12 CHRIST/HAS JOY&icto.™.. HARK' THE UNSCEN CHOIRS ARE SINGING £> FAR BEYOND THE AZURE DOME. AND THE CHRISTMAS BELLS ARE RAGING V AH 1 THEY COME PROM DALE AND DINGLE/ „ AVE, THEY COME PROM LANDS AFAR, AND WITH JOYOUS HEARTS COMMINGLE IF "HEATH THE GLORIOUS CHRISTMAS STAR: HOW THEY HEARKEN. TO THE STORY ' ' flow THE |^' 112 EAGER HEARTS HAVE WAITED FOR THEM, LOVING HANDS HAVESPREADTHE FEAS/, HOMES DELIGHTS, ARE EVER O'ER THEM. AND THE LAST 15 NOT THE LEAST; AND COMMINGLED WITH THEIR COMING . To THE DEFIR'OLD CHRISTMAS HEARTH; ND M MMB F,RE BIJRNS BRIGHTER, —— &ND THE HEARTS OF ALL GROW LIGHTER, . As ABOVE THE LITTLE CIRCLE RISES NEVER CEASING MIRTH. I THE STORY OF ? I SANTA CLAUS 1 JL St. Nicholas the First Patron | Saint of the Children. i fANTA CLAUS is the one myth that will not down. The tradition of a benefi cent spirit—call him by what name you will, Santa Claus, Kriss Kringle, St. I Nicholas, Father Christ mas or Noel—who comes around on December 25 of each year, and glad dens the heart of children, rich or poor, by mysteriously leaving to them the very things they most want, sur vives in spite of all attacks. Santa Claus, the real Santa Claus, is both old and young. His pictures show to us a jolly fellow, with a beard suggesting the venerable, twinkling eyes bespeaking bounding youth. And The Russian St. Nicholas. young in feeling and action, if not In years, he must be to get over all the world in one night, without missing one house in which lives a deserving child. He is different in every country, ranging in years from the beautiful Christ child that the good children of France adore, to the jolly old fellow to whom the American youngster vows allegiance. Hut it is not in this sense that the writer means to depict Santa Claus as both young and old. It Is from a his torical standpoint that the comparison Is made. Santa Claus, as we know liira in thi3 country, Is less than a century old,- but the real Santa C'aus, the original of them all, goes way back to the remote third century. His present name, Santa Claus, or Kriss Kringle, is derived from St. Nicholas, the very incarnation of all that was good and generous. St. Nicholas, destined to be wor shipped in various forms by the chil dren of scores of centuries, was born in Patara, a town of L.ycia, in Asia Minor. From his earliest days he showed a religious inclination that destined him to take a high place in the church. As a young man he entered the monastery of Sion, and in time he be came abbot and later bishop of Myra. His sanctity and learning made him shine even in the most illustrious company, and he was one of the most notable figures at that wonderful gath ering of 318 bishops, who met at Nicca in 31S to condemn the heresy of Arius. While St. Nicholas became famous in the councils of the church, it was still more as the special friend of the children that his fame spread. One of his eraliest miracles. It is related, had to do with restoring to life two or three children. There are two accounts of the story. One says that an Asian sent his two sons to Athens to study. En route they fell in with a villainous innkeep er, who, to get their valuables, slew the two boys, and cut their bodies in to bits, which he putin his brine bar rel to sell for pork. Then St. Nicholas having seen the crime in a vision, came to the spot, and restored the children to life. The other version says there were three children, and that their would be murderer was a butcher. In either case, St. Nicholas per formed the miracle of restoring them to life. This was the first act by which St. Nicholas proved his love for children. The second bore still more strongly on the Santa Claus idea, for it was a favor that he did at Christmas time. A certain nobleman of Patara was so poor that he was unable to give a I portion for his three daughters, and it seemed impossible that any of the trio 1 could get a husband. St. Nicholas, learning of their plight, came at j Christmas time and threw a purse fllied with gold into an ( open window, j The act was done as stealthily as that ! of the modern Santa Claus; the noble man could not tell who his benefactor was, but he gave thanks and married off the eldest daughter. Next Christmas came another purse, ; and the second daughter took a hus ! band. When the Christmas of the 'bird I year approached, the nobleman's curl j 'isity got the better of him, and ho sot j himself on guard to see who it was ! that left the money. When the saint | appeared, the nobleman came forward | and asked why so good an act should be performed in stealth. Then tno [ patron saint of the children enunci CAMERON COUNTY