.-at
C7Tx i s tmas JFhi pi o s
H
it'SH! Listen to the music! K Is the Christmas
fairies einglng to the sick!"
TMi l the whispered warning with which
the nwrthm In the 1'niversity settlement dis
trlct silence their- children Christmas eve. It
is spoken at the first strain of the song which,
all through fh Christmas week. Is eagerly lis
tened for each night at duFk by both old and
young.
To the weary ones at the hospital the fresh voices float
ing In on the night air are heavenly music. To the well ones
all through the thickly populated district of the " yards "
the first carol that pour from the throats of the Christmas
children is the signal for the opening of a great festival
In this festival the one-seventh of tfx population of all
Chicago, which Is gathered In the yards participates, young
and old alike. Through all the Christmas week the older as
well as the younger children drink In with simple faith the
fsnci'-a and legends that center about the Christ child, and
woml-r with ever fresh delist at that which 1s tinged with
the weird, the strange, and the mysterious. To these the
Christmas fairies mean as much and more as the Christmas
" waits " of other countries.
And who. If you please, are the Christmas fairies?
Choir of Utile Green Elves.
They are a choir of thirty little children, whose voices
have heen picked from the " Skylarks." the ' Little Neigh
bors," and other singing classes attached to the settlement,
and who have been especially trained to sing the Christmas
carols. They are dressed like little green elves, with lnng
rapea and strange peaked caps of green, lined with red trim
mings that turn back about the face, and with long red
hoods hanging down behind.
To the simple folk they are a source of never ending
wonder and delight. Their queer cortumes, the mystery of
their appearance Just after the twilight, their spectacular
dancing aroufid the Christmas tree, with which is opened
evry night's festivities In the great gymnasium, make a
wonderful and simple appeal that never loses Its potency
or effect. Known sometimes as the. singing children." the
Christmas Fairies are the leading spirit of the Christmas
mystery, without which no festivities would be complete.
They touch the button with which the activities bepin.
It is at the settlement where most of the Christmas ac
tivities center. Here Is a gymnasium which is equipped with
a stage where is set up the biggest and grandest Christmas
tree that can be procured. Every night during the week this
is lighted and one and another of the clubs, of old and young,
come here to have their Christmas party. Music and danc
ing and singing, in which all take part, go on each night.
The feature of the evening, however, is the entrance of the
V
v
r
X
hi
v
r
N
I .1 K
7UZ
m
IT
4. K
I - Cv.
:.' Wl
i
4t
X
li
u: sy;ix -r' sir
r4.
a.
rhich la the signal that the merriment is to
el Mike fairies.
begin.
Dancing Fames Bring Good Luck.
The tree la lighted, and aa the electric lights go out all
eyes are turned to a little log cabin that stands low. back
under the hanging branches. Cautiously the door opens, and
one of the green elves is seen to steal out. Sometimes he
has to hla hand a long, white taper which he lights at the
tree with quick, mysterious motions. He is followed by one
and then another of the fairb until there is a circle of
hooded sprites who begn to dance and sing around the. tree.
Whatever the gathering, whether it be one of grandfathers
and grandmothers or of the smallest children, the Christ
mas fairies must first appear for the good luck of the oc
casion. Thn there la a Santa Claua of the round and rosy faced
kind, who cornea out from the door of the little cabin a few
minutes after the fairies, and wlnties them all A Merry
Christmas and a Happy New Tear." He is modest and
keeps meil In the background, for there are all kinds of
saints which enter Into the celebration of Christmas over
here where there are so many nationalities
Faith in St. Nicholas Strong.
For instance, one of the most important saints which
Is feared a good deal, especially by the Mule Bohemian chil
dren, la 8t Nicholas, whs Is different from and in all ways
quite as much of a contrast as possible to Santa Claus. He
is the aaiot who goes around early to eee that little children
are good- He is a cross between-a monk and a gnome, and
wears a cowl, and baa a long, smooth shaven, serious, and
mysterious face. His time for coming ia the second Sunday
before Christmas, and be la supposed to poke around in the
middle of the night making a great racket. He la believed
to visit the homes of at least all the Bohemian children
around the settlement, and at the great party which the
Boharoian women give thttr people, and at. which they give
presents to their children, he is always present. So cWerly
is he impersonated by one of the Bobtcntan women, who are
ad4tts In this art. tnai even ine grown up Doys ana furis
have a strong faHh in his reality.
' aV K It
"rt,. 4 frt K . ,
-v
Si
n.
4 " .'
1 2-HI
mi
z
-
1
t v
f S St'l
IS'
i
v.
.!!t
ifih
.ft'.i-'ti.i
mi
1 '-W-y
Besides St Nicholas there is the wonderful Christchild of
the little German children who Is supposed to bring all the
gifts. There are also the Jenvs In the neighborhood to whom
the tree and the " fairies " make a distinct appeal, though
they carmot share in "the other legends. Each of these na
tionalities and the clubs have their time of being enter
tained or of entertaining themselves In the gymnasium, the
children Inviting their own fathers and mothers, and the
" Mothers' club " entertaining the young men's and young
girls' clubs.
JSj
Christmas Day the Gladdest Time.
But perhaps the most beautiful thing that happen in
the settlement is the gathering which comes this year on
Christmas afternoon, and which always cornea on the Sun
day nearest to Chrimmaa day. At this the "Children's Mes
siah "' is sung by the Christmas fairies, and Miss McDowell,
who is not only the special sponsor of the " fairies " but
the fairy godmother to all the children, tells the old yet
ever new legends of the Christchild and St. Chri.topher.
"The merriment, and the open house, and the Christmas
tree which Is lighted every evening, and tlie music by the
children." saya Miss McDowell', "are substituttd for elab
orate gifts at the settlement. The first year we were here
- having gifts upon the tree was tried, but among so many
there could not help being a rivalry which did not have a
good effect. So, with the exception of the stocking that is
provided for each one of the &i children that are connected
with the settlement and the custom of giving somethingto
the old people, there are no presents made. Each of the old
people has a stocking Into which there Is something put, a
tound of coffee if it is a German and a pound of tea if It
iappens to 'be an Irishman or an old Irish woman. Then, of
course, there is many a basket sent out at night where it la
known to be needed.
J
Catch True Sentiment of Christmas.
" But the fact they don't expect anything and that they
come to the settlement for pleasure alone has had an effect
which can be already recognized. One of the customs we
have when there is a small gathering is to blow out the can
dles on the tree and wish upon each one before breaking
up. Between the' wishes that are made now and those that
used to .be there is a marked difference. They used to be
of a personal character, but now they are nearly always for
some improvement in the neighborhood or about the set
tlement. "It was five or six years ago that somebody wished for
a small park, and it was repeated and remembered, and now
that they have the new park at Forty-fifth street and Marsh
field avenue they feel it Is In some way the direct reFult of
that wish. One of the funniest wishes we have ever had, and
at which we were all greatly entertained, was that of an
old German woman who wished in the mifl native way that
the old maids' referring to us of the settlement' should
soon have a home of their own.' Now that we have the new
place there is no greater Joy than among the old ptople of
the neighborhood."
Old Folks Dance with Delight.
One of the features of the Christmas parties In which
not only the Christmas fairies, but in which all. even to the
oldest, participate, is the dancing in tbia it is noticeable
that though the chilJren have to be taught, the old country
people dance rhythmically, and und.r the Influence of the
music there are many strange fancies told and many con
fidences given that would not be revealed under other cir
cumstances. Two or three years ago an old woman of tha
neighborhood mho had the reputation of being hard to get
a king with and who had lived alone for many years !ecau
It was rumored no one could live with her, as invited by
one of the gentlemen visiting at the settlement to dance.'
To the surprixe of all the rt, and perhaps a little to but
own. she accepted. The next day one of the women said to
her, " Why. grandmother. I waa surprised to see you dance.
How did you happen to do rtf
" Well. I did It," she sruwerad. " because the night be
fore I had a beautiful dream. 1 dreamed that an angel cams'
to me and said, 'Cry no more, it Is all right for you now.'
And so I danced the flrit time for many years." When,
however, the next year this man who had first thought to
ark her to dance waa 111, old "grandmother" could not be
persuaded to get up on the floor, although since her dream
eh has believed that all would be well with her, and hag
cried no more.