Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 47, Number 300, Decatur, Adams County, 22 December 1949 — Page 18

p Jjd ? / A u» /\ . \ 1 J \f * * ejp**/«4 f/aaa*. ***** **«*<• *r* , fltt+el rlth happinfM eueal foyg tunl the? Cferine lUtn eat .11 *v<Mi**rif *n«t *i***i*ir* i* WWW W W “ w W ' je****iM *r#e>ar**r* I fa, I . f RAVER’S JJ South End and Gram St. - ** A Grocery ' Market * 1 J«t(i ( *«<ICtC.«C««««««;<«<««lClC«««'(««««<C«««««««««C«««« l «l * A ».>r.**aMM»*a>**>*»*»**a*»>*aa*»»*******»a«>*»** * a __ — fl 5 merry, merr^ l Goo d things uishtd yon at Christmas * are only a joyful start of the happiness wished you always, sincerely, and from our heart! And A Very *< HAPPY NEW YEAR Joy.., ; Good Luck ... a Prosperity ... ' *< 2 i s ty. Decatur Industries ft ? Jr • t • j A 5 *

) K I /.*’ f | I •€* ".- Z ' It is our sincerest with (hat the fj spirit of friendliness and good fellowship will make your Christmas a merry one — and tluit the New Year will bring to you a full measure of good health, success, and happiness. a y S; Petrie Oil , L .t cmi —" y iJ .1 ««««« »«ww« | <«««« l « < «<«««««

of belltfelicni (on tin ties to f-\tzzfe WJern Scftofa" Once again Christendom sees the Star of Bethlehem and, like the Wise Men of old. rejoices with exceeding great joy. Astronomers have discounted possibilities that the star may have been a natural phenomenon since such phenomena occur too far from the earth to serve as any sort of local guide. Modern opinion is. however. inclined to bold that there was a Star — although the story probably has been touched by Oriental imagery. St Matthew suggests that even the Wise Men may have lost sight of the star while they were In Jerusalem; hence, they rejoiced when it reappeared to their vision as they approached the Manger of Bethlehem. hans iee evergreen As Mourning Symbol Evergreens are never used as decorations in the homes and churches of /'inland because the Finns regard them as symbols of mourning. At Christmas most homes where there are children suspend a ‘■heaven’’ from the living room or dining room ceiling. Such ”beavens" consist of a cord framework covered with straw and different colors of paper ribbon, etc., and decorated with paper stars and silhouettes cut in various designs. Tl<e effect, when reflecting the firelight and the candles' glow, is mysterious and fascinating. Candles are used profusely in the churches; the alters are banked and tiie windows are filled with them, so that in the pre-dawn darkness (Christmas morning services begin at 6 AM) the churches beckon approaching worshippers like brilliant lanterns. After the early church services, the gayly decorated sleds race for home, bright robes flying and sleigh bells a-jingling. Breakfast is festive, and then everyone takes a long nap. Christmas Day is not devoted to play or gift giving; it Is religiously observed, with intervals of carol singing and Bible readings. The day after Christmas is St. Stephen's day. and from then until New Year’s parties and general festivity are in order. Although gift giving is not an integral part of the observances, in some parts of Finland trinkets and useful gifts of wearing apparel are presented to children by Wainamoinen, the Kalevala hero of Finnish legend.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT. DECATUR, INDIANA

KEEP. CHRISTMAS MERRY; avoidallfirehazards » This living Christmas tree will remain green throughout Christmas wook and then can bo transplanted outdoors. Note use of nonftammable metal foil and asbestos wrappings at base of the tree-i

By Central Prets THE HITTING ROOM in a Connecticut convalescent home had been decorated foe the annual Christmas party, ami the patients were gathered around the glittering tree, talking and laughing. Some of them were planning to return to their homes shortly after New Years Day. Suddenly there was a bright flash . . . then fire! Terrified, the patents tried to escape flames which leaped quickly from the burning tree to the flimsy paper and cotton decorations. But many never escaped from that burning room. Seventeen died in the tire. The cause of the tragedy was easy to discover. The wiring of the Christmas tree lights was defective, and a short circuit had set Are to the tree. The flammable decorations had fed the fastspreading blaze. Every year at Christmas time, similar tragedies take the lives of Christmas merry-makers. Sometimes the fire strikes large groups of people gathered for holiday celebrations. More frequently, fire invades homes. The National Board of Fire Un- ■ derwriters points out, “Few' people realize that the ordinary Christmas tree can be one of the most flammable objects known. It is filled with pitch and resin. Once ignited, it is very difficult to extinguish.” '• « • AN AVERAGE-SIZE Christmas tree takes less than two minutes to burn up. This means the tree can easily start a roaring blaze in your home before the fire department arrives to combat the fire. To cut down on the fire danger, you should choose a small tree and keep it outdoors until a few days before Christmas. Set it up in the coolest part of the house, and if necessary, shut off the radiator closest to the tree. > Do not use cotton or paper for decorations. “Fireproof ’ decorations are now available, and add mu 1 to C....stmas safety.