PRESS, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1906. ated the great truth that the best acts are those that are done for the joy of doing, not the hope of praise. Thus centuries ago was proclaimed what is the best sentiment of Christ mas giving. The idea of St. Nicholas was so beautiful that it took its place among the great beliefs of the chil dren, and in different forms it is found nearly every century. Both his name and his form differ, but everywhere his labor is the same. In France, Germany, Russia and the Netherlands he is the embodiment of an essentially religious idea, but in England and the United States his of fice is more a secular one. France always represents Noel as the Infant Jesus, and in Germany, too, The German Kris. the name Krist Kindel, corrupted here into Kriss Kringie, means literally the Christ Child. In central Europe, where the Christ Child is believed to come with gifts for the little ones, he is dressed like a maiden, carrying a silver bell, lighted tapers and wearing a crown. St. Nicholas carries the same name in Holland that he does here, Santa Claus. In Switzerland they call him Saina Klaus, and in Heligoland, Son ner Klaus. He is Niklo or Niglo in Austria, and boasts the luxury of an attendant, who assists him in carrying all his bundles. This assistant to Santa Claus is known as Krampus, and with the children is only a shado less pop ular than liis chief. "Holy Man" is the respectful term by which the patron Saint is known in the Tyrol, and here, too, he has help, being accompanied by the Christ Child and St. Lucy. The Christ Child Himself comes in Alsace. Even Japan has a Santa Claus, similar in most respects to the Sauta Claus of the Occident. He is kuoWD a? the "Sage of Long Life." SANTA CLAUS PARTY NOVEL AND PRETTY ENTERTAIN MENT FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON. Originated by Youthful Grandparents for a Family Reunion—Lovely Home Beautified With Attrac tive Decorations The Christmas Luncheon. This very charming and delightful party was given by young grandpar ents, who had a lovely homo with largo rooms, and they Invited the grown-up folk, too. The host and hostess were assisted in receiving their guests by Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus and Miss Santa Claus. After the greetings, they were ushered into a large room, a portion of which had been converted into a typical winter forest, in the corner of which was a lovely Christmas tree all aglow with lights. Before the gifts were distributed by Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus, Miss Santa Claus told the old, old story of the Christ-child, emphasizing the fact that Christmas is a time for gifts because Jesus was a gift of love to the world, how he "went about doing good," "pleased not himself" —teaching and living a life of goodness and love. That is why Christmas, his birthday, is the gladdest of birthdays in all the years, she told them. Miss Santa Claus directed and lead all the gamr-s, and whenever there came a pause, she told such delightful stcrici. There were selections from Dickena, and "Uncle Remin," aaJ many other lovely stories. The entertainment closed wjth a lovely luncheon, which was served in (he large dining-room. At the windows were holly wreaths, tied with large bows of red ribbon, while the mantel was banked with greens and thickly studded with red candles, different lengths. In the bay window were fes toons of running cedar, with a fluffy red bell suspended by a bit of the cedar from the highest point of the arch, with smaller bells on either side. The long table had for a centerpiece an oval mirror, surrounded by a minia ture forest, which had been converted into a typical winter scene by a glass blower. Gliding across the frozen pond was a sleigh drawn by four deer, in which Santa Claus was seated, with a pack of toys on his back, and toys all about him. At the farther end of the pond was a tiny house nestling among the evergreen trees. The children were seated at this table with the host and hostess. There were four round tables at either corner of the long table, at which the older people sat. The cen terpiece of each was a round plateau of mistletoe, in the middle of which gleamed a flaming star of red. A five pointed star was cut from cardboard, then tacked to a thin board. The star was outlined with red candles, with a cluster of five candles elevated in the very center of the star. —The Pilgrim. AFTER CHRISTMAS. o«.i «- Soldier —Haven't seen much of you lately. Been staying at home pretty close? Jack-in-Box —Oh, no; I've been in and out a good deal. Kept Him Busy. Patience —And you say her "steady" was at her house seeing the old year out with her? Patrice —Yes; and he told her when the clock struck 12 he'd give her a kiss for each stroke he heard of the clock. "Wasn't he stingy?" "Oh, no; you see there were 14 clocks in the surrounding rooms, and no two kept the same time."