The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1881-12-29
CHRISTMAS FESTIVITIES.
How the Day Was Celebrated In Em-
pOrIa.


pOrlA.
As Christmas began in Emporia on
Saturday evening and extended far into
Tuesday morning, this delightful festi-
val was enjoyed to the fullest possible
extent by old and young in great di-
versity of manner. and there were COM
paratively few of our people to whom
this pleasant anniversary did not bring
something of gladness and good cheer.
On Saturday evening the Friends at
their church on Sylvan street enjoyed
delightful festival, prominent feature
of which was q beautiful Christmas tree
laden with a wealth of gifts that brought
joy to many a heart, and every person in
the large audience was remembered
with some pleasant memento of this
season of benisons and tokens of affec-
ton.
Onthe same evening the PresbYterians
engaged in similar festivities at their
church, which was most beautifully and
tastefully decorated for the occasion, a
Christmas tree brilliantly lighted and
laden with gifts attracting the especial
attention Of the young, while among
those OF maturer years the motto In ele-
CANT gilt letters back of the pulpit and
other appropriate emblems about the
altar were the theme of unlimited praise.
The exercises were interesting and fitted
10 the occasion, and the festival was one
which must ever be associated with the
most agreeable recollections with those
who were present
On Sunday Christmas liscourscs were
delivered in most of the churches, and
the day witnessed many family reunions
and general but decOrous indulgence
in good cheer.
Yesterday business was practically
by stiffness suggesting the repose if
not the devotion of the Sabbath. In the
evening festivals were held at the Welsh
Congregational and Presbyterian
churches, of which accounts will be
found elsewhere in this paper.
The number of handsome gifts be-
slowed was much lager than usual this
year, and the Christmas of 1881 was one
of the pleasantest that Emporia has ever
known.
The exercises at the Welsh Presbyteri-
an church Monday evening were unusual
ly interesting aud the house was densely
packed with Sabbath school children and
members and friends of the congrega-
ton. The beautiful Christmas tree pre-
sented a most beautiful sight with its
blazing candles, glittering ornaments
and manifold presents, and SO fairy-like
was the picture that Santa Claus himself
might have appeared upon the scene
without exciting special wonderment.
The program consisted of the recita-
tions Inappropriate selections, addresses,
singing the good old songs of Wales, and
the distribution of gifts, feature of the
entertainment that was fraught with
special interest to the little folks.
The occasion throughout was one of
unalloyed happiness, and reflected hand
some credit upon all those who aided in
making the festival such grand sue
cess.
The Christmas tree festival and child
ren's meeting at the Second (Welsh)
Congregational church Monday even
ing was, as usual, great success. Sew
eral coming in late could not find even
standing room in the church. The pro-
gram was filed up with recitations,
readings, dialogues, and singing by the
choir, Willie Rees accompanying on the
organ. 1t was pleasure TO see the lit.
tie ones ranging from years of age
upwards to ~ and Is standing up and
delivering the little pieces they had been
working hard to commit to memory fol-
their Christmas meeting. This is ex.
clusivCly the children's festival without
any other pretensioRs and it is crafty
ing to find that it did not in the Least
fall short in any of its features from
those of previous years.
L. An interesting feature of the evening
was the presentation of handsome
book to Mr.. Joseph C. Jones by the pu
pills of his class in the Sabbath School
Mr.. Jones has been for a long number o
) years one of the most indefatigable work
ers in this school and no one was NOR,
/ worthy to receive such pleasant an(
fit recognition of his services in tn,
: Sabbath School.
After disposing of the many hang
some presents on the tree the meetinI
C ended and left many of the young one
1 happier than when they came in.