Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 28, Number 25, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 18 December 1897 — Page 12

NORWAY AND SWEDEN

YULETIDE CUSTOMS IN THE LAND OF THE VIKINGS.^

Superstitions Regarding NImcb, the Scandinavian Santa Clans—Pranks of th« Hired Men—Legend of the Brothers

Ulv and Grimm. The peasantry of Norway and Sweden generally build their homes as near each other as convenient. Often five to seven families live adjoining, constituting a miniature village. After the first day hfm passed the enjoyment commences. Dancing is the principal enjoyment for the youth, while the old people and the children stay at home and rehearse tales that are replete with orgies and "Nissen," or "Tomtegubben," as he %lso is called. The latter is a miniature being that corresponds in many respects to the Scotch brownie, but is quite Santa Clauslike in general appearance. The tales that are told have been handed down from generation to generation, and were at one time believed, and even in some districts considerable credence is still given to what is stated about these unnatural beings.

Nissen is the being that is of the greatest interest to the young. He is not a bad fellow at all, if he can only have his way. Where he lives no one knows. It is supposed that he spends the days sleeping in some of the hills or under the ground. Although1 he is imall, ho is possessed with super natural power and can do much to shape the fate of a person, either good or bad. Great care is therefore exercised to do what is known will please Nissen. Special attention must be given him Christmas eve. Should he come around after midnight and his favorite dish, romegrod, has not been placed outsido near the door, trouble will result.

When the people awake in the morning, they cu-i expect to find their cattle in a terrible condition. Nissen generally vents his vengeance on the animals of the farm. They will be tired the next day, showing.that Nissen has been playing some prank with them, thereby keeping sleep from them. Articles in the burn will be found topsy turvy, while tho horses have been turned around in their stall, but if the dish has been placed out for him he is happy. Ho shows'his gratefulness in deeds. When tho hired man in that case goes out to the barn Christmas morning, he may expect to find all his chores done. Tho horses have been curried so they look line as silk, while the cows give twice their usual amount of milk. In many cases the wood has been split

Many superstitious people on this occasion bar the door with apiece of steel. They are afraid of him, and steel is the only thing that Nissen has no power over. He has often beei known to have •entered the house and stolen food. Many a hirod girl can vouch for the fact that she has heard him climbing about on the shelves of the larder, and even in a few oases he has been seen.

Tho youth still in a manner retain the habits of their ancestry. At eventide Miey gather together from the small villages and visit their neighbors. As a rple, the ground at this time of year is heavily covered with snow, and the trip has to bo made on skis. This is one of the most delightful features of tho celebration. The ski is tho national article of locomotion, and tho boys and girls are adepts in the art of standing on them in the deep declines and rugged hills. The young people go from neighbor to neighbor gathering more of them. Thoy have often no particular destination, but know they will end somewhere. When they come to some particularly largo farmhouse, they drop their skis and go insida Here everything is in readiuesa for them in the way of food, drink and music. The fiddler strikes up his merry tunes, and those present are hurled into a vortex of merriment.

In most parts of the country this feature is in no way marred, and the dancegoes on until late in the morning, when the young go home, only to meet somewhore else tho following night

In some of the primitive parts of Norway, as Guldbrandsdalen and Voss, fights were indulged in in years gone by. This custom has not entirely changed, but tho fatalities that were so common thou do not exist now. Then when a couplo went to one of these dances the girl would generally take her lover's ftvnoral gown along, fully expecting that he would need it before the night had gone.

In the southern part of Sweden, Yul* lotta, a custom that is very beautiful, is recognixed by the peasantry. The early morning mass at A :30 Christmas day is attended by nearly every one. The members of the congregation have often «s far as seven miles to walk through tho snow They come from all directions in delegations, each carrying a long pole upon which a piece of pitch is burning. As the surroundings are still in darkness, the sight of those moving lights toward one center is imposing. The hired men in this part of the country have a rather peculiar joke that they (try to play upon each other Christmas morning. It is to try to get up early and go over to the neighbors and perform the chores of the hired man there before he gets np Great delight is taken in the perpetration of this trick.

