The Syracuse Journal, Volume 20, Number 34, Syracuse, Kosciusko County, 20 December 1928 — Page 2

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11,1 - '"' T The President and Mrs. Coolidge Beside a Living Christmas Tree By ELMO SCOTT WATSON

AVE you ever wondered how the leaders in our land observe Christmas, whether our President and the other high officials of our government forget for that one day in the year the cares of state and, like you and me and the friends we know, become just

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“plain folks,” filled with the Yuletide spirit? If you have, perhaps the following news story which appeared in the press dispatches just before Christmas last year may answer the question in your mind: Washington.—Mrs. Coolidge is planning an oldfashioned New England Christmas dinner “with all the fixings” for her family. All the details of the dinner have been planned by the first lady herself. Although she probably will not go into the White House kitchen to do any of the cooking with her own hands, she will personally arrange the dinner instead of leaving it, as she might an ordinary party dinner, to the housekeeper. The dinner will be a typical New England repast In all ways save one: the turkey will be a “tame” instead of a wild one. The President and his family will celebrate the holiday alone. No guests are expected at the Executive Mansion. Even the Stearnses will not be present, as they were last year. John Coolidge returned from Amherst, December 20, without guests. The White House will boast a Christmas tree all its own. Whether it will be kept exclusively for family admiration or placed in the East Room, where all White House visitors may see it, has not been decided. Mrs. Coolidge will not give any young people’s parties for her son, home on his holiday vacation, but as usual, young John will be the most popular beau in the capital. He has already been besieged by invitations to parties, and the usual crop of pretty debutantes is waiting anxiously to see which he wJU accept. Mrs. Coolidge has done much of the Christmas shopping for her menfolk, especially for her eminent spouse. She is the delight of the shopkeepers. She has started her shopping at 9 or 9:30 in the morning when the stores opened, made no special .demand for attention, so that often clerks or fellow shoppers did not know they were literally rubbing elbows with the mistress of the White House. She usually stops later when the crowds become thick. Following an annual custom, Mrs. Coolidge will aid in the distribution of the Salvation army’s 760 baskets of food. * On Christmas eve President Coolidge will press a button that will light the capital’s living community Christmas tree. He and his family will listen to carol singers before lighting the tree which has 500 lights. It is interesting to note that'phrase ‘an oldfaj&ioned New England Christmas,” because, surprising as it may sound, there was a time when Christmas celebrations were forbidden in the very section of the country from which President Coolidge came. For the Puritans who settled New Englund brought with them all their prejudices against the Yuletide celebrations, such as they had known in “Merrie England” during the reigns of Charles I and 11. In regard to their first Christmas in the New world, the journal of John Bradford has this entry: “And ye 25 day (Dec.) begane to erect ye first house for comone use to receive them and their goods.” * Notice that, “Ye 25 day (Dec.)” is not even called Christmas! On the following Christmas the governor issued a special order that everybody should keep at work on the feast day and there should be no celebration. Thirty-nine years after the landing of the Pilgrims the General Court of Massachusetts enacted this law: “That whosoever shall be found observing any such day as Christmas or the like, either by forebearing of labor, feasting or any other way . . . shall be subject to a fine of five shillings.” The first Christmas celebration tn Massachusetts was held by a royal governor, who, with all the churches shut against him, used the town house for religious services, and went with an es-

Christinas Gifts and Making Others Happy

DON’T make gifts because you feel you must. If you do not honestly want to give presents to anyone, do not do so. Do not feel that in order to make return for last year’s gifts you must use money that shouL' buy clothing, or other necessities, either for yourself or some member of your family. That Is not true Christmas. No Christmas spirit sings back of it.

