The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1874-01-01

Christmas bslHe4
Tnr CAristmss b hers;
TIL tn epd 81 me yesr- ~. y
| /---~--And the TINE Of E9;sa chess
" Christmas day Il Gist deycnse,ting into
day Of hilarious scenes and rssker unslse prac-
tees. The presence Of sn.esinsonious sSunte-
nanccs and sleek-black. long. tailed Sunday
coats !. becoming ,uosc and more unfreqs'snt.
Instead Of the slorizin exeelsis and Christmas
carols. the Lacchanalian song floats wildly
through the air. giving Fourth Of July tone
10 day held eacrrd in tlie hearts Of all Chris
lian people & OF course. with Americans. the
highest type o! celebration is cast in ono ofthe
| Fourth. ard any holiday which is Of more than
common importance. TO be duly observed.
| must partakc, TO some extent. Of ceremonies
approxnnating those Of our natal day. But
there Is estate Of bctweenity betwixt' the
sanc:imonious extremist and the liberal hila-
ris.. more generally acceptable to the
community at large. which lets ms down from
sacred solxrness and yet does not admit Of
loose morality and Incorporate aclions. 1t
.;,vors more Of incrriness and leaves the actor
Ia happier frame OF mind. wherein lie can
reflect upon the festivities without con-cinus-
ness Of having been = formal ice-breedcr In
hu.i,,ia NATURE. on the che hand. or speci-
men Of acknowledgement on, on tie other.
In the state of beiweeni,y'' are Chased the
church Christmas Trees ami accompanying
exercises. two OF which were given in Saiina.
AT THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The first Of these entertainment WAS given al
the Presbyterian church "Wednesday evening.
christmas evc.) The church was cra,nmcd
full. al the sitting and standing room being
occupied. and some room classed as neither
the backs of seats, Cor instancc-wliilc many
c!,ild WAS perched upon parents shoulder.
Prior to the distribution Of presents. several
tablca,lxS were presented: Oae representing
an aged couple at their first meal. alone after
their children had all lett them another, the
Fortune Teller, and third. IAN Old woman
who lived in her shoe; she had many child
rem she ddu't know what to do.'' Tic latter
served to Introduce Santa Claus and the
christmas tree The tree was beautifully trim
mel. stretching out lis long. slim branches.
from wiic.i were suspended gay anu costly
presents. sober rm5leinatical tokens anu coaic
SUCCESSORS of affected tastes. Considerable
laughter and glcc was p.ovokcd by the assign
ment of superanuua;ed plug hats. bags of wind,
bricks. etc.. to the persons TO whom they were
addressed. II WIS avery pleasant :.fiir and
afforded mich enjoyment.
AT rns METHODIST CHURCH.
/ Christmas nigh: the Methodist Sunday
School gave their christmas tree cnlertaiRmeht
at the NJ. +. Church. The attendance WAS qIi:e
larye A. the lime ia which to prrpare for
| this entertainment was very >hurt-it hot hav-
| ing been definitely settled until but few days
before Chri-ima.--it was not SO complete us
those having it in charge hal desired. How
ever, it Was very pleasant affair. snd afforded
much enjoyment 10 those present. Rev. Nr.
! Mitchell addressed the audience upon the OBJ
scryancc " :i,c day. when the presents were
duly distributed. The tree Was very finely
decorated aud contained many beautiful pres
! ents-and a!.o several which through down.
the house. especially the ones 10 wIoai they
were addressed.
=! AT THE SWEDISH LUTHERAN cuCRCH.
At four O'Clock in the morning. christmas ser
vices were duty held after the manner "f the
.and Of the Sxe,lc. Al =rcii was erected over
the approach to the altar. trimmed viii, blue
and white. with gi,ricd stars and heart-sl:apcd
figures thereon. On the arch and cross5aI
sixteen lighted caid!es were stationed. On q
table. Standing on the altar, was nicely con.
crivcl frame work with candles on the points
and OIL each side Was heavy candlcststica an,
candle. Hanging over the aisle. in the centre
OF the church, was wire chandelier. trimmed
with gay colors. AMI holding some thirty eat
dies. Over the chandelier bright. sil;led star
was suspended. On each point of watch was Il
cattle la car.. window and ON the arch over
the DOR cai lies w..r. also sla::I Ere the
hour for the as:e:nbiin. CT The worshipper'
had arrived. the candles. Numbering nearly ON,
hundred. were all lighted, brightly iiiuaiinat
iuy the church Rev. J. 4. iirod;n con
Quoted the .-ryices SOM. line antii. MS werl
sung. Oi,ri,iss were mrie al the close OF IN,
services, 10 u used in r;.isin. the debt Of The
church.
ELSEwE.EE.
a: the Catholic caGrc,i the occasion was in,
proved by tie ladies % the societs n the ope
ing OF the Fair and Holiday Exposition, Al
account OF which, We give elsewhere.
Several dinner p .rti,;5 were given by sevcra
vi oar citizens AMI. frJ.n reports. must have
been very enjoyable Il fairs.
\ nunbcr OF tn, youas people inorovcd
the good SEALING ia the river, gliding ga;l'
over the smooth Ice.
About town. durin. the day. Datinees wer
held aud glecsonc loo, Faces indulged II
by the bth)oys.
At the Presbyterian church. las: Tue>da,
.ening. the members CT the society iudulgct
in pleasant reunion and social gathering
which was quite largely attended by our cti
zrns. An agreeable supper was served dur. n.
the evening, which was generally p.onou,ice'
:. excellent