The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1876-12-28
chrIstm.s n.s and IFS Festivities.

e In tins country we associate our gift giving
1 with the Christmas day, and introduce our
Kris Kringle and Santa Claus as one person.
/, ladened with fine and costly goods as well as
=, with the toys, trinkets and papers of nuts anu
candies. We make no distinction between ST.
Nicholas DAY and the day celebrating the birth
OF Christ. and so far as the sacred and sanity
celebrations OF those days are concerned, we
hardly give that religious cast to the latter
that we ordinarily should to the celebration OF
the most humble saints day. In fact, we are
almost led TO the conclusion that in the course
ola quarter of a century few children OF the age
of twelve will be impressed with the sacredness
of the origin of Christmas day, but will con-
slider il as merely day set apart by common
custom for the distribution Of presents among
families, relatives or intimate friends. This
being the tendency of the times. people are
more interested in the doings OH Christmas
week than in dissertation uronits sacred orr
Gin, and it comes within the province OF the
local page to give a record of what happened
that occasloned mcrriment and happiness
among the people Of Saina.
Early last week it became evident that ma
unusually large number of presents were to be
distributed in this city and county, and the in
dicaiions are made realities, as is evinced by
heempty condition of the once well filled cases
and heavily ladcned shelves OF good. suitable
for gifts to young and old, and which now
show the ingenuity of our shop men in so
arranging and stretching out their remaining
goods as to make their shelves advertise "a
large and complete assortment" and give
their late customers the impression that their
stock is inexhaustible.
CHRISTMAS TREES.
A Christmas without Christians tree is, to
children, the covers OF book without pic
lures. reading or even leaves between. Their
interest in the Christmas tree is enthusiastic,
and they will attend three different Sabbath
schools on a Sabbath for four Sundays before
Christmas. to be included in the list tor the
tree, while on warm Sunday before the
Fourth of July they will SWIM in the Smoky
all day to get ous of going to Sabbath school
On Saturday evening two public Christmas
trees were given i'm Salina, one at the Presby-
terrain church for the scholars of the Sabbath
school of the church, and one at the Methodist
church for the scholars of the Sabbath schools
OF the Methodist and Christian churches.
The Presbyterian church was nearly filled
10y the children and members of the congrega-
ton. and promptly at seven O'Clock Rev. w,
A. Simkins arose and announced the purposes
of the gathering. and called their attention to
the tree. The tree used was an evergreen,
about eight feet in height, and its branches
Were ladened with toys, books and numb srle'>
articles, some of rich and costly nature. Sew
eral of the teachers were called upon to dis
tribute the presents, and is the children's
names were called eXclamations of joy escaped
their lips which sent Il warm thrill through
the giver's heart, and made him wish he had
given gift OF a thousand times its value.
At the Methodist church, enough room to
stand in without being toe. crowded was ac-
cpptable to those who went there after seven
O'Clock, and those who were lucky enough TO
have seats opened their hearts and squeezed
their bodies 10 make room tor the unfortunate |
late conner. Instead OF the customary tree,
the leader, of tie Methodist and Christian Sab |
bath schools had adopted another plan for the |
reception and display of the many gifts which
would be brought for distribution by the ur-
eighteen feet high and ten feet span, was built |
IN front OF the pulpit, and its frame work sup
ported by two smaller arches about one-hali /
its hight. The whole structure was tastefully |
decorated with evergreens, flowers, and the
veritable pop corn strings. To the wall, i'm
:nediateIy back Of the pulpit, was attached
large evergreen viewpoint star, which was IL
mi tod irwin hril
line of lights the shape of the star. The
arches and frame work were literally covered
with the many colored toys, transparent vases,
gaiy dressed dolls rich fabrics. etc, and daZ-
zling star beneath the main arch, made bril-
liant display, and many appreciative express
sions were made in commentator o! the
decorations At about half past seven o clock
the veriable Santa Claus made his appearance,
dressed in his coat of fur. with his Tong white
beard hanging down to his waist. and looking
as though the trosts oil a hundred winters had
hung their silver threads To his chin. Presents
OF all kinds were dstributed-!rom purple
monkey on a yellow stick" n cabbage head,
smoking hoods, and the. like, to beautiful
writing desks, ca>tors, camp chairs, etc.
Much fun and merriment was occlsioned dur
ing the evening at the ridiculous predicament
of the receivers of some toy or articles intended
for Jokes by those sending them. The large
number OF presents to be distributed prolonged
the entertainment until after ten o'clock.
The beautiful Christmas tree at the Catholic
Fair Hall is fully described in the article rela-
ting the incidents which occurred on Monday
evening, or the bird Evening in another
column. The treSand its surroundings were
the most beautiful Christmas tree decorations
we have ever seen.
At the residence of Mr.. aud Mrs f. W.
ODER, a Jefiries family Christmas tree was
unveiled, there being present Mrs. Jeffries, Il.
X. Jeffries, John Jetlries. Mr.. J. VI. Po>tlc-
wait, Mr. B. l.. Wilson, wife and family, Mr.
and Mrs. Ransom. Mrs. Robinson, Miss DiiIen-
daffer. MIR. and Mrs. Aldrich, and Messrs.
Brunger, White, Merrell aud Rodel.
Many costly presents were distributed. Mr..
+. w. ODER received splendid stem-wnder
silver watch. the gift of the clerks in the store
OF 0ber. Bond & Wilson. A pair of pocketless
pants presented 10 Ben Wilson was the cause
OF shouts of merry laughter"
SERVICES AT THE CHURCHES.
The Episcopal church was beautifully deco
rated with Christmas offerings OF flowers, and