7/ \Sf I • Wb W' : H WrW Chief -■ Justice Tait cort of soldiers to protect him against the wrath of the citizens. Yet in New England, as elsewhere, the jolly spirit of Christmas finally prevailed, although it was only in 1856 that Christmas was finally made a legal holiday in Massachusetts. However, these Puritanical prejudices failed to extend to the nation’s capital, which early in our history was established In a region where the old English idea of a Christmas observance of joy and good cheer prevailed so that almost from the beginning the day has been appropriately observed in the home of the Chief Executive, in a manner very similar to that in other American homes. How the successive Presidents have observed Christmas is told by Alice Rogers Hager, in an article written for the Washington Star, from which the following extracts are taken: Jefferson’s loss of his deeply-loved wife before his election and his liking for extreme simplicity made his holiday seasons quiet ones, except when some of his grandchildren came on a visit. His two daughters were far too occupied with their own families to be much in the White House (Martha Jefferson Randolph was the mother of twelve children), and it fell to the lot of the wife of the secretary of state to arrange such parties as were given. But ‘‘Dolly’’ Madison was equal to those occasions quite as much as to later ones. An incident of Christmas eve, 1815, is told in the letters of Mrs. Benjamin W. Crowninshield, wife of the secretary of the navy in Madison’s cabinet. “Last eve," she writes on Christmas day, “we passed at the President’s—took the girls with us Found several gentlemen there and a lady from Kentucky who is come to make a visit there. She had the parrot brought in for the girls, and he ran after Mary to catch her feet. She screamed and jumped into a chair and caught hold of Mrs. Madison. We had quite a frolic there, returning soon after 8 o'clock. Tea was brought In after w„e went ” Monroe, the Episcopalian, began his Christmases with service at old St. John’s, and in 1819 there was great rejoicing in the restoration of the Mansion. It becomes now the White House both in name and in fact, its ugly war scars having been healed with paint, which is annually renewed. Mrs. Monroe, with her great love of punctilio and her familiarity with foreign lands, brings the formality of the court to the New Year reception, when in 1820, the House is again opened to the public. The Christmas carols of today hark back in their popularity to the John Quincy Adams regime, when Mrs. Adams, American born and bred, but familiar also with life abroad through her association with her husband’s diplomatic years, made Christmas a time of merrymaking. Bands of negroes went about the still muddy streets, singing before the great houses. Many of the old English customs were revived along with the carols. Yule logs crackled and blazed on hearths, from the White House to the lowliest cabins, and the first assembly of the season graced the week following Christmas day. Now the scene shifts with force and rapidity, and the frontier crosses the threshold of the south portico in the person of “Old Hickory." Despite his grief for his misjudged and sorely treated wife, dead of her indignities just three months before his inauguration, he buried his personal feelings and carried on his rough-shod way with the fortiA tude of the great soldier that he was. Among his most human characteristics, his love of children was outstanding, and his grandchildren, the Donelsons, and the children of Francis Preston Blair, his friend, were called in to help fill the aching void. The most enchanting tales are spun of “the General” and this juvenile group, with their tumultuous celebrations of the festive seasons The Tylers had not only a twelve-year-old daughter, Alice, and a son, Tazewell, but also younger cousins, nephews and nieces, and again the mansion resounded .to the ring of children’s voices

Do not send gifts with thought of a return. Do not consult your own preference when selecting a gift, but the preference of the one for whom It is intended. Christmas gifts should . receive enough thought to Insure their carrying happiness to the receiver. Do not give a book to one who does not care to read, nor woolen stockings to one who cannot endure the touch of wool.

Do not send fol-de-rols to one living in a single room, with inadequate space for necessary, everyday belongings. Do not become so nervously tired that you cannot help being snappy if everything does not go lust right. Before you that point, go off by yourself and rest a bit, while you read anew the Story of the Star in the Sky, and the Song Sung by an Angel Choir on that first Christmas eve, centuries ago. Do not forget that to father, mother, brothers, sisters, the help in the

THE SYHACFSE J BERN 41,

around Kris Kringle’s pleasure-laden tree. President Tyler himself directed one fancy-dress Chris*mas party for his tiny granddaughter Mary Fairlie Tyler, where daughter Alice, a born leader, dressed as Titania, presided from a throne specially set up for her. Then there were Presidential Christmases for twenty years, but no children except those imported when Mrs. Pierce entertained her Sunday school with a Christmas tree. An article from ti e Star of December 27, 1853, gives further indication of the Pierces’ holiday habits: “On Christmas day a very eloquent discourse was delivered at the Presbyterian church on Four-and-a-Half street by the pastor, Rev. Mr. Sunderland. The congregation was very large, and among those present we observed the President and his lady, both of whom were looking extremely well." The Lincoln boys were not too old to put boyish enthusiasm into their holidays. Probably the one Christmas story that has gone round the globe from the White House is the one about Tad’s indignant democracy. He found, one Christmas day, a small mob of street urchins playing rather X o ’’- lornly outside the executive grounds. They looked cold and hungry tb the w«gl-fed President’s son, and from the depths of a heart he asked ’ them in to dinner. Followed a battle royal with the cook, who absolutely refused to have anything to do with such “trash,” Master Tad or no Master Tad! But the I boy was clever as well as generous, and, like a bud- I ding lawyer, appealed his case to the Supreme I court of the household. Lincoln smiled and said, “Os course, let them come,” and Tad, victorious, led the gaping youngsters in to a feast such as they had never dreamed existed. In 1868, the Patterson children, Andy Stover and Andy Jackson, Jr., had a fine ball given in their honor at Christmas time, the East Room being j opened for dancing, and 400 of the youthful elite | of the capital being bidden as guests. And then Jesse Grant, a few years later, had a party, though not such an elaborate one, but his master of ceremonies was none other than his uncle. General Sherman. No special stories are extant concerning the Gar. field or the Arthur children, but Cleveland brought a veritable fairyland ! nto he old Mansion. Marrying there, three of his children were born during his incumbency, and gifts from practically every civilized nation in the world came pouring in to the feet of the little White House princesses from Santa's best diplomatic pouches. So many came, in fact, that children who had less hope of wonder in their lives benefited materially from the overflow. The quiet of the McKinley regime went out in the scurry of the incoming Roosevelts. Christmas became a gorgeous event, along with the 364 other gorgeous days of each year. Once more Santa was hugely welcomed: stockings were “hung by the chimney with care," and a special room set aside for the presents, to which only Mrs. Roosevelt and one maid had access. The one fly in the ointment, however, for a Christmas or two, was that the President, «ln keeping with his conservation policy, didn’t quite approve the tree Idea, and the boys were keenly disappointed. Then a new Christmas came, and there was much secrecy on the part of Archie and Quentin. When the general presents had all been given out, their impatience could no longer be overlooked, and the secret came • ut. Leading the way to a certain closet, Archie threw open the door and disclosed his and Quentin’s own private tree, which they had smuggled in and decorated by themselves. That tree became an institution, and each year thereafter, as long as the family remained in the White House, was held in Archie’s room. Some delightful tales are told on “Big Bill Taft” and his Christmas’adventures when his turn came as head of the nation. On the morning of Christmas eve, 1910, Mr. Taft gave 102 fine turkeys to the married members of the White House staff, and to the single men who had no hungry mouths to feed other suitable gifts. But the best moment of the day came when Christmas had just turned the corner. At the stroke of midnight a little band of singers debouched on the White House grounds, with trombone and hymn books in true “wait" fashion, and began the march up the curving walk to the north portico. A startled policeman ran hastily out to turn them back, but, seeing who they were and what they wore about to do, changed his mind, and joined them instead. Lifting their voices In the lovely chant of “Adeste Fideles,” they progressed musically to the poich and there stationed themselves for a full service. In a few moments a window above their heads was raised, and the President, attired broadly in a blue bathrobe, leaned out and shouted “Merry Christmas.” The window didn’t stay up Ipng, because a cold wind was blowing, but the object of the serenade stayed behind it through the entire program, and raised it again at the end long enough to call. “Merry Christmas to you, boys, and thank you very much.” “Merry Christmas, Mr. President," the singers called back as they gathered up their possessions and went away into the darkness. The Wilson Christmases were, so many of them, war-shadowed, or very quiet because of the long illness that ended them. But when it was possible intimate friends were entertained as house guests. The custom of giving turkeys to the staff was continued, but the war made other gestures, except to the fighting men, of small moment

, kitchen, the postman and paper boy, the man who, perhaps, tends the furnace, the friend of your heart or the stranger at your gate, a cheerv Christmas greeting, Inspired by a cheery and loving soul, brings a sense of real fellowship and Christmas cheer. ■•lt isn't the gift, and it isn't the feast; Os all the miracles these are the least; It's the good that flows from the hearts of men, When Christmas love is abroad again.” L. D. Stearns. (©, 1928. Western Newspaper Union.)

i$w«WS RZU (“AGAIN the bells ring out to | r\ tell y / The story angels told. * V i / The blessed tidings of His \ / ' birth, \ ' That never can grow old. \ . Wvdsl / Again the world is thrilled and \\ A \ \ \ stirred, \\\\ \\ , / With gladness men rejoice, \i\\ \\ F ! And happy thoughts and wishes 1 \\\ J * ;. rue \I \ life \'w In every heart find voice. \ \ A 7 \ i r \ \ \ \ / » I ' \ W / / With smiling face friend calls V\ ’ /* / ' to friend v 1 / / A greeting most sincere, \ z / And friendship ties and ties \ t / /j more strong and dear. / /'• /A> <—j A H wi / f Once more the joy of Christmas] \ \ A / fills J \ \ \ m o The hearts and souls of men, A \ \' 4 Once more in Bethlehem’s.little I \ \ i town \ \ If A Child is bom again. 1 \ ♦ \ /r J (C), 1928, Western Newspaper Union) 1 I V \ /1 1 irr r~i \M F ‘ U&/ . H 1 I • I V ■ : “I

IIsIICH/ZtWII P iponderfulSS BuLILU ” /z J RUTHERFORD, z MORR!S / , ’1

GNES LOWDEN looked from her second-story bedroom window in l the downtown district upon a typical Christmas eve scene.

