Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-12-31

one hundred and fifty ducats for the
dowery of the poor shoemaker's youngest
daughter.
The meaning of this legend is, that
beneicent Providence watches over and
takes care of the poor who are honest, re-
ligious, and truthful. The tradition runs
that since that time st. Nicholas pays
visit every Christmas night to all whom
he thinks worthy of his favors He is
known altogether by the name-Sdntd
Claus.
In Germany and other Northern Eu-
ropean countries, the traditional benefac-
tor of the children, with his Christmas
budget for the good children's stockings,
is known as
KRIsH kINKLE,
a name Christ-kindLein-C hrist-Infant-
understood to be derived from the clrcum-
stance that q representation OF the Infant
Saviour in the manger formed part OF
their Christmas decoration, Bad children,
instead of the sugar plums from IRISH
Kinkle, find in their stockings ''the birch
en- rod" from Pelsnichol.
THE CHRISTMAS TREE
is also derived from the German and other
Protestant districts in the North of Eu-
rope. The first forming of the Christmas
tree in England is believed to have been
done by a German in the household Of
Queen Caroline, wife Of George w., and
who saw few happy Christmas trees after
her marriage in 1895. The Germans of
Pennsylvania brought their Teutonic GUS
toms-the stocking hung at the foot OF
the bed, Krish Kinkle, the Christmas
trree-at an early period into that State,
while Santa Claus came with the Holland
ers into New York. In New England,
where the Puritanic prejudices against the
English Church, whose heavy hand they
English Church festivals. It has not been
till within tho present century that this
festival has been much observed. Within
the last twenty years, however, great
change has been wrought, and the day is
now very generally observed in all the New
England States.
In Germany, is we'll as in this country,
all varieties of evergreens are used in deco
rating though here, as in England, the
holly and the misletoe are the favorites,
the latter being frequently suspended in
the centre of the room, the lady who is
caught under it FORGETTING q kiss. The
German peasants try to have something
green to eat, especially fresh cabbage but,
in default Of this, they will even press
sourkrout into the service. In some re-
gions favorite dish is a salad made Of
herring and green apples.
In "Merry England" every person, from
the aims house and the prison, the poor
est beggar aud the outcast, to the palatial
mansion, claims and mostly receives his
plum pudding on Christmas day. Those
who have not on this high feast day are
almost universally furnished by those who
have III abundance. Many of the OBJ
their nature, have well passed away with
others that are lost with regret Among
these which have happily been retained,
and which wo hope may long continue, are
the evergreen decorations, the budget OF
Santa Claus and Krish Kinkle, the Christ
mas tree, and their pleasant accessories
These pleasant observances are one after
another dropping away, and we fear in
this age without sentiment they will soon
become things Of memory like the strains
of distant regretful music.
It is in the Catholic churches especially
that the day is COMMUNICATED in august
and solemn ceremonial. Three times is
mass celebrated i'll its most sublime and
imposing forms: first, at midnight again
when morning dawns, and third time
when ''the SUI is in the lnid-arch of heav-
n"-signihcant of the three births OF Our
Lord His birth from the Father before
time began, His birth from the Immacu-
late Virgin at Bethlehem, and His mystic
birth in the hearts Of the faithful. In the
Catholic churches of this c4ty these solemn
and mystic ceremonies are celebra
ted with much grandeur. Those only
who have heard ON these occasions,
amid the gorgeous splendors of the deco
rations and the other imposing features of
the service. "For unto us q Child is born"
and other sublime portions of Handels
glorious ''Messiah," peal forth from the
organ and the choir above the kneeing
worshippers, are able to appreciate the
transcendent impressions of the scene.
One of the grandest Inspirations Of the
Protestant Christmas is the song by Rev.
Charles Wesley, q younger brother of the
celebrated John Wesley, and which COM
mences and closes with tho following stan
"a:
Hark, the herald angels sing,
Glory to the newborn King;
Peace on earth and mercy mild,