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Christmas in Other Countries
kN MOST of the civilized countries
arminri the world every boy and
,'11 girl celebrates Christmas. Tho
.""1 familiar and homelike customs
ire very similar tn Jngimn-
epeaklng lands, but In other countries there
lft much thut Is strange to those who are
us-l to a New World Christmas.
Perhaps If an American boy were to
apend Christmas away from the dear home
festivities he might best enjoy the Russian
celebration. There Is one feature of tho
Christmas observance In the czar's domain
which is apt to strike one very favorably,
and that Is the great length of the holiday
senson. ChrlstmastidH covers two whole
weeks, and for fourteen days, from Decem
ber 24 until January 8, there is one long
line of holidays, lor a fortnight books
and pencils are laid aside and the school
room doors are closed. Neither do people
work. Everybody has a long, memorable,
happy holiday. The streets are very bright
and gay and the store windows are be
wllderlngly beautiful with holiday goods,
though It is to be feared that .this yoar.
if present conditions maintain, there will
be little Joy or celebration In the Little
Fathers empire and little cause for re
joicing on the part of his poor, oppressed
people.
In the large Russian cities the Chrlst
mas sunshine glows radiantly on the snow
! covered streets and buildings. The air Is
crisp, cold and invigorating. The happy
crowds pass along the thoroughfares
dressed in fur coats and caps, snow boots
and sheepskins, and In the national gala
attire of the various races the Tartars,
Circassians, Armenians and Russians.
The streets present the appearance of a
great international fair, for there are bril
liant displays, side shows and booths.
The Oostlnnl Door 1 the great baxxar of
St. Petersburg. At Christmas time It re
sembles, the Interior rf a dense forest.
Thousands of Christmas trees are brought
here every year to go into the homes of
tho people. It is good to record that there
Is not a home so poor in Rusxia but thut
the children may have the happiness of a
Chrlstmus tree. If for some renson there
is no tree at home for the children there
Is certain to be one at the school or asso
ciation. The favorite decorations seen on
the troes in the humbler homes are'brlght
paper flowers, rainbow hued glass beads
and goodies.
$
I'leasare of the Christmas Tree.
In Russia the pleasure of the Christmas
tree is iiot limited to one or two evenings.
The glowing tree shines out brilliantly
every night during the two weeks, and
each night there is a party for old or
young. In the city the resplendent trees
give great enjoyment to the eager Russian
children. But the most wonderful sight
Is seen in the country on the large estates,
when n. tree is decorated and lighted Just
as it stands In the center of a bit of woods.
The scene is verly impressive. The village
children, who are invited gueats, gather
about wild with delight, to get the pres
ents and dainties from the wonderful,
sparkling, outstretched branches of the
tree.
In Germany, too, there is no holiday on
the calendar so great as Christmas. And
It is the children's festival, also. Christmas
in Germany is very much like Christmas
in America. Many of our Christmas cus
toms came from there. Germany gave us
the Christmas tree, and it is the center of
all the Christmas doings for tho German
children.
It is the chief pleasure of the German
fathers and mothers to prepare the Christ
mas tree. This is usjally dons in a room
closed to the children. There Is greet mys
tery about It all. Kveryone in the house
has his seirots for weeks before Christmas
o Somewhere
hrisftmas
REDUCED EXCURSION RATES FROM OMAHA AND
NEBRASKA POINTS FOR THE HOLIDAYS.
EAST Chicago, Peoria, St. Louis and intermediate points.
SOUTH Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, St. Louis, Kansas
City,' etc.
WEST Denver, Pueblo, Colorado Spriugs and Nebraska
points.
NORTHWEST Nebraska, Black Hills, Wyoming, Mon
tana, Big Horn Basin.
DATES OF SALE December 20 to 23, inclusive; Decem
ber 29 to January 1, inclusive. Iteturn limit, Jan
uary 7.
WINTER TOURIST RATES DAILY To destinations in
Florida, the southeast and to the Gulf country.
Excellent trains to Chicago, tit. Louis,
Kansas City, Denver and the Northwest.
l.iiiiHiUjMK
ttc.
Call early for rates, tlckeu, bertha, information.
CUT TICKET OFFICE, 1502 Famam Street
Omaha, Neb.
eve. It is all very delightful, Just as It
is In America, The days pass slowly, but
finally Christmas eve arrives. At 6 o'clock
the climax of excitement Is reached. The
father rings the bell, the doors of the long-eealed-up
Christmas ' room fly open, and
there stands the entrancing tree in all its
majesty. The children are admitted Into
what seems to them like Paradise. They
find not only tho wonderful tree, resplend
ent with tinsel lights, candles and gifts,
but also a table spread for each of them,
and tbey hurry to see whether their hopes
and wishes have been realised.
In some parts of Germany, Scandinavia
and Holland the custom obtains for all
the children to say a prayer to Kriss
Krlngle at the chimney corner on Christ
mas eve, asking him to fill their stockings
for Christmas morning. They confide In
him aa to what they would like. Kriss
Krlngle, Christ Kindlein, is the German
Santa Claus who Is supposed to come down
tho chimney with gifts for all good chil
dren. As a Rellgloas HslMsr.
The American boy would probably feel
very much at home in either Russia, Ger
many, Holland, Denmark, Norway or Swe
den at Chrlstmaatlde. In these north coun
tries the customs are very like those of
the homeland. But In the southern Euro
pean nations, where Christmas Is more a
religious than a home festival, he would
find the holiday very different from ours.
This Is especially true of Italy. Italian
children do not hang up their stockings at
Christmas, or have a Christmas tree. On
Christmas morning they are taken by their
mothers to the churches. There they are
called on to recite hymns of praise to the
Madonna and Child la the "Preseplo,"
which is a representation of the stable of
Bethlehem where Christ was born. Wlthlu
the rocky cavern are wax images often as
large as life, of the Madonna an! Child, of
Joseph, the shepherds and the wise men,
and Images of animals.
The children of the Sunday schools of
the Evangelical churches In Italy some
times have trees, however, though there
are not many of them as yet. The branches
axe laden w!th yellow orsngea. with sil
vered balls, and with strings of gilt paper.
The lighted candles are usually of the three
national colon of Italy red, white and
green. The family festival of Christmas
eve Is the chief delight of Italian children.
There are fish, eels, nuts, cakes, fruit cr
vegetables for old and young. On the next
day tho Christmas dinner is enjoyed, the
chief dishes being capon and pungallo, a
sort of out-and-frult cake.
Chrlstsaas la Fraace.
Very few American boys and girls would
care to spend the Christmas holidays in
France, where no one pays much attention
to Christmas and where no presents are
exchanged. The children who have no
"home with a little 'h' " In France and
who are being reared in the convents, often
have some beautiful Christmas ceremonies,
the spirit of which might well be Intro
duced Into other lands. For weeks before
Christmas the convent children begin to
prepare for the convent celebration. The
crib with the Christ child Is the chief
center of attraction, and the reward of
good behavior is the privilege of helping
to make the crib. A gold straw is laid for
each kind act and for each day well spent
The highest ruward of merit is the privi
lege of laying the wax figure tn the crib.
The children of the poor are always kept
In mind by the convent child. It Is the
custom to get ready presents of fruit, neces
saries, clothing, etc., for these "unfortunate
children t Ood." When the children re
ceive their Christmas boxes on Christmas
eve the first gift taken from these is placed
In the basket for the poor. After the
solemn midnight mass on Christmas eve,
which all the children attend, they are
given something to eat. and then they all
return to bed to sleep UU late on Christinas
morning.
a hard time louklng for bin usual place to
enter the houses, for Jn Cuba the houses
are built without any chimneys. There is
a midnight feast on Christmas eve. but
children have no part In It. The pleasures
of Christmas gifts are reserved till "King's
day," January 6. This day Is celebrated in
commemoration of the visit of the wise
men of the east, who brought their offer
ings to the infant Saviour. It Is at "King's
day," and not at Christmas, that the Cuban
children hang up their stockings and place
their shoes when they go to bed the night
before.