In the early part of the century it was a belief that on Christmas eve all the unnatural beings joined together in a grand carousal They were led by Tbor, the god of the elements, and they flew through the air, creating a terrible noise and often damage. Johan Welhaveu poem Asgaardsreiesn*' tolls of a deed that was committed by this flock. It was Christmas ere, and a wedding was being celebrated. The bride was of the fairest and the bride-groom the worthiest Many had been invited, and the general enjoyment was enhanced by the free flow of liquor. When everyone vu in a sleepy condition tram its su

perfluous use, the doors fldiw open, and die brothers Grimm and Ulv entered. Ulv had recently been refused by the bride, and he was out for revenge An attack was made. The women huddled together, while the men tried to rally. The brothers had seized the bridegroom, and Ulv was about to plunge his dagger into his breast Then a terrible crash was heard, and it seemed as if 10,000 demons were on the outside. The brothers stood as if transfixed. They knew it was Asgaardsreien, and they faltered. The doors flew open, and Ulv was seized by the throat and dragged on the outside. Then the people gathered in the house heard a sJixill whiz, as of something flying through the air, and then all was quiet, but Ulv was never seen again. His brother Grimm was badly hurt, but recovered, and on Christmas evenings in years thereafter he told to the children the wedding festival that was visited by Asgaardsreien. —Minneapolis Tribune. -s

CHRISTMAS GREENS.

A Beautiful Cos torn Which Comes to Us From the Romans.

The fashion of decking the house with greens as we do at Christmas dates back into old Roman times, when a feast in honor of Saturn was celebrated and the temples of the dwellings were dressed with green boughs—possibly a remnant of that tree worship which, "in itself," says Buskin, "I believe was always healthy," when "the flowers and trees are themselves beheld and beloved with a half worshiping delight which is always noble and healthful."

The plants most in demand for church decoration at Christmas time in England as well as in this country are holly, bay and laurel. English holly is sometimes imported, but the American holly, which comes from Virginia and other sections of the south, is a very good substitute for it The bay is the rarest plant of the three in this country, but ground laurel is commonly sold and is one of the most effective of the Christmas greens.

In decorating a room with Christmas greens it should be remembered that a very slight touch of color should be used with green and that the most objectionable of all things is too profuse decoration. Christmas greens are usually kept till, after Twelfth Night, which occurs on Jan. 6, and they should certainly be cleared atway by the 2d of February, or Candlemas day, or otherwise, as tradition says, a goblin will appear for every green leaf left behind. It certainly must have been a slovenly housewife who would leave her Christmas greens up for so many weeks, and goblins of discontent and uncleanliness would be sure to invade such a house.— Philadelphia Timea

Christmas In Denmark.

The tree is always lighted on Christmas eve in Denmark, aad the family all meet together then. The older people get their presents on a plate at their places at the table, and the children's gifts are on the tree. Roast goose is always the chief feature of our Christmas eve dinner and a dish of rice is eaten oil Christmas eve before dinner is served. Apple fritters are eaten instead of plum pudding. Christmas day itself is observed striotly as a religious festival, but the day before and the day after Christmas are holidays. The theaters are open, and the young people give dancea Our little Danish children do not know about Santa Claua They have instead what they call a Nissen, meaning a Christmas brownie in the shape of a little old man with a large gray beard who is supposed to live under the ground. Another Danish superstition is that at midnight Christmas eve the cows in the stable rise and low in salutation, and on Christmas eve young maidens tell their fortunes by breaking the white of an egg into a glass of water and watching the shapes it assumea "Glagelig Jul!" is the Danish greeting for''Happy Christmas!"—Selected.

Christmas In England.

I fancy an English Christmas is too well known to need much description. English novels have described it fully, and tho English illustrated papers at Christmas time give a good idea of the festivities. Every one who has a country place goes there for Christmas. There is generally a large house party, and dancing and skating help to pass the time. The houses and churches are decorated with holly and greens, and "mistletoe hangs on the castle wall." Tho tree is almost as universal an institution in England as in Germany, and the evening is given over to amusing the children, who play blind man's buff, snap dragon and hide and seek. The proverbial English Christmas dinner always includes roast beef and plum pudding.' Every self respecting Englishman goes to church on Christmas morning, and in some country parishes the "waits" still sing their carols from house to house on Christmas eve.

In other respects it is kept very much as the American Christmas.—British Consul in Chicago Tribune.

Christmas Song.

In the darkness of the morning Shepherds on the eastern plain 8e vr a glorious brightaflm dawni&g,

Heard a Jorfui, rwnset refrain: "Glory In the highest! Peace on earth]"

Then before them, wondering, listening. Came the bcaateooa angel train, Quae in garments brightly glistening.

Staging o'er and o'er again: "Glory In the highest! P«*ce on earth!1' TsU to all bekw the lory

Of the wondrous Saviour's birth. TfcU of how be came from glory To be crowned the King of earth.

Glory In the highest) ENimrgs oa^ aarth!

MliS

&n no more shall clone teatea's poriw Open far and wide they swing, Dor onto mortals

Fall forgiTeness now doth brtsgQtory tn the highest! Pmci on earth! —ML W. Pakoaar la Chicago BacoriL

aii§«it

NEW CHURCH MUSIC.

[Special Correspondence.2

CHICAGO, Dec. 14.—The First Methodist church of this city, the Nestor of Methodist organizations in Cook county, has flung aside the mantle of orthodozy and substituted for its regulation choir a gorgeously uniformed brass band, and a military band at that

The purpose of this singular action, as it is termed by members of other congregations, is stated by the Rev. JSmet P. Brushingham, the church's pastor, to be merely an indication that the Methodist church is keeping firm step in the march of progress and realizes, so says Mr. Brushingham, that in ordei to hold its place it must make the church services as attractive as the worldly amusements. Here over his own signature Mr. Brushingham states the whys and wherefores:

Since tbe band and other musical features were made part of our church programme oui audiences have increased fourfold. For this reason we expect to continue along the same lines in making our services attractive to the public.

While our present band is accomplishing the purpose for which wo engaged it my real ides of a band is to have one which consists of a mixed orchestra and a few brass pieces, securing the very best talent possible, and making the complete organization a permanent feature in our Sunday services, particularly the evening services. The auditorium of our church will seat about 1,200 persons, and when well filled the loud music these instruments oi brass create

Beems

The members of the band are clothed in a very handsome uniform of dark blue, plentifully adorned with gilt braid, while gorgeous "frogs" in front serve to make their appearance even more speotaonlar. Tbe caps the boys wear are similar to those which adorn the heads of the members of Sonsa's band, except in the case of the snare drummer, who wears a cap like one of Uncle Sam's soldiers.

During service in the church the band i3

stationed on the rostrum formerly occupied by the choir, which is situated directly behind the pulpit. From this point the music sounds in a volume which fills the old edifice to overflowing. It has not been considered necessary to confine the selections played by the musicians to the old orthodox hymn tunes, and while they have not yet played "There'll be a hot time in the old town tonight" they have very nearly approached it. In fact, so lively have the selections played become that at a recent servioe, when an air in waltz time was given, the audience applaud ed and cheered heartily.

Neither was this demonstration frowned cm by Dr. Brushingham, for his eyes sparkled with good humor as he stood up by the pulpit and said: "1 don't wonder you feel like cheering. That is the kind of music the people all want, and that is what we must have.*' At that same service, when about half way through his sermon, Dr. Brushingham turned to the young men in the bright uniforms behind him and remarked, "I must hasten toward the dose of this sermon, for when I finish these boys are going to give us sense more music, and I am anxious to hear thorn play again."

To thoroughly appreciate what a remarkable innovation this introduction of a brass band into the church referred to is, it must be understood that th» First Methodist diurdbt is one of the pioneer institution* of Chicago. It is located in & business block, situated at the corner of Randolph and Clark stioets.

TERB-E HAJJTE SATURDAY EVJENiyO MAIL, DECEMBER 18, 1897.

BRASS BAND DISPLACES THE REGULATION CHOIR.

Why the Hnt Methodist Church of Chicago Finds Band Mosic Useful—The Pastor 'Alms to Make the House of God as Attractive as the Theater.

Ef? lr

Our band thit we have in church is only one feature of tbe campaign which we propose making in the down town district of Chicagc to make onr Son day services popular in the sense that they shall be a counter influence tc the vaudeville shows and variety theaters that surround tis in the same block.

in no way inappropriate tc

the surroundings, especially when it becomes an accompaniment to what we call gospel songs.

As I have said, the band is but one of the features we propose to introduce. Wo have just decided upon a brilliant series of electric lights to be placed upon the outside of the building in the same fashion in which the places of amusement seek to attract patrons.