- Yonkers Statesman. After Bigger Game. "I dreamed last night," remarked Connelly, as the trolley car was taking him to town, "that the man who killed the goose that laid the golden eggs was back to the earth." "Still killing geese, I suppose," said Mullen. "No, he wasn't," replied Connelly, "he was gunning for Santa Claus' deer."—Brooklyn Life. Grounds for Suspicion. "Well," asked the lawyer, "what rea son have you to suspect that your wife has ceased to care for you?" "She's trying," the man with tho troubled countenance replied, "to make me consent to play Santa Claus in a suit that she has decorated with bunches of cotton." —Chicago Record- Herald. Not a Cheerful Sight. Mother —Yes, Dorothy; the lord lOV eth a cheerful giver. Dorothy faged six) —Goodness! I hope he don't see you getting those Christmas presents ready for the mall, then, mamma.—Judge. | THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT. T © 1 By Henry F. Cope. ♦ Heaven's anthems come al- ♦ ways to those who are faithful © to earth's toil. © God looks through the gift -J - is given for men to look 4- at. © There is no such thing as a | © helping hand with a withholding £ heart. 4! ♦ No man ever had a happy © % Christmas by thinking of what © he was getting. ♦ X It's the cheer and not the + 112 charity we give that makes the 4- world brighter. 112 Nothing could be more sacri legious than a selfish gift ren- 4- J dered in His name. £ Tell of your happiness and © ♦ you will find your troubles in- © + definitely postponed. You are most likely to hear + © the .angels singing if you go + where some one is weeping. * No man ever got any good © g, out of giving who did it with an + eye single to his own glory. ♦ -f Many a man's appreciation of Christmas has been spoiled by © his apprehension of New Year's © bills. —Ram's Horn. 4 % WISE GIRL. Xi 1 jW/t'i ®srt Ethel —If you're not going to accept Mr. Koyne, why don't you tell him to stop calling on you. Clarice—l am, right after Christmas. A HAPPY CHRISTMAS. It Is Best Made by Remembering the Christ Spirit of Kindliness. A happy Christmas to grown people and a merry Christmas to the chil dren! And let it be a happy Christ mas; for that one day put away wor ries and disagreeable feelings, and en ter into the real spirit of Christmas, which is to give happiness into some human life. It is not in the giving of presents alone that is the true Christ mas; it is in bestowing kind words, kind looks and smiles where there is not always sunshine. Why do people so often think Christmas a burden, and wish the holiday season past? Why should the sad and sorrowful look forward to it as a dread anni versary? This is the worst form of selfishness. Christmas should be a day of self-forgetfulness and of think ing of some one else's life, and how it can be made brighter. There is a great deal of sadness and worry in all stations of life, and a few cheery words, accompanied by a smile, give great encouragement and cost but lit tle effort. And the children! Does anyone ever notice the wistful faces peering into the fascinating shop windows at this season, and remember that prob ably this is their owners' only glimpse of Christmas? That in their whole miserable existence never a penny has been handled by them of their very own? Let the childless one and the sorrowful one, as well as those who daily take their walks abroad, think of this, and each one in his own way do his best to gladden some life, and by doing so feel by Christmas night that there is something after all worth doing and living for in this old world, and the new year will be pre pared for by ending the old one well. Ignorance. "I reckons," said Miss Miami Brown, "dat what de young gemman needs nowadays is mo' scientific education." "What makes you think so?" "I was done stan'in' under de mistle toe foh half an hour, but foh all dem young gemtnen knowed 'bout botany it might as well have been a cabbage lsaf." —Washington Star. A Day of Reckoning. 