Story of the Bishop's Ring
(Continued from Page Four.)
"Haven't you stolen the bishop's most
precious possession?" cried Barnes, with a
sudden rush of irritation.
"Perhaps I have," answered the culprit,
shaking his head moodily.
"No "perhaps' about It." retorted Barnes.
"Then I'm under arrest?"
"Most assuredly."
"What about the glrir asked the pris
oner. "Tour confederate? She'll have to go
with us, too."
Half an hour later the curious quartet
were on a train returning to New Tork.
They reached the city before dusk and
proceeded to the bishop's house. The prel
ate was engaged and they had to wait a
few minute". Barries turned to the youns
man.
"Let me have the ring."
The prisoner's face darkened. He
clenched his teeth.
"Not on your life!"
"But you admit It's in your possession?"
cried Barnes, exultantly.
"Certainly. What object could I have In
denying It now?"
"Well, you're a cool one." exclaimed the
chief, eyeing him admiringly.
A servant came to announce that the
bishop would see them in the library.
Barnes nnd his prisoner started for the
room. Clancy and the girl remained in the
dimly lighted parlor. The prelate, who
was,seated at his desk, arose in some agi
tation as the two men entered.
"My dear Barnes, I hope "
"ime minute, bishop," Interrupted Barnes.
"We've got our man all right, and he's
convicting himself. A minute ago he ad
mitted that he had your ring."
The prisoner rose up.
"I didn't admit anything of the kind."
"Why," cried Barnes, wrathfully, "you
told me with your own lies that you had
the ring."
"Yes," smiled the young man, "and I
have the ling, but not the bishop's ring."
"The gentleman Is correct," said the
bishop, with some little show of agitation.
"He couldn't possibly have my ring, be
cause I have It myself."
"Tou!" exclaimed the chief.
"Yen; when I arrived home this morning
I found the ring Inside tny waistcoat,
where it slipped from off my finger while I
was mopping my head with my handker
chief. It would be humorous," added the
bishop plaintively, "if it were not for the
humiliation to which It has subjected this
young man."
"But he posed as a customs Inspector,"
persisted Barnes.
"Not at all." rejoined the bishop. "That
was pure assumption on my part. He
meiely showed me all the attention and
courtesy that one gentleman should show
another,"
-WUy did yon aiiow the bishop so much
attention?" snapped the chief to his pris
oner. "She asked me to do It," be said; then
added confusedly, "I mean I thought it
the proper thing to do to a bishop."
"Ah." said Barnes, still sceptical, "then
why did you run away with that young
woman ?"
"Because" began the prisoner.
"Now, drop excuses," snapped the chief,
"and admit that you did wrong."
"Well," was the Hammering reply, "per
haps it wasn't just the right thing to do."
' "What did I tell you?" exclaimed Barnes
triumphantly to the bishop.
"Was there a woman In the case?" asked
the puttier prelate.
"Yes," asserted the ohlef, in the tone of
a man who has gloriously vindicated him
self; "his confederate; I'll bring her In."
The next "moment a veiled lady was
ushered into the bishop's study. She
threw the covering from her face, and the
three men were confronted with a virion of
fluffy brown hair, glistening white teeth,
ruby lips and big bright eyes. The bishop
acted strangely. He grasped the edge of
hia desk to support himself.
"Tesslel" finally came the exclamatory
greeting.
"Tessle?" Interrogated Barues.
"Yes." said the bishop, gradually re
gaining his voice. "My niece; she's been
missing since we came off the ship this
morning."
