Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-01-28
Correspondence,
Christmas beyond the Sea.
LEIPZIG, GERMANY, I
Dec. q. 1875.

all would agree with me that there Is moth
ing in this world more ennobling in social
life, and moro conducive TO the growth of
an admirable and influential national char
acter than the deep stirring of the foun-
tains of affection and generosity in Chris
.ian nation. Christmas, here in Germany,
began months ago. We had hardly settled
down in our new home before some menu
bers of the family with whom we live we've
telling about the holiday coming ere long
with it's trees, its cakes, and its presents.
The great Michaelmas Fair, with Its an
nual forty thousand strangers, and its forty
times forty thousand articles of every class
and design, offers golden opportunities for
buying presents, TO he stored away in Sc
cret places until the only time in the whole
year suitable for giving them should come.
Still, from about the first of December, as
one passes along the streets, he daily be-
comes more convinced that the merchants
do not believe that everything was bought
at Michaelmas. The shop windows are
tAstefully filed with those goods in each
particular line which will bost tempt
purchaser. There is hardly anything more
pleasant, and at the same time more ag-
gravating, than an evening stroll through
the streets and peep through the win
dows by gasight. Then everything can be
seen to the best advantage. The gas is al
ways arranged for the best effect some
times there are only two or three jets In a
window, and again there is completely
adorned Christmas tree, with jet from
every branchlct, while below and around
lies the finest TO wear, TO eat, or TO afford
amusement.
About the 18th OF December comes the
Fair. Suddenly as though sum mOned in
TO existence by the lamp and ring Of Alad-
din, one of the large public squares of the
city is a forest of evergreen trees. Since
every family must have one, these trees
vary in size from those two feet high TO
others SO large they can scarcely be crowd
ed through the large double doors of tho
houses, and in price from five cents to six
dollars. Acres of them are cultivated in
every part of the empire expressly for this
holiday trade. As one rides over the coun-
try they look beautifully, growing so thrift
lilly in long, straight rows across the fields.
But upon another square, the "Market
Plalz," in front OF the old city lall, is the
centre of attraction. Here, skilfully ar
ranged upon shelves in front OF the booths,
| are galy uniformed soldiers-all for in
fantry-who are only the vanguard OF ar
mics IN assed behind bsvies OF misses and
ladies beautifully dressed in the fashions
OF every nation and colois OF every bright
hue; quantities of crockery ware sufficient,
were nothing else needed, 10 initiate every
little girl in Saxony into the mysteries OF
her future calling; besides albums, reti-
cules, pocket books, umbrellas, pipes, and
beer mugs in endless profusion. The al
| leys in front are filled with hundreds OF
peasants who come TO see these wonders OF
mech anical skill aud invest few gros-
chens for the ones at home.
When Christmas eve comes, the excite
ment has reached its climax. Then in
every hoIfe the tree is brought into the
large room and loaded with gilt cones and
fruits, candy birds and other images; wax
candles are placed in the numerous sockets
fixed for them; and the "Star Of Bethle-
hem," as bright as can be made, sur
mounts the topmost bougb. But while
this delightful work is going on in the twi-
| light, the different members of the family
have frequent errands into other parts Of
the house. BY degrees there is accumu-
lated among the branches and in pyra-
mid at the foot of the tree, quite quantity
of other materials which do not seem TO
have any bearing upon tho work imm6di-
ately in hand. Soon the tree is lighted up
and its beautiful appearance is admired.
Like all other things of beauty, 1t soon
fades, least, TO the happy ones whose
eyes are fixed upon the packages within
and under ii. As eager hands reach after
them, begin the glad surprises for the
whole family; and servants, too, share in
the joy. Among the wealthy, frequently,
one of the servants dresses himself up in
furs and long white hair and beard, 10 look
as much as possible like messenger from
the icy regions, and brings the tree into the
room where all are awaiting st. Nicholas.
Before long, from among the branches, and
from his capaciOus pockets, he produces
his gifts and bestows them, with fitting re-
mark, upon the different members of the
family. Sometimes, among the poorer
classes, while the father is away, ST. Mich
olas appears 10 the pleased and half-terrl-
fed children, and when he returns the
little ones are in ecstacies, but are so sorry
fvther was not there TO see their wonderful
visitor. One of the best OF all the good
things coming with Christmas is the
Christmas cake. Every family must have
its own, prepared from recipes handed
down from mother TO daughter, perhaps
for generations. II is not rich and dys-
pepsia- producing, like much of our Amer
lean sweet cake, but after we have lived on
rye bread and semmels for three hundred
and sixty days of the year, wo can eat ii
and call it good. There is nothing like
cultivating a taste in anything.
Among the happiest ones 10 be found at
Christmas time are the servant girls. Be-
ing compelled TO work the whole year,
early and late, for the mere pittance ol
about S30,-kept at washing dishes, scrub
bing floors and windows, bringing coal
from the cellar up from two TO six flights
OF stairs, according TO the floor occupied by
the family, going to market aud bringing
home huge basketfuls of fruits and vegeta-
bles, running up and down stairs doing the
thousand and one errands of the family
they have right TO look forward tC
Christmas as their own, and TO rejoice in It,
since it is almost the only sign Of Christi.
anity they see in all the year. 1t is an old
time custom to give the madchen, y
mostly In bright new silver pieces, a pres.
} ent of ten or twenty dollars, depending
upon the means and generosity Of her mis-
iress. With this added TO her fortune, she
can purchase those little articles OF apparo