'Twas the day ufter Christmas, And all through the house The children were having A merry carouse; While pa in his study Was tearing Ills hair As he gazed at the bills That were piled everywhere. —Town Topics. Of Interest to Stockholders. Jaspar—l hear that Santa Claus ha» given up his yearly rounds. Jumpuppe—You don't tell me! Jaspar—Yes. He has accepted a regular position on the "Salaries Com mittees" of various big corporations —Town Topics. A Holiday Reflection. "A Christmas tree is a good deal lik« a wife." "How's that?" "It's the trimmings that cosL"—Chi cago Record-Herald. FIRST XMAS TREE INTRODUCED IN AMERICA BY GERMAN AT WOOSTER, O. Created Much Comment at the Time —First Church Christmas Tree in This Country Also Cred ( ited to Ohio Town. The first Christmas tree in th® United States, it is claimed, was intro duced in the college town of Wooster, O. August Imgard was the promoter and he brought, the idealfrom his for mer home in Germany. For more than half a century Mr. Imgard has been familiarly known among a large cir cle of people as the "father of the Christmas tree." He died not long, ago at the age of 80, after having lived In Wooster for more than <>o years. Few young people of the present day realize that the Christmas tree is of comparatively recent origin in this country. In the early days of Ameri- ! ca theve was a strong aversion to the observance of Christmas after the manner in which it was celebrated in many parts of Europe, or, in fact, any observance at all. It is even claimed that the New England Thanksgiving was established as a substitute for the growing tendency to observe Christmas. All Yuletide festivals were therefore slow in making their appearance in the United States, but the Christmas tree came last of all. In Europe the Christmas tree wa9i first established in Rome, And from, there introduced into Gcrrnr.ny, wher® It Boon became particularly popular. After Mr. Imgard had cros.ie.l th< deep to tho new world and settled in Wooster and the first Christmas holi day season had rolled round he be came homesick when he thought of the festivities which at that very time were in progress in the fatherland. With a view to calling up as best he could the Christmas scenes of his old home he secured a spruce bough and with Eome bright paper and candles he made what is believed to be the first American Christmas tree. The people of Wooster, which was then but a mere village, came in large Humbern to see the tree, and this new AUGUST IMGARD. He Introduced the Christmas Treo in America. feature of the holiday season created wide interest and enthusiasm. At that period the importance of the Christ mas season was growing more rapid ly than it had ever done before, and the introduction of the Christmas tree therefore at this time could scarcely be styled premature. The following year many of the villagers brought into their homes the boughs of spruce trees, too, and the popularity of the Christmas tree increased thereafter rapidly and soon spread to other towns. The introduction of the Christmas tree into a church, however, remained for the year 1851, or nearly a decade after its appearance in the homes of Wooster. Rev. Henry C. Schwan of Clfc. Jand, for more than 20 years president of the German Evangelical Lutheran synod of Missouri and Ohio, introduced this first church Christ mas tree into Cleveland. Rev. Mr. Schwan was born in the province of Hanover, Germany. He came to Cleveland about 55 years ago. Cleve land at that time was the center of a great deal of religious intolerance and anything in the nature of an innova tion was looked upon with horror. Rev. Mr. Schwan, like Mr. Imgard, being a. German, recalled the Christ mas tree of Germany and accordingly during the first year of his pastorate In Cleveland he arranged for a Christ mas celebration in his church. A Christmas tree decorated with gilt, tinsel, candles, apples and candies comprised a rart of the celebration. The feeling over this tree in the com munity ran high among other denom inations. It was styled idolatrous and sacrilegious and it was prophesied that it would bring down the wrath of God. Others laughed at the tree as absurd. Members of the church in which the Christmas tree had been in augurated were even boycotted for a time in thefr business and in other ways were made to suffer, their accus ers claiming that they had groveled before a hemlock tree with lighted candles and cheap pictures. One or two members, it is said, were even threatened with discharge by their employers if they ever again partici pated in arranging for another Christ mas tree. The . next year, however, the church enjoyed another Christmas tree, and every year thereafter, and as time went on the feeling against the aow universal custom gave way and the German conception of Christ inas came to be better understood. Easy to Find Excuse. Corruption will never want a pre tense.—Cat o 'the Younger, ,
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers