Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 300, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 December 1915 — Page 3

CHRISTMAS CAROL

Bethlehem’s plain there shone a star guided wise men from afar, \' //- To*see the child in manger lain, <7 $ Immanuel Jesus is his name) 77 \ \jThe Prince of Peace has come to dwelt . V" r Hosanna! Shout! Immanuel s' 'll I * ' long expected, promised Lord / I Is bom today, by Kings I n While to the world God doth proclaim*/p"~ I /J He comes, and Counselor is his name, I The mighty God on earth to dwell I Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel I tfA* rtjT jQE comes to man by lowly birth, I I To spread salvation through the earth. I 4 From everlasting, he’s the same, » Pyh Our God and Wonderful his name, V"~ King David’s seed in man to dwell Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel fT—___ ; 1 r on earth, Sing of free salvation’s join in the (P)\kT Jesus, God with us, is his Hallelujah, peace on Rejoice! the Savior's and singx Hosanna to the new-bornTKipgj n gelic hosts to man proclaim f Our Father’s love, our Peace on earth. I Rejoice! the Savior’s

Santa’s Secret

tojgEHC7)H—rVB got out of bed, just a minute, SLfQI To tell you—l’ll whisper it JjhSKgSg low— The stockings I’ve hung by the fire Are for me—not mamma, you know. ®*or mine are so awfully little. Dear Santa Claus, don’t you see? And I want, oh, so many playthings, They won’t hold enough for me.

Bo X want yon to remember . And fill these as full as you can, (Cause I haven’t been very naughty. And you’ve been such a nice, kind man. |Td like a live doll, if you please, sir, That can talk and call me "mamma.** Not one that is full of old sawdust, As all iny other dolls are.

Short But Useful.

The Christmas tree does not live flong, but its short life is a useful and Ibeautiful one.

By FREDERICK R. MERES

About a hundred years ago the first Christmas cards were used. These were printed in London and consisted of a visiting card, with the words, “A Merry Christmas,'* printed on it. Later the cards were made with a little scenery on them and a picture of the robin. This bird was used because he is called the English Christmas bird, and also "The Savior’s Bird’* on account of the old legend regarding its red breast. From this time on the cards became more numerous and of more varied kinds.

A little knowledge is a danger- ; ous thing, especially on Christ- ■ mas eve, when a kid discovers his' father acting the part of ■ Santa Claus. k '■ I • ■

Holly Scratches

By HARVEY PEAKE

NEVER looks gift in the cost mark. • ’ All that glitters is not diamonds. Mistletoe makes the heart grow fonder. The gift deferred maketh the heart sick. Belief in Santa Clans is the best policy. It is a wise merchant who knows his own>goods when they are brought back for exchange. To give hideous gifts is human, to forgive impossible. Gifts make the man, the want of them the fellow. Ono Christmas bargain makes the whole of womankind spin. Christmas bills are stubborn things. Santa Claus is not as red as he ia pointed. in haste and repent at Uneasy lies the head that's trying to make twenty dollars buy forty gifts. • •» And thereby hangs a stocking. Every Christmas tree must stand on its own bottom. Gifts are seldom what they seem.

The Christmas Card.

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN, RENSSELAER, IND.

Old Santa’s Christmas List

By De LYSLE FERREE CASS

The reindeer are harnessed and ready For their Christmas eve drive through the sky; They whinny and stamp; sleigh bells Jingle, And old Santa Claus' sledge is piled high • X With an abundance of toys, books and goodies For all good little boys and girls; Santa’ll fill up the stockings while the clpck is Yick-tocking, And the snow flakes drift down in whirls. He’ll slide down the chimney as usual— Fat, jolly, red-faced, full of glee— He’s been keeping tab on each one of you; In the picture he’s looking to see Which kiddies have minded their parents, Which have done as they ought; If you have been good and done as you should, Old Santa’U bring you a lot See! He’s looking his list of names over, Yes, and scratching the naughty ones out; If Freddie had minded his mamma Today he’d never need doubt That Santa would fill up his stocking; And if Maizle hadn’t been bad,