J. P. BRUSHINGHAM, D. D., Pastor First M. E. Church.

The brass band which Dr. Brushingham has utilized is composed of the older pupils of the Graham school, located at 445 Emerald avenue, Chicago. The

hut among its communicants are many of those whose names are prominent in the list of those who have made Chicago's fiistory.

It has always been considered a con* servative of the conservatives, never leaning toward the exuberance of Methodism sometimes apparent at the so called "revivals" of that church. In its staid old quarters the congregation has met ever since the fire which leveled Chicago in 1871. Before that for many years the church was in existence, and it was noted for retaining the customs of its forefathers, as it were, almost in their entirety.

One of the customs of the Methodist ohuroh, as everybody knows, is that the stay of a minister with one congregation is limited, and so it has happened that with the occupancy of the pulpit by the younger generations of Methodist ministers, the strong tendency toward orthodoxy hitherto apparent has gradually lessened, until with the advent of Dr. Brushingham the new school, thai which believes in fighting fire with fin. and making the church as attractive at the theater, wrought a great change in the customs of the First church.

It is Dr. Brushingham's intention, ac he says, to continue the introduction oi novelties which will attract the flotsam and jetsam of humanity which vacillates between the church and the thea ter, just as the independent vote swings from politioal party to party.

34X9

THE CHURCH BAND,

leader of the musioians is Mr. W. E. Watt, the Graham school's principal. Their labors are not considered as a contribution to the church's welfare, but are given on a purely business basis. The church pays the band so much per service, just as each member of the orchestra of a theater is paid for every night'that he plays.

W. H. GIBBON.

HALF PECKS OF SILVER.

Wheat Raisers Weighted Down

With

Co,n-

to result almoBt any time. Their paper money was easily destroyed or stolen from the slight frame cabins. The only money with which they felt safe was ooin. ,hAb

the government, in order to enoourage the use of silver, pays the expressage on that form of currency to any point in tbe nation, the buyers were only too glad to accommodate the particular desires of the people. Silver dollars and half dollars were shipped in by the bushel, and the local bank vaults took on the appearance of granaries with sacks piled up in every corner. When tbe wheat came in, it was paid for in coin, $500 to $2,000 at a time, and the streets of the villages in the wheat region have presented a curious appearance The settlers have heavy canvas pockets extending nearly to the knees of their coarse trousers. Into these they pour tbe white coins, a half peck at a time. Then in the bottom of empty grain sacks they place the remainder, and after trudging about the streets, like walking subfareasuries, set out for home. S| if!

What are they doing* with it? Just two things—burying it and paying their debts. The latter is first, and then somewhere about the claim is carefully "cached" the remainder of the crop's return. Hundreds of thousands of dollars are underground in western Kansas, to be taken out a little at a time to pay current expenses or buy mare land when prices decrease. At present lands are high. Half sections held for years at $800 are selling for five times that amount and are being sown to wheat. Never was there in tbe west a wheat sowing craze like that of the present season. Drills are too few, and implement men send to eastern Kansas and Missouri to purchase secondhand onea Wheat will he sown until February, and by that time almost every piece at plowed ground will be ready to give a crop.

In*o one station over $65,000 In silver has been shipped this season, into another $30,000 and into many others al most equal amounts. It is little wonder that western Kansas is happy when the crop of a single year has paid for tbe fkinw many times over. In most counties there has been raised over 900 bushels of wheat for each person residing there—the greatest return from the land ever known in the atete.

WjT is

isoi

ten

•-•Qfews.- [Special Correspondence.]« O' ABILENE, Kan., Dec. 14.—For once in a decade a big wheat crop and high prices have come at the same time on tbe western Kansas plains. The resull is a condition of affairs that is abnormal and curious. Especially among the large Russian colonies, where are 6een the customs and dress of the steppes oi eastern Europe, is the coming of the sudden riches attended with interesting features. The farmers put in their crop on land worth $ 1 to $8 an acre. They harvested 16 to 80 bushels of wheat pei aore and sold it for 80 Aaits to $1 a bushel. It was a prairie Klondike foi them, and, ooming as it did after years of discouragement and failure, made them more than happy. When the buyers located at the little stations and began to purchase the grain, they found that the settlers had a firmly grounded distrust of bank checks, drafts and papei money generally. Their experience with banks has been that failure was likely

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