Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1882-12-26
MIseELLAsYE { Gus
OUR eHRIsFMAs LETTER, NO.

OUR CHRISTMAS LETTER, NO. 3
The FTss. c1ristaqs- C1ris,mes. gse:.-
T2is Tree FIR .Biity 8c Gee- Rare :.1 .1s,o.
elr2- Paintings LqagtEy Photos. San.
IA Cldas-L1ts one 3N,;aht,S IEorl, ia lSal.
ttn'ore- 2oe1css Stoekiags and .Stoczgaq.
less Toes .s,eeet Charity Cariansas Rl,
sie-G1ristnGs Lessoas--4 C1rista,as
Prayer.
In many ofthe evergrcer-decked windows
on Baltimore and other streets, you. will seq
at this time of year groups Representing rho
birth of tho Savior-tho rude nlsnger with
the Babe init, the cattle stsudipg by,, Josenb
and Mary, the wise men of the East bripe>
ing their otferings-oy all there is the Star
of BethlehGm. The figures arc five or six
inches high, aud arc very good in form aud
expression. As st. Alphousus Church oycry
Christmas they have the group in life size.
and so thsrc when you will during tho Christ,
mas season, you will fad deyout Catholics
kneeling in prayer aud alteration.
The Christmas trees arc beginning to come
IN, 1T is quite a business, thousands are sold
here every year and bring from % cents to one
that grows upside down, root at tho TOP. I.
hangs every year suspended from the roof of
Lexington Market, and is sure to be loaded
down with links of sausage, hams, fish, loayos
OF bread, ginger cake horses, caudy figures. a
eott!o or SO of wine, turkey or two and n
bucket'of mincc meat. A plaoard attached
tells us ''Thistree, is for Billy McGee ~
And Mr.. McGce- ought TO be happy man II
well loaded tree can bring happiness.
Inc windows get more and more attractive
each day. The rarcst aud costliest iewclrv is
seen, in all sorts Of beautiful and queer and
tsptastic shapes. l noticed Yesterday 5io.
mond~back terrapin, whoee back was covcrod
with real dtamonds-it was breast pin. and
tue price was fabulous. Tn one winiow a..
baltimore street, on.topof asilrer vnss
Gala Lily, and in The heart of tl
pair OF diamond ear>rings,, naarke-ir
sand dollars-there is no cxtrfz1f
. Hly. Tho array Of painLing1
group, representing OtheiY
citing fiis. ''wondrous cs6s
held to Desdamons aud e.
story very graphically.
the. .MooF, lighted up by
sion, becomes "a face illnn
listens, earnestly, but Hlaol
her hands tight around her k
ward, lffs preu, eyes dsnGil,e-,
her heart, fur.-p-- e't7'z ia say
..Sls /. <e.t uie for the .t;:,,,sss4
i loved bert kat che did pi
Pieeures of Sirs l4austryitiEe
photogre 2hs, autographs. e6s
.try.eVery where, in, every og6ceiSSs
and some IN. undress. BY ihssyYay s.
Tho Now York artist. rdiI Mrs. L1ngtfy ~
Thousand dollars for the exclusive -priviiege to
photograph her; apd;a facespogeer Ins korA z
paid her $4,000 for a certificate that ,f.e
used 5his face powder only 1SeSuty Sc ems tos
pay just nav better than btafps...cs1 - -
:; Santa Claus. in ali hisg fety. stand Is watch.
ing tbs crowd from many windows and door-s
ways as thay pass Hetd6cs not seen, 10 a,,ee,
any--his eyes have theaiddly slieR 6fgoutb. !.
his cheeks are rGsyrrcd, ,,1aId his EiIs. Ike
great big ripe cherries; aud AMY his Aiisery
beard tells US that .ba IS old, but from the
huge pack -ou his back he viii s6e y6ti1er
enbngh to visit nsny households Christmas
Eve.
Think of over three lundrcd Thousand
pafrs OF stockings to be filled in ono night
think of sliding down and climbing up the
inside of ono hundred thousand chimneys in
one night think of the Dsny miles 10 be
pranced over by Dauccr aud Prancer and
Dasher and Splasher between ths setting and
the rising OF the Christmas suu One would
think the ole, gentleman would never get out
OF baltimore, aud that the country children
would wait in vain for his coming, hu. VIC who
were raised in the country know bctter-he
mccer misses coMmtyy lone, but in tho
crowded city there arc some childrcn-pot
msny-who hang up their stockings end get
them filled with their own cold feet u X,
morning. And there arc othors, cnd ;hese are
fewer still, thank God, who have no s.ock>
inSs to hang up, who never think of listening
for the ring Of the silver bells or the hoofs
upon the roof, who beg on Christmas day as
on all other days, that '.the old man" and
''the old woman" may have money to spend
for rum How true it is that lone half the
world don't know how the other half lives, !"
or dies, and don't care. Bot Charity, sweet
faced uutiring Charity, will be very busy
| Christman ero and Christmas dsy. She will
| dress the wondrors trees in the Churches for
the treeless ones at home she will tune her
voice to the sweetest chants and hymns for
the poor gathered in from bye ways and highs
ways; she will carry very many baskets laden
down with Christmas dinners to homes where
| dinners are rarely seen she will visit the
hospitals and stand by the bedside Of the lone>
iy sufferer to cheer, to comfort, TO strengthen :
she will unlock the prison doors and light M
tho dark cells with her presence. Every-
where she will be seen. this Goddess of the
Poor-Christian Charity. born beneath the
shadow Of the Gross, living in spite of the
world and living for the world. Perhaps tvr
! of the strongest arguments to bring 20 has,
upon the lnfdeis and Scoffers of today. ara
the facts that more churches are built eyer7
year and that Christian Charity ealarges hcI
boundaries every day.
The words of Charles Dickens are alvay.
recalled to my mind at this season of the wear
/ the hearty WOtds about Christmas Music: