The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-12-23

period when priCsly &C emonial and ecclesias.
tical astuteness seize upon the event OF The
strengthen their dominion and tighten the web
they have woven around the imaginative mind
OF their flock. But In Germany, where the
imagination, though just rs strong, and the
poetry Of superstition more developed than in
any other nation, Is kept within its wn bounds
by the stronger hand OF reason, Christmas-the
celebration OF the birth OF child; OF Him woo
said, "Suffer little children to come unto me"-is
purely the festival OF children; the season TO
which all look forward with pleasure and mpa-
tience the whole year through.
As the ancient Grecians invested all the objects
of nature with conscious living spirit, and
every rock, tree, and fountain had its fauu,
dryad, and nymph, so does the Teuton with his
Lorelei, Ilse, and Undine; and then proceeding
even farther STILL after having created his Ideal,
seeks to personify 1t. Thus the grand romantic
rock jutting out into the eddying Rhine was
invested with somewhat of the same character
as Scylla and Chary bdis were; but in addition,
the spirit pervadng the rock was personi6ed in
the form of lovely, golden-haired maiden,
Turing the mariners below to destruction on
ne msnneS rocky the base p heF Of Christina. 'mss hss
been personi6ed under the names "Knecht
Ruprechtn der Alte Nikolaus,n "Der
Weihnachtsmann," who are to be looked
upon rs the precursors oflthe "Christkindlen,"
and to decide whether the child or children OF
a family have so behaved during the year as to
deserve a vieit from he infant Saviour. In the
north of Germany, ''Der Allie Nikolausn is the
as an old man with long white beard, a sack
on his back and rof IN his hand, knocks at
the door, and in q gruH hollow voice inquiries
whether there are any children withis, and If
they are good or naughty. Thereupon he
enters, and cxtorting promises from the cul-
prits not TO do 1t again." unfolds his sack, and
distributes a quantity OF gingerbread, apples
aud nuts amoDgst the juveniles. Then, saying
that the Christ kudlein" will come pre-
sently, he takes his leave. generally
TO the satisfaction of the children, who
nt hn farr h1 Ia rNI -,
hand. In the meantime, the ''Christ-baum,"
Christmas tree, has been got in readiness, and
the children are led 10 it by their parents, and
soon forget "Knecht Ruprechtr at the sight OF
silver, and the presents laid on the table at the
base, among which the rod never fails, which is
thus given formally TO the child, so that it is
optional with him whether 1t is to be used or
not. Sometimes the rod of the year previous
has never been used. 1t is then a virgin rod
and is again used for the next year, the date of
the past one being affixed to 1t by string
binding II up. ] hare seen such remarkable
curiosity as q virgin rod seven years OF age; but
such relic is a 'rdrG dJiS" indeed. But the most
characteristic feature OF the German Christmas
is the Cbristmas-tree. The pines and frs sof
Germany seemed TO have exercised singular
influence on the development of the national
character. The pointed picturesque form,
shooting up straight from the earth below and
rearing itself towards the heavens, has been
petri6ed into the Gothic form of architecture,
and in its sempternal yerdure has become
sign OF the everlasting endurance OF Christianity,
and has become q symbol OF refreshments even
to being adopted by the wayside inn for sign
and mark denoting the place OF rest and re-
freshment within When was schoolboy at
Keilhau, an incient youth fresh from the ira.
ditions of snap.draeon, roast beef, and plum
pudding. ] reverently determined to keep up
my first Christmas abr oad In good old Eaglsn
style, and to that end wrote receipt
for, plum pudding and mince pies. l
took some of the Teuton youth into my cont
dence, and impaired to them my secret plans,
but 70 my surprise and annoyance they could
not see it. Disguised at their insensibility,
half determined to give my cherished plan up;
but finding one solitary exception to the general
opinion, I eIsevered, aud the result was we'll
shaped, proper minded pudding, complete
success in all culinary respects. But, to tell
the truth, it was failure. The novelties of
the German Christmas entirely swallowed up
my traditional ideas OF the festive season. And
this is how | spent my first Christmas in
Kielhau:-
About six weeks before Christmas, the German
master of our class, instead of distributing our
exercise aud theme books which he had taken
in the last lesson to correct, took out his
pocket-book,. and fixing his eye upon me, said:
"Nuu Keckser, was whilst du Zum Weihnach-
temp (Now, Blotter, what do you want for
Christmas!) Kleckser, Blotter, was my eupho-
NOUS nickname, given to me In consequence of
a certain juvenile propensity to blot whatever L
put my pen to; and the question, so different to
the remarks l generally met with from Herr
seminarist Frank, conceited dolt OF heavy
German, such as 'Cumuler JunRe," 'ESel, " 2nQ
such like derogatory appellations, took me ouite
by surprise. My neighe8r, however, Quickly
explaining that whatever wished for should
have at Christmas, Immediately suggested host
OF things, amongst which chose small hand
sledge, a pair of skates couple of books, and a
cross bow. Herr Seminarist Frank noted all
these down in his pock book ,charitably saying
he wished / might get them, and went on
to the next boy. For Herr Seminarist Frank
had a spite against me, because in one of my
themes l had vaunted the British nation above
the German, being then In my youth and of
small wisdom, which, however, does not make
Herr Seminars. Frank any the cleverer. The
various wishes were all soon taken down, and
Christmas was now the end and goal of ali our
thoughts and speculations as to whether our
wishes would all be granted, or which of them.
For Barop, our director, always was obliged to
conyoke q solemn council OF all the masters,
when they determined in secret confidence Whe-
ther any, and which, Of our wishes were to be
cancelled.
Time shipped by to within week of Christ.
mas Eve. 1t was on a Tuesday, and | was just
constituting quaint, oldfashioned ode our
Latin master had raked up some here when
Baron entered. For the sake OF curiosity
will insert the poem. found it amongst my
old school papers the other day:-
"AVete soitudInie
ClRr strque mites incolie
Qu peruistis impioS
Iutus turents tartaTi.
'Gemmas ct aurl pondera
Et digDitatnm culmina
Calcastis ct tPdisama.
Que mundus offert gaudia.
"VOoIs olus cibaria
Fuere vel iegnmtna,
POtumque lympha pr;ebut,
Humutque dura lectulum.
"Vixlstis inter aspides