a J I t k I Xu If . 9 I ■aX e./ Buhler* and jb ' daughters • three. Hate placed a wi»h ImVI? upon the tree, jp', B** H ishiny ton sleighs . Christmas cheer. And mat (,od bless JL you the turning ya«r. ■ I -IB 5 * Trailer Sales I

Dangerous Christmas tree fires can also be set off by tiny Therefore, it is important to avoid placing electric trains around the tree, and to check wiring carefully.' Wires bearing the U. L. label of Underwriters* Laboratories have been carefully tested for fire safety. Never use frayed or worn wires. As a " further ' guard against sparks, provide a switch some distance from the tree for turning the electric lights off and on, and avoid plugging or unplugging lights beneath the tree. - ' • • • ■ • , AM THE TREE becomes drier, it becomes more hazardous. When the needles start falling, take the tree down and discard it. Inspect it from time to time to see whether any of the needles near the lights have started to turn brown. If they have, move the lights so they do not come in contact with the tree. Here are some other life-saving suggestions: I—Never use real candles. Use electric candles instead. 2 - Choose decora- | tions. 3— After opening Christmas presents, remove all the gift wrappings and packing materials from your living room and dispose ot them. 4— To protect your children, take special precautions with holiday costumes. The safest idea is to discourage the wearing of flammable, flimsy costumes and dresses of net or gauze-like fabrics. If they are worn, they should be suitably flame-proofed; a solution consisting of nine ounces of borax, four ounces or boric acid, and one gallon of water is known to be effective. The fabrics must be flame-proofed with this soiui tion after each washing. ft—Choose safe toys. Chemical sets and toys requiring alcohol, kerosene, gasoline, and carbide - lamps may be hazardous for chil- • dren. Look for the "U. L." label I on electric toys. Always supervise children playing with electric toys

w ZdißrCSafiaMfl UNIVERSAL FRIEND . . . SaaU, the universal friend of little Mbs, has managed to gather together a group of kiddies from all over the world. Represented here are the small fry of Paraguay, Greece, Poland, Austria and Italy. Christmas of 1804 Was Chicago's Best Surely there will never be another Christmas celebration like the one in Chicago in 1804. Captain John Whistler (grandfather of the painter who painted the famous ‘ Whistler s Mother") was in command of the garrison at Fort Dearborn and he decided that there should be a great feast —complete with music, dancing and a splendid Christmas tree. Soldiers from the garrison went a-huntuig in the woods just north of the river and came back with a fat buck deer, gome rabbits, a raccoon or two, a few wild turkeys. Added to the roasting pig (contributed by some festive-minded citizen) and the magnificent Christmas pudding, these morsels provided abundance for all. Everybody —the civilians and the military— drank a toast to Thomas Jefferson. the President of the United States. The punch was "dizzy” and there were fifes and drums and a couple of fiddles to play for the dancing. It was getting late when a watcher in one of the blockhouses gave a warning shout that Indians were approaching: but they turned out to be friendly Indians who came bearing gifts to the feast They watched the white folks dance, and when the whites were exhausted, the n dskuis took the floor and began a wild, whooping dance of their own which climaxed Chicago's unique Christmas celebration in UM.

V I | J We earnestly wish that all TjJjf j ’ tu' £ of the excitement, enjoyment and good / ; fellowship of the Yuletide continue to be , / • yours long after the \ • Holiday Season has passed. ILA THE KRICK-TYNDALL CO., IM- • •

‘Ob [ AND BEST TISHES El/j FOB A LTj / VEAY HAFFY S 3 Vj || HOLIDAY SEASON f— | * «RMR«>aWW««««VMMmWRRIg MM g« vww<v<t< | LUTES FLOWERS ’I nV < \J/ £■ ABSk ■! I It's a tradition uit like . . • wishing good friends well! Pleata t9tint among your many gifts, out i continued friendly serrice! ZINER’S APPLIANCES

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