Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1879-12-26
Iutal aud gersuual.
Condensed Locals.

Mr. Levi Watkins has butchered seven
hogs that weighed 2149 pounds.
The tobacco crop of Clarksburg district
has turned out exceedingly large this year.
The ladies of Goshen intend giving din
ner at the residence of Mrs. Charlotte Wa
tiers, on January LIST, commencing at 3
o'clock, p. M.
Mr.. n. j. Wagner, who resides near this
place, had sorrel mare stolen from his
premises, Tuesday night last She has not
been heard from since stolen.
An effort is being made to remove s. Z.
Cuttings, formerly of this town, from the
position of doorkeeper of the reporters gal
lery in Congress, The Maryland delega-
ton tavors Chas. B. Mann, of Towsontown,
as his successor.
The performance by the f. o. b. B. Club,
at Gathersburg, on Thursday night of last
week, was a success both in a crowded house
and the personation of characters. The club
in'preparing programme for the evening,
I1oSlCu " INT Astotc Ol llt lnIelll-
gent audience.
Rev. 5. Rodgers, d. d., is advertised to
lecture at Potomac Chapel on Monday even
ing next, beginning at o'clock, and in this
town, in the Methodist church, on Tuesday
evening at IT O'clock The DR.. has wide
reputation and we bespeak for him full
houses. ITO Paris and Back" is the subject
Mrs. Benson, the beloved wife of James
7. Benson, died at the residence of her hus-
band, near this town, Monday night last, in
the sixtieth year Of her age. She was
an atfectionate wife and mother and chris
tian lady. Her remains We're followed to
their burial in the old Episcopal burying
ground by 4 large body of relatives and
friends. ~
Mr.. John Williamson, aged about 81
years, residing at Pleasant Plains, North
Severn, died very suddenly, on Saturday, at
Handy Il Rullmans drug store, in Annapo-
lis, it is supposed, from heart disease De-
ceased was formerly from this county. He
was clerk in the Postoffice Department at
Washington under the administration of
Presidents Lincoln and johnson. During
the past year he has been engaged in farm
ing in the third district, Anne Arundel
county.
Christmas Traditions. What train
Of sad thoughts it suggests, to think that
another Xmas day, with its tender re -unions
and sweet communings, has passed to obliv-
ion. 1t has, indeed, gone to join the ghost
ly train of its predecessors--its bright menu
cries and hallowed incidents, still fresh and
verdant in the hearts Of those who gathered
yesterday around the family board. What
quaint charm and touching pathos clusters
about this festival Of the civilized world -
Its coming is heralded by the same signs and
symbols which characterized it centuries
ago-long before Rip Van Wrinkle had wan
dered off to his long sleep among the noun
tains; yea, perhaps, the same festivities
the bOisterOus merriment which echoed thro'
haunted Catskills, greet his jovial ghost in
other worlds than ours.
Christmas, indeed, keeps its hold on hui
man interest with strength which time can
never impair; but the modes Of its celebra-
ton have changed like the fashions of mod
crn society. Its old fashioned celebration,
in measure, still fingers in the old English
homes. The spirit Of Coeur de Leon and
Mont do D,,,,f stiu hg,uar about tho haupto
made memorable by their feasting and mer-
ry-making, in the olden-time, when the
chroniclers recited their festive verses, and
the gay troubadours breathed forth the praises
of valor in the wtchery of song. These OBJ
servances recall wildly the characteristics
of the dim and distant past. Many of these
picturesque ceremonies were derived from
the festival of the Romans which took place
at the winter solstice, and was season of
universal rejoicing, that the shortest days
Of the year were Over-that the sun began
to wheel his upward course through the
heavens. 1t took its origin from the wor-
ship of the sun, and inspired the same SEN
timent of reverence which kindled fires in
the rude huts in the bleak hills of the North
in honor OF Odin. To trace these Xmas
customs of modern days to the usages of
the ancient world would require a volume.
The monarch of the Xmas festival, the
Lord of Unreason as he was called, was the
successor of the ruler over the sports of the
Roman Saturnaia The Xmas carols and
the interchange of gifts is custom which
has come down To us from classic times
1t is beautiful idea too, that the first Xmas
carols were sung by angel choristers on
the plains Of Bethlehem in honor Of the
birth of Christ.
The hilarity and license which character
lied these festivities in the England Of long
ago, so excited the ire Of the stern old Pur-
tans that they abolished the Xmas festival.
Among the many interesting ohseryances
of the old fashioned Xmas was the burning
OF the "yule log" which is still kept up in
many parts of England, when the big log
was taken from its forest home to the huge
fireplace in the old baronial hall, there were
many rcjoicings, because its bright glow was
supposed to kindle the fires of affection and
goodwill among kindred and neighbors,
and extirpate old leuds and animosities.-
Beautiful tradition. II should still be cher
ished and practiced in every household
where ill-will and hate rankle in the hearts
of its in mates. The ancient minstrels well
coined its entrance with their sweetest
strains, and the merry-making that ac-
companied it still lives in the joyous verse
of the old Poets. Among the dishes that
decked Xmas-table in feudal times, the
most prominent was II boars head, gar
nished with bays and rosemary. The voice
of minsirelsy celebrated its sayory charms
as it WIS borne into the banqueting
hall on silver or gold platter. About
the festive board were gathered merry
company who INDUCED their ap2etites with
boisterous mrth in substantial fare and
home brewed ale. The wassail bowl flowing
with It's spicy, steaming contents, dispeled
all care and sorrow and filled the hearts Of