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The street was aglow with lights. “How lovely!” she murmured, and i then added, “but what a mockery! So i much happiness mingled with dire un- ! happiness. Oh, God, help me not to lose faith!” Turning to her bed she threw herself upon it face downward and burst into violent weeping. So this was the disappointing close of the day for which she had so long waited—the day Rob Roy was to come to claim her as his wife —his Christmas gift. Six months before Agnes had sei him

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away that both might learn through long separation if each meant to the other all that was needful ta insure their futu r e happiness. And ghe had. told him to come; that at last she knew’ her heart’s desire; that on Christmas eve she would welcome him and go with him to the very end of the earth.

- In vain had she listened through the long hours of the day for a telephone call, a telegram, or his ring at the door of her hoarding house. , When Agnes awofe with the dawn of a clear Christmas morning she looked out upon a far different scene than that which the glowing lights of the night before had presented. But hark! There broke upon the air clarion notes of cathedral chimes proclaiming to the world the birth of the Christ. The grand old hymn with its martial strain brought to the mind of every listener the glorious words:

People Who Belong to the Christmas Season ! i

THERE are some people who seem to belong to the Christmas season by nature. They are: People whose hopes always bloom anew at the approach of a New Year Mothers whose eyes still twinkle and laugh when they talk to their children. Fathers who like to surprise mothers with presents they really want Brothers who appreciate sisters. Sisters who don’t try to economize on brothers’ ties. Children who want to leave sugar for Santa’s reindeer. Houseowners who do not forget that the mailman is entitled to more than the hag of presents he carries for others. People who never think decorating Is any trouble. People who just love the smell of Christmas greens. People who think there is nothing 1 ivolier than holly. !•<•< who think there is nothing

"Joy to tha/world, the Lord is come. Let earth ifeceive her king.” ’ Agnes sto\j with bowed head until the last note of the last 1 stanza had died away, struggling hard to grasp the true spirit of the day, though her torn heart was unable to entirely cast aside the bitterness of the great disappointment she had suffered. A little later, from a near-by church tha crowd of early worshipers came pouring out, and as she looked, came the thought: “All of those people are happy. With joy they can think of their Lord and King, their loved ones, little tokens of affection and appreciation to cause their hearts to swell with unbounded joy. But what have I? Only emptiness and hopelessness. Ah, Christmas but mocks me with its revelry.” Determining to fly at once to some unknown address where Rob. would ' never find her, Agnes arrayed herself hurriedly for the street. At last J she pulled her nobby, close-fitting little hat becomingly into place, drew on her gloves, ■ and turned for her coat when the screech of colliding cars di- , rectly under her window called her back once more. “Oh, some one is hurt I” she almost screamed, and her nurse’s instinct to offer first aid sent her rushing pellmell down the stairs and out into the street. Agnes forged ahead to the side of the machine just as a taxi arrived to receive the injured person. “Oh, Agnes, is it really you?” “Rob!” Without a word of explanation to anyone the frightened but happy girl climbed into the taxi by the side of Rob, forgetful now of everything except getting him to the hospital as quickly as possible. “Didn’t quite make it on time, dear,” he said with his head on her shoulder, “but I was doing my level best. And to think this should have happened right in front of your house.” “And to think I was about to run away from you when that truck struck you. No, I didn!t know it was you, but something just made me fly to the scene'and —” “You were watching, Agnes?” “Yes, dear, I was watching, but had given up hope. I thought you didn’t care; that I had called to you in vain. I was crushed.” “So none of my messages reached you. Too bad! I had to trust them to others. But now that we are together, dear, you will not leave me for a single moment, will you, until we are man and wife? “Never! It is going to be such a wonderful Christmas after all, Rob, and I had thought it so desolate. “Yes. dear, a wonderful Christmas!” (©. 1928. Western Newspaper Union.) „

— more glowing than a real fireplace. People who love candle light. .People who are coy near mistletoe. People who like Christmas cards. People who like calendars. People who like nuts and raisins. People who like turkey all the week. People who like plum pudding all the week. These people seem to belong to the Christmas season by nature.—By Mary Graham Bonner. <©. 1928. Western Newspaper Union.) Boar's Head and Peacock Yuletide celebration tn England reached the height of magnificence in the Fifteenth and Sixteenth centuries. Great quantities of food were served at the banquets, where the boat’s head occupied the place of honor, while the peacock was next in importance.

ORCHARD GLEANINGS WINTER DAMAGE TO RASPBERRIES Canes Are Wholly or Partially Killed in Fall. Winter injury on raspberries consists of the canes being partially or wholly killed some time~ after the plants have stopped growth in the fall. The tips of the canes are usually affected first, because' this portion of the cane is the youngest wood. The extent of the winter injury is prob ably dependent on two factors: first the state of maturity of the canes, and second, the degree of the fluctuation of the temperature. If the plants go into winter with a large amount ot soft young wood the amount of injury is much greater than where the wood has had lime to mature. Since the wood that is designed to bear the fruit is nearest the tip of the cane, it frequently is responsible for crop failures. Such dead or injured wood affords a splendid point of entrance tor wood ■parasites which continue the destruction of the living wood; Thus we often find the disease called cane blight, Coniothyrium fucelli, which occurs as a follower of winter injury. < The most practical way of preventing winter injury that has been observed is to lay down the canes in the fall and cover them with dirt. This may be done with a spade, or by throwing two furrows together, th is burying the canes in a ridge just over the crowns o’s the plants. This practice has been observed to effective y prevent winter injury. If this practice cannot be followed, then every effort should be made to bring the plants into the winter condition with the minimum amount of immature wood. Winter Pruning Points From New Hampshire The New Hampshire station gives the following advice: The swivel saw is becoming most popular for ordinary pruning work. Whatever implements are used, they should be kept sharp anil make a clean cut. without leaving a stub.\ , In pruning old trees, care should be taken to thin out the small wood in the outside of the tree in order to admit more light. Thinning out the tree is a valuable help in scab control, and also keeps the tree more thrifty and productive. By pruning trees in winter fruit growers can help avoid a rush in the spring work, and December is ordinarily a time when the job can be done to advantage. If any trees are affected by canker, all tools should be disinfected after cutting with a solution made of one 7.3 grain tablet of bichloride of mercury in a pint of water. Control Scale Insects by Use of Lime-Sulphur The common material used in control of all scale insects is lime-sul-phur. This is a combination of stone lime and flowers of sulphur in water which, when applied to scale insects, cuts off the air supply and smothers them. Spraying for control of scale must be done at this time of year, as the material is highly caustic and will burn the foliage if applied when the plant is in leaf. The formula is one gallon of commercial liquid lime-sulphur to eight gallons of water. Dry lime-stilphur may be substituted for the liquid where only small quantities of spray are needed. Use it at the rate of 12 or 15 pounds to 50 gallons of water. These quantities, both liquid and dry, may be increased or decreased in pro- x portion to the amount of material needed. Horticultural Notes Make sharp clean cuts. Don’t leave stubs. ♦ • • Cut out all dead, diseased or Insectinfested wood and burn it. • ♦ ♦ Do not allow fallen fruit to remain under the trees to harbor insect pests. « • • The first thing to learn about the red raspberry the point to keep in mind all the time is that it suckers, like quack grass. « • • There is an old. saying, “Prune whert the knife is sharp,” meaning of course that any old time is the time to prune. Fruit men know better nowadays, and confine their pruning work largely to the winter season. • • • The scale infests plums, peaches, cherries, apples; pears, raspberries, blackberries, gooseberries, currants, roses, lilacs and other shrubbery of like nature, also most of the shade trees.* • * • Spraying for the control of scale must be done before the buds have opened as the solution is very caustic and will sear or burn the foliage, if in leaf. It is also very hard on hands, and heavy leather gloves should be used, else the hands will soon begin to bleed. • « • The destructiveness and damage done by the different forms of scale, have both injured and caused the loss of thousands of fruit trees per year, besides the numerous varieties of shade and forest trees. Look oyer the sprayer now and clean all the equipment. Make sure there is no water left in the parts by opening the drain plugs. Then run oil through to prevent rusting. Note repairs needed and order them - at once so they will be In place when the sprayer is needed in the spring. ,