That yellow-haired dollle that’s going to Molly Is one present she might have had. For Molly behaved herself nicely. She doesn’t grumble, tell fibs or be mean; Bo her papa has written to Santa Telling what a good girl she’s been, Then there’s Tommy’s name on the paper: A real boy, but never sauces nor swears. Nor Is cruel to kittled. It’s a thousand pities That Freddie’s mother had as few cares. Now there’s the names of Mildred and Jessie, Of Margaret, Julia and Kate — When they go out to play and hear mother say, “Home early,” they never are late. Next comes Bobbie, that jolly young rascal! And Henry—the boys call him “Hen!”— There’s a red sled for Bob, and for Henry a job Playing war with his tin soldier men. Dick will wake up to find a new tool set; Phil will get those shining new skates; Joe’s football outfit sure will please him: He can now go and play with his mates. Bert likes story books and he’ll get some; A hobby horse Harry will please; Yes, each little tike will get what he likes— Their good traits old Santa Claus sees. As he cons the long list o’er and o’er. Look! he’s smiling to think of the joy, That when Christmas bell? ring, each holiday thing Will bring to each good girl and boy. Remember, you little folks, always, That obedience, kindness, good cheer Are the things mamma wants and are sure to enajonce You in Santa Claus’ favor. Oh, hear X. • How the sleighbells are jingling and tinkling, How the reindeer are prancing to go Skimming along o’er the housetops, Unmindful of cold, ice or snow. Santa’s pack is crammed to o’erflowing; Is your name on his visiting list? Now in bed abide; down the chimney he’ll slide. . If you’re good, your house won’t be missed.

Prepared.

*Tm going to have a fine "time at Christmas,” said one young miss to another. “Mr. Huggins is coming to our party, and he is color-blind, you know." “Does his color-blindness add to your enjoyment?" asked her friend. “Rather!” was the reply. “He thinks all the holly-berries are mistletoe!”

Had One Already.

**l don’t know what to give Lizzie for a Christmas present,” one chorus girl is reported to have said to her mate, while discussing the gift to be made to a third. "Give her a book,” suggested the other. And the first one replied, meditatively: “No, that won’t do; she’s got a book.”

Crowned on Christmas.

William the Conqueror was crowned cm a Christmas day.

HUNTING MISTLETOE

Christmas Greens Harvested With Aid of Guns. But It la Better to Climb for It as Seekers Have Learned —Open Season Begins Early in \ December. HE hunter took deliberate ?! aim and fired int ° t* l ® er branches of a swamp elm. Only a bunch of foliage, cut from its supporting bough by the charge of bird shot, fell a yard or so away. “Missed him?” was the half queried comment of a “tenderfoot” who had strained his eyes in vain to see the object of the shot. “Missed nothing,” came the rejoinder. “Shootin’ greens,” he added by way of explanation. . He picked up the clump of leaves flecked with waxen berries and threw into a gunny sack three or four pounds of mistletoe, the reward of his marksmanship. The open season for mistletoe begins early in December, according to the Kansas City Star, and continues until only a day or so before Christmas, or„ in the lean years, untit the crop is exhausted. The old method of "shooting” mistletoe has been in large part displaced, however, by agile boys who earn jnen’s wages by climbing for the crop and carrying it to the ground in sacks slung from their shoulders. That preserves the foliage beauty by' leaving the berries intact. When the boughs are “harvested” by the shotgun method the charge jars many of the globules from their tiny stems and the fall to earth but adds to the havoc. Mistletoe jobbers are growing more discriminating and pay .top prices for well-preserved greens only, the market varying day by day according to the quantity offered. The true mistletoe is a European evergreen, but its American cousin resembles It so closely as to baffle all but botanists. The leaves are of the same yellowish green and the blossoms, alike in color, give way in turn to the wax-like berries. Both are parasites, growing on the boughs of deciduous trees. Apple trees, poplars, maples and elms seem to bear support the vegetable barnacle. But it sometimes Is found growing in the oaks and other forest varieties. Along the Pacific coast it frequently is taken from oak trees, although the yield in that region is not prolific. The mistletoe played a conspicuous part in mythology. It is symbolical of the spear with which Hotherus took the life of Balder, the white sungod of summer, who shall be resurrected at Raganarok, twilight of the gods and doomsday of the world, so runs the old Norse legend.

Among the Druids and the Celts the mistletoe found growing upon an oak was believed to possess powers oi healing for many ills as well as being potent for the working of magic charms. Small bits of berries were brewed into love philters for prejudlo ing the passions. To the esteem in which the mistletoe was held is directly traceable a certain old English custom which survives today. At the Christmas tide every ardent swain who ’neath its shadow levies tribute of a kiss and eacli half-resisting maid who pays, may know their hearts only bow to rites centuries old and born when Yule logs flickered through candlelighted halls on wintry nights; when fairies ruled; when Imagery held sway; when mountain gods gave curse or blessing and tribute to the mistletoe was a sacrament.

THOUGHTS OF CHRISTMAS.

They were married at the beginning of December, and the 25th was approaching. "You know, little wife,” he said one evening, "we mustn’t have any secrets from each other, must we, sweet one?” "No darling,” she whispered. "So,” he continued, "I want you to tell me how much you intend spending on a Christmas present for me, so that I can calculate how much money I shall have left to buy one for y ou -”

One Popular Fat Man.

It is said that nobody loves a fat man, but children at this time ot the (fear are deeply in love with a stout, elderly person-with white whiskers and a pack'on bis back.