Confusion sat prettily ou her face a yd
brow. She bung her head ever so little;
but the humility was wonderfully becom
ing. "What become of you? what's the nieau
It.g of this?" asked the bishop.
"You'll have to ask Harry?"
"Harry?" In a tone of deep auvpiie.
"Yes, Harry Hathaway," volunteered
that person, stepping forward.
"It's not Heyl," whispered Barnes to
Clancy.
"No," was the disappointed rejoinder, "It
looks ss If we'd been flim-flammed."
"Hathaway, Hathaway," mused the
bishop, scrutinising the face before him
"Why, you're the son of my old friend.
John Hathaway."
"The same," replied the youth, beginning
to feel relieved.
"Why did you do this?"
"Well, you see, I liked Tessie and Tessle
liked me, and we're both of age, and we
feared you had some other matrimonial
plans for her"
"Matrimonial plans," Interrupted the
bishop. "I never gave such a thing a
thought."
"But I did," said the young man, whose
confidence was now almost at par. "You
see. we thought It would be a nice thins: to
go up to Tessle's oid home and"
"Never mind the rest," again Interrupted
the bishop. "What's this ring you were
speaking about?"
Mr. Hathaway pulled a plain gold band
from his pocket and gazed on it fondly.
The bishop looked at the episcopal ring
on his own finger. Barnes and Clsuoy
made a move to retire. The prelate fol
lowed them.
"Blame me for this ludicrous blunder,"
he said soothingly, "and promise that
you'll come around in the morning and
witness the ceremony."
Barnes was not the man to whimper
over an occasional defeat. He looked at
his assistant and answered decisively:
"We'll promise to b there, Clancy; it's
all in a day's work."
The Wise Shopper
You must wake and call rue early, call me
early, mother desr;
Tomorrow I would shopping go the Christ
inas time U near.
I want to ehup wnile stocks are full the
struggling crowds I fear;
So wake and call me early, call me earl?,
mother dear.
CieveUad flala feeler.
On Christ's Nativity
This is the month, and this tho happy
morn.
Wherein the Son of Heaven's Eternal
King.
Of wedded Maid and Virgin Mother born.
Our great redemption from above did
bring;
For bo the holy sages once did sing.
That He our deadly forfeit Khould release,
And tvlth His Father work us a perpetual
peace.
That glorious form, that light uneufferable.
And that far-beaming bluie of majesty.
Wherewith He wont at Heaven's high
council table
To sit the midst of Trinal Unity,
He laid aside; and here with us to be,
Forsook the courts of everlasting day.
And chose with us a darksome house of
mortal clay. (
Say, Heavenly Muse, shall not thy sacred
vein
Afford a present to the Infant tjod?
Hast, thou no verse, no hymns, or solemn
strain.
To welcome Him to this Ills new abode.
Now while the Heaven, by the iuiii
beams untrod.
Hath took no print of the approaching
light.
And all tho spangled host keep watch In
squadrons bright?
See how from far upon t lie Kastern road
The star-led wizurds haste with odors
sweet ;
Oh, run. prevent them with thy humble
ode,
And lay it lowly at His Messed feet;
Have thou the honor first thy Lord to
greet,
And Join thy voire unto tho Angel choir
From out His secret altar touched with
hallowed tire.
John Milton.
.sLa:
. .1
r r I w m - n t h
ervTi . . y- n
' " bi i ( mmmm BH IIIIB
For Gifts
A USEFUL gift is, always a sensible
gift. And "Queen Quality" Shoes are
more than useful they are beautiful.
A gift of "Queen Quality" Shoes may be
not merely a gift of a pair of shoes, but the
very fair of shoes most desirable for the
recipient. And they are made in so great
a diversity of styles that every woman's
fancy can be as perfectly suited as her feet
can be fitted. Let it be shoes. Why not
give her feet a Merry Christmas' with a
pair of "Queen Quality?" 3.00, 3.50, 54,00.
Hk YDEN BROS.
1TU gUi s attractive tics Wk framad la na --