility of the Christ, child. This church which has the famous stairway up which pilgrims go on their knees, is crowded witli worship pers, who adore this element of Christmas. The whole family of Polish nobles would gather around tlie brilliantly decorated Christmas tree, supper was a sort of picnic served all night, everybody going In and helping himself—the health of the belle of the dinner was drunk from her slipper. The mistletoe was carried from house to house and t.he sturdy Dutch lover would embrace ids fair Katrina and the maiden who failed to be kissed beneath the mistle toe was doomed to remain unmarried during the coming year. The Ger mans have always spread the soft Scandinavian influence over the many supertitions. It was their forte to change the witch who rides a broom stick into the dignified Kriss Krin "Jc, who rides in his own sleigh decked in furs, Fjefahia, had h bunch of rods for file naughty boy and a few (>arents for the good one. ivnss Kringle omits trio rods- and 'ties tho logic of flattery. Tho Ger man adores the stork Who builds on liis roof, and tells his children to liroleet the bird- who cares- for her young with such self-sacrificing fidel ity. Ifo tenches them that tho Yule log signifies light and warmth—the ■reat principals of life, that the Chris tmas tree means tho eternal mother love, hers the good cheer—the boun (ou:; table, and far above it all is i ho Christ Child who made Christ inas. There is the blessed Madonna mil there stands the tree laden with gifts. No wonder the German child, is he listens to the beautiful stories it' Kriss Kringle wishes that it could lie Christinas all the year. Unfortu nately for us the Mayflower brought their duties as oi) other days and kept io Christmas tree to “Plymouth Rook ” The Puritans attended to heir children away from what, they ■onsidered the contamination of the iiagan festival. Tho few Bostonians who believed in observing Christmas kept on unmindful of the rebukes of he elders and enjoyed the day as hey had learned to do in their lomes across the water. When the Puritan elders saw how popular the ibservance of Christmas was beconi nfs, they promptly enacted a law o prohibit it, The law was passed n iti,"'i and not until 1(181 was this t'*en law repealed. The Puritan rontempt i the green at Christmas was based upon tho fact, that the innc.ing of green was following an old k at h(>n 11 stom. The green also :ept alive an old tradition, that as he holly brought in at Christmas was^ smooth or rough, the wife or hus-; >and would be the one in authority luring the coming year, and surely * I no man ever of 1‘nrltan stock would tolerate (lie idea at being other than the “lord of creation." The Puritan influence was so strong in Host on that it is in the remembranc e of some now living that the day was Ignored and Washington Irving's description of an English Christmsa was all they knew of its true poetic side. Our natural and peculiar feast of Thanks giving for many years told heavily on the institutions of Christmas. Scar cely were the indigestions of the Thanksgiving mince pie overcome tie fore it was time to Invite those of the Christmas plum-pudding. An Irishman solved the problem by I writing home, “This is a folno conn three, twice as foine as tin* ould ^ sod, for haven't they two Christmas days, and plenty to ate for three of 'em." Santa Claus, a corruption of St. ( Nicholas is strictly our own. The term was first used by the Dutch set i tiers of New York. The Christmas ! carol is said to have been imported ; into England from Italy, and it lias undergone many changes. Every [graceful pen that can write (Jermnii, French id English has paid tribute to Christinas, and better than all the Words of the poet of humanity, Char les Dickens: “Who of us will eat his Christina? dinner without think ing of ‘Tiny Tim’ and his patient hard working father, who brought the turkey which was so fat that he nev er could have walked on two elgs, as they would have snapped off under him like wax; who ho blessed the holly and consecrated the mistletoe. Who so cheerily led off the dance in the kitchen. Where in all literature shall we find a grater gourmand than tin* fat hoy, an apotheosis of Christinas stuffing. And where will tli" genius of the future find the star which rose on Bethlehem shining through the clouds of the world's inis cry, as in those immortal pages. If he had done nothing else for man kind, Charles Dickens has left his Christmas literature, a most glorious legacy to the world. We twine his mottoes with our Christmas green. We quote him in our toasts and with one voice we say with “Tiny Tim,” “A Merry Christmas to you all, and God bless us every one." A GOOD RURAL SCHOOL. Here are some facts about a rural school in Grant township, Wright county, Iowa. It is taught, by Miss Mary Fennington, and Mr. K. V. Grab tree is director. Compare this school with the one in your district. It has: I. Teacher alive to her opportunity for rural uplift; a leader both in school and out of school. School director and patrons full of interest and enthuslanm for better schools, united in a common cause. 3. Farm and home economics cor related with geography, writing, draw ing history, etc. 4. A daily class in “farm and home economics" for sixth, seventh and eight grade pupils. 5. A new and modern school build lug with u well-lighted schoolroom, washroom, cloakroom and porch li. Bookcase built In wall, with a generous supply of good helpful books some of them bearing upon rural life. 7. Belfry and bell, genuine slato blackboards around the room, chalk and erasers to fit new conditions. 8. A new heating and ventilating plant chungcs the air of the room o very fifteen minutes and heats all parts of the room evenly and easily. 11. Complete new outfit of school furniture including single adjustable ami sanitary steel seats, new desk and chair for the teach' r. 10. Wall decorations. Several new wall pictures of Hoffman’s Child Christ,” pictures of Lincoln. Washing ton, etc.: nonne of them costing less than $2.50 each. J 11. A fine srhool garden, fenced with a beautiful sweet pea hedge, and containing a number of well-kept garden and experiment plots. tj 12. Over thirty new trees set out on last Arbor Day by combined effort of teacher, pupils, school director R. V. Crabtree, and Mr. and Mrs. .lames Bell, who assisted all day in planting (‘leaning and making school gttrifrm etc. 12. New covered sanitary drinking jar and individual drinking cups. 14. Gravel walk from school to tin.! road. 15. They paid $50 per month for their teacher and she earned it. Public Sale. Bankrupt Stock of Furniture and Embalming, Falla City, Nebr. Commencing Dec. 16, 1910 at ton ! o'clock a. m. and continuing until the i ntliN stock of furniture, carpets, | etc., of the bankrupt estate of Kdwar ■ Bandrlgnn is disposed of. The property will be sold in the fol lowing order: Friday morning. Dor. 16, coiimnnc ing at 10:60 o’clock—chairs and rock | erg. Friday afternoon, couches, tables | and stands, Saturday morning, Dec. 17—corc mencing at 10 o'clock bed room fur niture. Saturday afternoon, writing desks, j china closets, dressers and chiffon | iers. Monday morning, Dec. 19t.b— rugs, i and miscellaneous articles. The said property may be inspect ed at “Landrigan’s" furniture store on any business day prior to the sale between the hours of 10 a. m. and 3 p. m. The trustee reserves the right to withdraw any of said prop erty from sale unless it shall bring at least seventy-five per centum of ;the appraised value. Bids will be received on said stock in lots or as a whole, subject to the approval of the trustee. Terms of sale cash. No goods re moved until settled for. This is a fine new large stock, no j old shop or shelf worn goods. Remember tho Dates. 2t Samuel Klmmel, Trustee. J. G. Whitaker, Auctioneer.