MAKING OUR OWN TOYS

B - iIECAUSE of the Eurofl pean war there has I been considerable comfl ment to the effect that fl there will be a dearth of Christmas toys this year, since the toy IV sources of France and » ® €rmany n °t y available to American children. French dolls r jEtas- have been the standard during at least two genrr Z’wff erations, and Nurem-

berg, Germany, Is famed throughout the world as a toy center. It must not be supposed, however, that little girls will have to go without dolls this year. Several manufacturer? in the United States are turning out dolls by the thousands and they are of the very best type. One large factory in Philadelphia is making, under special processes, a type of indestructible doll from basswood, which is a light and easily worked material and is not likely to split or break. Those who have made a study of this manufacture, in connection with the study of the wood-us-ing Industries of the state of Pennsylvania, predict that dolls of the type made by this and other similar factories can gain first place for America in this branch of manufacture. Thus,

the new trade slogan, "Made in the U. S. A.,” will have a direct bearing i in shifting the center of doll manufao Iture from Europe to America. The following toys are now made in this country from American woods: Toy animals, blocks, cannon and forts, children’s chair, circus sets, dolls, doll furniture, games, Christmas tree holders, swing jumpers, children’s pianos, pastry sets, babies’ play yards, toy shooting galleries, hobby horses, pop guns, toy wagons, toy autos and wheelbarrows. Basswood is the principal material for wooden toys and for wooden parts of metal toys. The basswood doll, in particular, is unique and ingenious. All parts of it are made of wood and are artistically carved and enameled in color. It is difficult to tell that it is made of wood when it is finished. The various parts of the body are joined with steel bands which not only give great flexibility and freedom of movement, but together with the wood make the doll practically indestructible. Next to basswood, sugar maple, beech, birch and white pine are the principal woods used for toys, although elm, oak, chestnut, ash, yellow poplar and others enter into toy manufacture. Pennsylvania, which stands first among the states in toy manufacture, alone uses the equivalent of nearly 6,500,000 board feet of timber for toys, with a total value of 1182,000 each year. The total amount of wood used annually in the United States for toy manufacture is nearly 29,000,000 feet, and the principal toy manufacturing states after Pennsylvania are, in order, Wisconsin, Maine, Michigan, New. York, Ohio, Vermont, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Basswood is the favorite for such toys as toy animals, boats, dolls, circus sets aud children’s pianos. Blocks and dolls* furniture and toy vehicles are generally made of white pine. Stick horses, with a horse’s head and a stick to ride upon, S more pretentious variation of the old-tashioned broom horse, are likelyto be made of white pine, although the stick head may be

JNb Scarcity gi of Gifts IL Because Bk ofWar

made of different material. Rocking horses are usually made of white ash. In the native forests, basswood occurs sparingly and very seldom in groups or in solid stands. In the lake states in particular it is sawed incidentally with other timber, but the logs are usually kept separate and generally sawed in accordance with standing orders from special industries. It is utilized for many other products besides toys, because it has qualities which fit it for a wide range of uses. It is one of the softest of the so-called hardwoods, it lacks taste and odor, is very easily worked, does not warp or check badly, is tough and takes paint very well. It is one of the woods preferred ror boxes to contain food products likely to be contaminated by the tastes or odors which might be derived from other woods. For the same reasons it finds considerable use in the manufacture of kitchen woodenware. It is in some demand as a material for house finish and a great deal ot it goes into the unseen parts of furniture and musical Instruments. Other important uses are for trunks, picture frames and excelsior. /•.. ’ ' In farmers’ woodlots, in particular, it is a tree which should be favored, because it is a fairly rapid grower, is free from defects, and is usually

Painting the Features.

salable. In selling this tree from a woodlot, the department of agriculture advises that it should be held for special prices and not sold in a lump with others. Basswood has several advantages as a standing tree in the woodlot. In the first place, its blossoms furnish a considerable source of honey which is always in good demand, and when the tree is cut it readily regenerates itself from sprouts, the best of which should be favored in reproducing the stand.

Most of the Christmas customs in America have been transplanted from Europe: Our Christmas tree comes from Germany, our Santa Claus from Holland, the Christmas stocking from Belgium or France, while “Merry Christmas" was the old English greeting shouted from window to street on Christmas morning.

- It is a time for joy and gladness and good cheer, for this old world., with all its faults, is on its way towards the kingdom of heaven, and th» , omnipotence of love assures its getting there. Some time every day will! be the best of Christmas, every place its altar of observance, and every soul be transformed into the Christ of his environment—Universalist Leader. •

Remember the days when you ’ were little, and Plata your j Christmas accordingly. ’

Our Christmas Customs.

The Optimistic Note.